Core Insights - The comparison between Ford and Tesla highlights the future direction of the auto industry, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs) and robotaxis, with both companies facing similar opportunities and challenges [1] - Tesla's full-self-driving (FSD) robotaxi is seen as a strategic move to counteract declining sales and market share, while major automakers recognize the profit potential of robotaxis through recurring income from ride-per-mile revenue [2] Electric Vehicles and Affordability - Automakers need to make EVs more affordable to ensure their future viability, as current EVs are not cheap [2] - Ford's CEO emphasized the importance of developing affordable EVs to achieve profitability, indicating a shift in strategy [4] Robotaxi Development - Ford has faced setbacks in its robotaxi plans, notably after the shutdown of Argo AI, while Tesla is preparing to launch its unsupervised FSD/robotaxi service [14][15] - Tesla's ability to transform existing vehicles into robotaxis and produce a dedicated model, the Cybercab, gives it a competitive edge [8] Financial Performance - Ford's Model E segment reported significant losses, with a loss of $5.1 billion in 2024 and $849 million in Q1 2025, indicating challenges in achieving a profitable EV business [10] - In contrast, Tesla generated $7.1 billion in operating profit in 2024 and maintained a dominant market share of 43.5% in Q1 2025, compared to Ford's 7.7% [11] Future Outlook - Both companies plan to release low-cost models, but Tesla's ability to lower its average cost per car positions it better for sustainable profitability [13] - The auto industry is moving towards lower-cost EVs and robotaxis, with Tesla currently in the best position to meet these industry aims [18]

Group 1 - The core issue in the Australian real estate market is that single buyers are facing increasing pressure, with only 16% of regions being affordable for the average Australian to purchase a detached house [1] - In the apartment market, single buyers can only afford approximately 28% of regions, a significant drop from 66% in 2017 [2] - The affordability crisis has led to a notable decrease in the proportion of single buyers among first-time homebuyers, dropping from 45% in 2021 to 39% in 2025 [2] Group 2 - In New South Wales, the situation is particularly dire, with the percentage of regions affordable for single buyers of detached houses plummeting from 40% in 2017 to just 11% by 2025 [2] - South Australia has seen a dramatic decline in affordability, with the percentage dropping from 85% in 2017 to 19% in 2025 [2] - Finder's personal finance expert, Sarah Megginson, emphasizes that buying a home is now more challenging than ever, especially for those attempting to purchase without partner or family assistance [5][6] Group 3 - The expectation of interest rate cuts before Christmas may alleviate some pressure on current mortgage holders, but it could make entry into the market even more difficult for new buyers [8] - Increased demand in affordable markets is anticipated, which may further drive up entry-level property prices, exacerbating the challenges faced by first-time buyers [8]

For more on this state of housing and mortgage demand, let's bring Matt Ishbia, CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage. The company is the number one mortgage originator in the country. Matt, it's great to have you back on the show.Welcome. Let's start right there. Is 7% the new normal.You know, I don't I don't know. I It seems like it's been there for a little while, but the the truth is you got to shop around. There's a lot of people that get rates at the six and a quarter, six and a half, and there's of course ...

Outlines proactive steps taken by Board and management to drive long-term stockholder value Urges stockholders to vote “FOR” Oportun’s two nominees – CEO Raul Vazquez and Carlos Minetti – on the GREEN proxy card SAN CARLOS, Calif., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oportun (Nasdaq: OPRT), a mission-driven financial services company, today released an investor presentation in connection with the Company’s upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders, scheduled to be held on July 18, 2025. The presentation and add ...

You go to California and sometimes to get a building permit takes you 3 years. You know in New York it's impossible. So in my business it is much easier to build here.What worries me is affordability. The middle class and the working class where do they live. The moment that we build a mid-inccome or affordable housing product it gets consumed immediately.The demand is never ending because people do want to be close to their jobs. They just can't afford to be close to their job. Over the last 5 years, media ...

PITTSBURGH, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PNC Bank, N.A., a tax credit syndication leader, today announced the closing of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Fund 98, which is investing more than $208 million in the development and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing across the U.S. The fund includes investments from PNC and seven other financial services and insurance companies, including two investors that are new to PNC's LIHTC funds.  The investment will provide a positive impact nationwide by ...

Homebuilder confidence fell in June, logging its third lowest reading since 2012. Buyers struggling with affordability stayed on the sidelines, even as builders lowered prices. https://t.co/ZRCgV2QSrL ...

Confidence among US homebuilders in June hit its lowest level since December 2022 as high mortgage rates and policy uncertainty hit wouldbe buyers. With more on the landscape for homebuilders, we have Katie Hubard, Walton Global's executive vice president of capital markets joining us now. So Katie, there was actually an expectation we would see sentiment rebound here.Clearly not the case. What does this tell us about where home builders and really the overall housing market stand right now. Yes.Hi Ally, th ...

Well, Rick, home builder sentiment in June dropped two points from May to 32 on the NAHB index. The street was actually looking for a slight improvement. This index has only seen a lower reading twice since the Great Recession back in 2012.And that was in December of 2022 when mortgage rates first shot up from those pandemic record lows and in April 2020 at the very start of the pandemic. Now, the builder site high mortgage rates, tariffs, and overall economic uncertainty of the index's three components. Cu ...

Core Insights - The 2025 Mid-Year Auto Market Review by CarGurus highlights the influence of tariffs, inventory dynamics, and consumer preferences on vehicle supply, pricing, and demand [1][2] Group 1: Market Dynamics - The auto market has experienced significant shifts in consumer behavior due to policy changes and economic uncertainty, leading to increased demand for affordability and efficiency [2] - New vehicle sales surged by 48% year-over-year following the March tariff announcement, although demand has since normalized [4] - Listings for new cars priced under $30,000 have decreased by 15% since late March, with compact and crossover models seeing the largest declines [4] Group 2: Pricing Trends - The average price of new vehicles remains stable at approximately $49,600, despite over 60% of listings being post-tariff inventory [4] - Luxury SUVs have seen significant price increases since the tariffs were implemented, while electric vehicles have experienced the largest price decreases [4] Group 3: Inventory Insights - Aged new car inventory is at levels not seen since 2020, with over 7% of listings being 2024 or older, providing opportunities for deals on pre-tariff inventory [4] - The supply of used cars has reached multi-year highs, but 3- to 4-year-old models remain scarce and are priced at a premium due to pandemic-related production disruptions [4] Group 4: Consumer Preferences - Fuel-efficient models, including hybrids, EVs, and compacts, are leading in demand, with hybrids showing a 43% increase in retail sales compared to 2024 [4] - Average list prices for new hybrids have decreased by about $1,400 year-over-year, making them attractive to value-conscious buyers [4]