Here's an Australian TV documentary about China's housing bubble which has given rise of bizarre ghost malls, ghost highrises, and even ghost cities. It's symptomatic of the growing divide between China's rich and poor, which has left many Chinese without adequate housing. Unlike the US bubble, the Chinese property bubble isn't founded on cheap credit, which makes the analyst hosting the show believe that it won't burst in the same way as American one.
China's housing bubble: ghost malls, ghost highrises, and ghost cities
Private companies can make more than your property is worth if you fail to pay taxes
The Boston Globe has a harrowing story about a wild tax law that exists in Massachusetts and about a dozen other states, which lets private companies to buy up properties that are in arrears with the state, and keep whatever equity is left. In other words: if you don't pay your property taxes, a private… READ THE REST
Majority of London's newly built luxury flats are unsold, raising the spectre of "posh ghost towers"
Property developers in London built more than 1,900 luxury flats in 2018, the majority of which have so far failed to sell; all told, there are 3,000 luxury flats on the market, a high-water mark for a city whose property market was hijacked by offshore oligarchs and criminals who converted much of the housing stock… READ THE REST
Signs that China's real-estate bubble will burst and take the economy with it
China's real-estate bubble is the largest in human history, and despite years of warning signs, it has grown and grown, spilling over into the rest of the world. READ THE REST
These speakers bring Dolby Atmos theater tech right into your home theater for $100
Even for home theater nerds, it's easy to get washed away in a sea of techno-jargon, special proprietary systems, and other labels and specs that can turn into a sea of audiophile white noise. But there are some audio buzz terms that should get your attention, one being Dolby Atmos. Because for those familiar with the… READ THE REST
Enjoy the outdoors this summer with these insect and mosquito repellents
Look…almost nobody really wants to kill anything. Even an insect. But bugs…well, bugs don't really give you much choice, do they? And if it was just the annoyance of the buzzing or the swarming or the landing and crawling on you…that would be one thing. But with the bites and stings? The days and days… READ THE REST
This dog DNA test will tell you more about your best friend than you ever realized
It probably comes as no surprise that if you're looking for a dog breed that your insurance company will approve, the best bet is to avoid Doberman Pinschers, pit bulls, and Rottweilers. Or maybe you want a Chihuahua, which is one of the smallest breeds and also the longest living major breed at around 17… READ THE REST