Welcome to EsstN, your go-to destination for the latest in fun, weird, and fascinating stories

Fannie Mae Forecasts Mortgage Rates Below 6% and Rebound in Home Sales Homebuyers may soon see a surprising shift in the housing market. When the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates in September, most economists anticipated a corresponding drop in mortgage rates. Though early forecasts expected mortgage rates to fall below 6% by the end…

Now that Warren Buffett has confirmed Greg Abel will take over as Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO by year-end, attention is turning to another major succession question: Who will step into Ajit Jain’s shoes? For nearly 40 years, Jain has been the force behind Berkshire’s insurance operations. His knack for pricing complex risks has helped generate the…

Economists predicted that the United States would break free of its long-running housing slump in 2025. But the opposite happened. As 2025 began, the stars were aligning for a housing market rebound. Inflation was easing, the economy looked strong and mortgage rates were drifting downward. By April, there were more available homes to buy than…

Looking for a go-to athletic t-shirt that actually works as hard as you do? Whether you’re hitting the pavement, heading to the gym, or just want to stay cool while walking the dog—this trending Amazon t-shirt might be your next favorite. We took a closer look at what makes it so popular, and what real…

A large elephant seal took a wrong turn and was seen lumbering along a street in a coastal town in South Africa early Tuesday, surprising residents and inspiring a rescue effort to get him back to sea. The two-ton seal, which an animal welfare group said was a young male, was making his way through…

Most investors have felt FOMO, fear of missing out. Nowadays, many are feeling the opposite. “In April, turmoil over President Trump’s tariffs drove U.S. stocks down 12% in four days. Some investors bailed out, worried Trump’s policies would overturn decades of agreements that helped global trade thrive.” Others had exited even earlier—either bracing for a…

Europe’s equities have emerged as clear winners worldwide as the region’s economic outlook brightens while President Donald Trump’s trade war hobbles U.S. financial markets. Five months into the year, eight of the world’s 10 best-performing stock markets are in Europe, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That list features Germany’s DAX Index with a rally…

Amazon is issuing refunds to customers for returns made years ago — in some cases as far back as 2018 — that were never properly processed. “Following a recent internal review, we identified a very small subset of returns where we issued a refund without the payment completing, or where we could not verify that…

Housing Market Flashes Warning of an Upcoming Recession Fears of a U.S. recession have temporarily eased following President Donald Trump’s move to scale back his trade war with China. But according to analysts at Citi Research, other significant threats persist. In a Friday note, Citi cautioned, “Housing activity looks set to contract in Q2 after…

The cost of homeowners insurance is soaring in states where large outbreaks of tornadoes are becoming more common. But it’s hail — not tornadoes — that are the biggest concern for insurers in the middle of the country, according to industry experts and analysts. “Even though tornadoes are a much more significant threat to life,…