Chuck Barberini Weekly Newsletter

Chuck Barberini Real Estate - Weekly Newsletter

"Just Thinking"

A friend of mine called me the other day, he was at his 4^th gas station trying to get some water for his radiator that had a small leak and he wanted to top it off until he could get it fixed. Four stops and the only way to get water was to buy a bottle of it. How ironic, at a time when gas costs $5.00 per gallon, there is no water for the radiator, air for the tires or using a restroom. Perhaps this is why they are no longer called service stations.

It seems that the service left the station during the gas shortages of the 1970s with gas rationing being mandated and the maximum national speed limit was reduced to 55 mph. Gasoline became a commodity, there was no longer a need to provide service with a smile.

Service stations offered a range of amenities to motorists beyond just fueling up. Here's a list of some common amenities:

Gasoline pumps were the primary function.
Attendants would pump gas, check oil levels, check tire pressure and clean windshields.
Basic car repairs and maintenance such as oil changes, tire changes, and minor mechanical fixes.
Clean and accessible restrooms were provided for motorists.
Many stations had small shops or cafes for a quick bite or a cup of coffee.
Maps, tourist information, and directions to travelers.
Assistance with flat tires, dead batteries, and other minor roadside issues.
Free air for tires and water for radiators.
Payphones.
Some stations had picnic areas or benches to take a break.
Car washes for an additional fee.
Motor oil, windshield wiper fluid, and other supplies were available.
Basic vehicle inspections or safety checks.
Local souvenirs, post cards or memorabilia were commonplace.
Towing services in case of breakdowns or accidents, were often available.

Gone but not forgotten is the black hose that stretched across the service bay and rang a bell when it was run over by a car and nobody could ever figure out how it worked. The bell alerted the attendant that a customer had arrived, with self service and pay at the pump, no service required.

Technology and innovation played a hand in the change to the service station, economy cars, Steel belted tubeless tires and the cell phone all contributed to the demise of the service station.

Let me know what you think.

This Weeks Top Story

Downtown Martinez Event Schedule

~Top Real Estate Stories This Week~

California Dream For All Shared

Appreciation Loan

The Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan is a down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers to be used in conjunction with the Dream For All Conventional first mortgage for down payment and/or closing costs.

Upon sale or transfer of the home, the homebuyer repays the original down payment loan, plus a share of the appreciation in the value of the home.

Read The Handbook Now

Single Women Still Own More Homes Than Single Men—And the Gap Is Widening

A new LendingTree analysis shows single women are still more likely to be homeowners than single men.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a woman’s median weekly earnings are still, on average, only 83% of men’s. But while that suggests men are generally more well-off financially than women in the U.S., in one area, single women are coming out ahead.

The latest LendingTree analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2022 data shows a higher rate of homeownership among single women living by themselves compared to single men living by themselves in 47 of 50 states.

Single women in the U.S. own 10.95 million homes—2.71 million more than the 8.24 million homes owned by single men.

Another way to put it, single women own an average of 12.93% of owner-occupied U.S. homes, compared to 10.22% owned by single men.

The same analysis also shows a widening homeownership gap between single women and single men compared to the previous year (2021). Single women across the U.S. owned 10.76 million homes in 2021—2.64 million more than the 8.12 million owned by single men.

That 2.64 million difference is slightly lower than the 2.71 million gap in 2022.

STATES WITH THE HIGHEST SHARES OF SINGLE-WOMEN HOMEOWNERS

States with the largest shares of homes owned and occupied by single women:

1. Delaware—15.34% owned and occupied by single women, compared to 9.45% by single men, for a gap of 5.89 percentage points (ppts).

2. Louisiana—15.19%, compared to 10.71% for single men, for a gap of 4.48 ppts.

3. Mississippi—14.84%, compared to 10.85%, for a gap of 3.99 ppts.

STATES WITH THE HIGHEST SHARES OF SINGLE-MEN HOMEOWNERS

Alaska, North Dakota, and South Dakota are the only states where single men own and occupy a larger share of homes than single women.

States with the highest shares of homes owned and occupied by single men:

1. New Mexico—14.49% of households owned and occupied by single women, compared to 12.85% by single men, for a gap of 1.64 percentage points (ppts).

2. North Dakota—10.66% owned and occupied by single women, compared to 12.74% by single men, for a gap of -2.08 ppts.

3. Alaska—10.28% owned and occupied by single women, compared to 12.44% by single men, for a gap of -2.16 ppts.

In South Dakota, the homeownership gap between single women and single men is -0.68 ppts.

STATES WITH THE WIDEST GENDER GAPS AMONG SINGLE HOMEOWNERS

Delaware, which has the largest share of homes owned and occupied by single women, also has the widest homeownership gap between single women and single men.

1. Delaware—-5.89 percentage points (15.34% by single women vs 9.45% by single men)

2. Maryland—5.21 ppts (14.01% by single women vs 8.80% by single men)

3. Massachusetts—4.97 ppts (13.18% by single women vs 8.21% by single men)

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO A HIGHER HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE AMONG SINGLE WOMEN

Here are some of the reasons why single women are more likely to own a home in most states: