By Sam Kemmis | NerdWallet

As someone who cares about my environmental impact and spending as little money as possible, life is full of fraught decisions.

Should I buy organic milk even though it’s twice as expensive? Or choose an electric car for $40,000 rather than a friend’s run-down Corolla for $3,000?

Should I make eye contact with the person on the street raising money to fight climate change or awkwardly pretend to be on a phone call?

The point is that my aversion to spending money often means I’m cutting corners environmentally. Yet when it comes to air travel, these preferences aren’t in conflict. In fact, reducing one’s travel carbon footprint can actually mean spending less on airfare.

The only downside: It means flying with airlines that pack you in (and treat you) like sardines.

The high cost of legroom

Flying burns a lot of fossil fuels — there’s no way around that fact. If the entire commercial aviation industry were a country, it would rank sixth (between Japan and Germany) in total emissions, according to an October 2019 report from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute.

But not all means of traveling by air have the same impact. More expensive seats, such as premium economy, business class and first class, burn more fuel per passenger than the sardine-like conditions at the back of the plane.

How much more? A lot.

Flying in first class on a widebody jet creates a carbon footprint nine times larger than flying in economy, according to a report from the World Bank’s Environment and Energy Team, Development Research Group.

That’s the first bit of good news for cheap, environmentally conscious travelers like me. You can save money and shrink your carbon footprint at the same time by choosing economy fares.

And that’s not all. Because not only does what cabin you fly in matter, but so does the plane’s layout.

Enter budget airlines

Imagine two types of bus: One that carries 50 passengers and one that carries 25. Assuming the fuel consumption is roughly similar for both, which bus would be more efficient in terms of gas burned per passenger mile?

Obviously, the more packed bus is more efficient.

Yet we often overlook the parallel with air travel. Some Boeing 737s, operated by low-cost airlines, carry far more passengers than the same 737s operated by airlines with first- and business–class seats, simply because they lack a first-class cabin.

That’s why budget airlines Frontier and Spirit ranked best regarding carbon dioxide emissions per seat mile (in grams) in a 2022 analysis by IBA, an aviation consulting firm.

In fact, the report specifically cites the high density (i.e., sardine-like) seating of Frontier’s aircraft as a major reason why the airline ranked so well.

Another reason budget airlines are dark-horse climate winners: They offer several nonstop flights.

For example, the new low-cost airline Zipair offers four routes from the U.S. directly to Tokyo. Flying direct in this way reduces emissions simply because it covers less distance and burns less fuel.

Flying direct often means paying more, but these low-cost airlines have turned that logic upside down. That means you can spend less, emit less and spend less time in the air.

So what’s the catch?

No such thing as a free soda

Low-cost airlines might be more environmentally friendly on the whole, and their fares can be cheaper on the surface, but actually saving money with them can be challenging. That’s because they generate much of their revenue through add-on fees on top of the base fare.

Expect to pay for everything from a can of soda to the opportunity to select your own seat. In fact, the cost of a flight with an airline like Spirit can quickly balloon past the cost of the same flight with a traditional carrier if you’re not careful.

That’s where stoicism comes in. Yeah, you’re paying and emitting less, but only because you’re giving up on “frills” like legroom and free drinks. That might be fine for a two-hour flight, but it will test even the steeliest nerves for a trans-Pacific one.

The trick is to pay for only the frills you actually care about. Budget airlines will try to push countless add-ons during checkout, from bundles to trip cancellation protection.

Some of these might be important to you, others less so. Being ruthless in turning down the latter is the only way to keep these costs low, and keep budget airline travel something you will want to continue doing in the future.

I like to treat this add-on fee system like a game that I’m winning by refusing to bite on needless add-ons. The fact that I’m reducing my carbon footprint while saving money is just the cherry on top.

 

The article Ask a Travel Nerd: Environmentally Friendly Air Travel for Cheap Stoics originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez, Katheryn Houghton | (TNS) KFF Health News

LAS VEGAS — When Andria Peterson began working as a clinical pharmacist in the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, Nevada, in 2009, she witnessed the devastating effects the opioid crisis had on the hospital’s youngest patients.

She recalled vividly one baby who stayed in the NICU for 90 days with neonatal abstinence syndrome, a form of withdrawal, because his mother had used substances while pregnant.

The mother came in every day, Peterson said. She took three buses to get to the hospital to see her baby. Peterson watched her sing to him some days and read to him on others.

“I saw in the NICU the love that she had for that baby,” Peterson said. “When it came down to it, she lost custody.”

At the time, Peterson said, she felt more could be done to help people like that mother. That’s why, in 2018, she founded Empowered, a program that provides services for pregnant and postpartum women who have a history of opioid or stimulant use or are currently using drugs.

The program helps about 100 women at any given time, Peterson said. Pregnancy often motivates people to seek treatment for substance use, she said. Yet significant barriers stand in the way of those who want care, even as national rates of fatal drug overdoses during and shortly after pregnancy continue to rise. In addition to the risk of overdose, substance use during pregnancy can result in premature birth, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome.

A federal initiative seeking to combat those overdoses is distributing millions of dollars to states to help fund and expand programs like Empowered. Six states will receive grant funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to increase access to treatment during and after pregnancy. The Nevada Health and Human Services Department is distributing the state’s portion of that funding, about $900,000 annually for up to three years, to help the Empowered program expand into northern Nevada, including by establishing an office in Reno and sending mobile staff into nearby rural communities.

Other states are trying to spread the federal funds to maximize reach. State officials in Montana have awarded their state’s latest $900,000 grant to a handful of organizations since first receiving a pool of funding in 2020. Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, and South Carolina will also receive $900,000 each.

Officials hope the financial boosts will help tamp down the rise in overdoses.

Deaths from drug overdoses hit record highs in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More recent preliminary data shows that the rates of fatal drug overdoses have continued to rise since.

Deaths in pregnant and postpartum people have also increased. Homicides, suicides and drug overdoses are the leading causes of pregnancy-related death.

Fatal overdoses among pregnant and postpartum people increased by approximately 81% from 2017 to 2020, according to a 2022 study. Of 7,642 reported deaths related to pregnancy during those years, 1,249 were overdoses. Rates of pregnancy-related opioid overdose deaths had already more than doubled from 2007 to 2016.

Meanwhile, mothers and mothers-to-be in rural parts of the country, some of the hardest hit by the opioid crisis, face greater barriers to care because of fewer treatment facilities specializing in pregnant and postpartum people in their communities and fewer providers who can prescribe buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction.

Data distinguishing the rates of overdose mortality among pregnant and postpartum people in urban and rural areas is hard to come by, but studies have found higher rates of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in rural parts of the country. Women in rural areas also died at higher rates from drug overdoses in 2020 compared with women in urban areas, while the overall rate and the rate among men were greater in urban areas.

In Nevada, a 2022 maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity report found that most of the state’s pregnancy-related deaths, 78%, happened in Clark County, home to Las Vegas and two-thirds of the state’s population. However, the state’s rural counties had the highest pregnancy-related death rate — 179.5 per 100,000 live births — while Clark County’s was 123 per 100,000 live births.

Empowered staff prepare a tote bag full of baby diapers and wipes for a client. (Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez/KFF Heath News/TNS)

During a recent event hosted by Empowered, four mothers recounted their struggles with addiction while pregnant. “It was never my intention to actually have a drug addiction,” said a mother named Amani. “I’ve always wanted to get out of the cycle of relapsing and drug usage.”

Amani, who asked to be identified only by her first name for fear of stigma associated with using drugs while pregnant or after giving birth, said she found the support she needed to treat her addiction in 2021. That’s when she began seeking help at Empowered.

Substance use while pregnant or postpartum is “incredibly stigmatizing,” said Emilie Bruzelius, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and author of a study of trends in drug overdose mortality during and after pregnancy. The stigma and fear of interacting with child welfare or law enforcement agencies prevents people from seeking help, she said.

A Rand Corporation study found that states with punitive policies toward mothers with substance use disorders have more cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome. Nevada was among them.

Researchers have found that, in addition to facing fear of punishment, many women don’t have access to treatment during and after pregnancy because few outpatient centers specialize in treating mothers.

Both Nevada and Montana had fewer than one treatment facility with specialized programs for pregnant and postpartum women per 1,000 reproductive-age women with substance use disorders, with Montana ranking in the lowest quintile.

One Health, a community health center covering Montana’s sprawling southeastern plains, is using the newly awarded federal money to train peer support specialists as doulas, professionals specialized in childbirth who can provide support throughout pregnancy and after.

Megkian Doyle, who directs the center’s community-based work, said in one case a survivor of sex trafficking who was drugged by her abusers worked with a recovery doula to prepare for the potential triggers of being exposed to medical workers or needing an IV. In another, a mom in stable recovery from addiction was able to keep her baby when hospital staffers called child protective services because she already had a safety plan with her doula and the agency.

After birth, recovery doulas visit families daily for two weeks, “the window when overdose, relapse, and suicide is happening,” Doyle said. The workers, in their peer support role, can continue helping clients for years.

While doula care, rarely covered by insurance, is unaffordable for many, Medicaid typically covers peer support care. As of late September, 37 states and Washington, D.C., had extended Medicaid benefits to cover care for 12 months postpartum. Montana and Nevada have approved plans to do so. Health centers in similarly rural states have taken note. The program’s latest cohort of recovery doulas includes five peer support specialists from Utah.

With its trauma-informed approach, the Nevada-based Empowered program takes a different tack.

Empowered has an incentive program that includes “shopping” in its store for women’s and babies’ clothing, shoes, and more. (Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez/KFF Heath News/TNS)

The program focuses on meeting its participants’ most pressing need, which varies depending on the person. Some people need help getting government-issued identification so they can access other social services, including aid from food pantries, said Peterson, the founder and executive director. Others may need safe housing above all.

Empowered is not abstinence-based, meaning its participants do not lose access to services if they relapse or use substances while seeking help. Because some participants may be actively using drugs, the Empowered office is also a distribution site for the overdose reversal medication naloxone and test strips that detect fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that has contributed to jumps in fatal overdose rates in recent years. The program’s staff also provide education about the effects drugs have on an unborn baby during pregnancy.

Being able to be honest with Empowered staff made a difference for Amani.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tripped and fallen but tried to get back up and fallen again,” she said.

The goal is not only to stabilize participants’ lives but to make them resilient — whatever that may look like for each individual. For many, that includes having stable housing, food security, job security, and custody of their children.

To her, Amani said, the Empowered program means love, support, and not being alone.

“I wouldn’t be here, literally, without them,” she said.

___

(KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.)

©2023 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL teams. The rankings will take into account not just weekly performance, injuries and roster depth, but how well each team measures up as Super Bowl contenders.

Here are the rankings heading into Week 8:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1, No. 1 last week)

Last week: Win vs. Chargers, 31-17

Up next: at Broncos

Perhaps flying under the radar is the fact that, in addition to having the best passing duo in the league in Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs also have one of the league’s best defenses. In fact, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranks Kansas City second behind only the Browns, citing improved depth under longtime defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. That makes the Chiefs the clear favorites nearly halfway through the regular season.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-1, No. 4)

Last week: Win vs. Dolphins, 31-17

Up next: at Commanders

Based on their record and past performance, the Eagles certainly have the resume of a Super Bowl contender. But there is some cause for concern with quarterback Jalen Hurts, who ranks second in the NFL with 10 turnovers after committing two more Sunday night, including a pick-six in the third quarter that tied the game. Philadelphia has been good, but not great, and that could be the difference in the postseason. Maybe the trade for Titans star safety Kevin Byard will push the defense back into the top tier.

3. Ravens (5-2, No. 9)

Last week: Win vs. Lions, 38-6

Up next: at Cardinals

Now that’s the Super Bowl contender everyone hoped to see. With a masterful performance from Lamar Jackson — who vaulted himself back to the top of the NFL Most Valuable Player race — and another lockdown effort from the defense, the Ravens proved they’re a team to be feared. Rarely are statement wins so decisive; according to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the third-largest margin of victory against a team with the NFL’s best record entering Week 7 or later. Opposing defensive coordinators had to be spooked by what they saw Sunday, as Jackson spread the ball around to nine receivers and the running game delivered its familiar ruthless efficiency. Add a defense that has been directed beautifully by coordinator Mike Macdonald — whose creative pressures have helped pile up a league-leading 29 sacks — and this team has all the makings of a conference champion. Now, let’s see it two weeks in a row.

4. San Francisco 49ers (5-2, No. 2)

Last week: Loss vs. Vikings, 22-17

Up next: vs. Bengals

For the first time since Weeks 6-7 last season, the 49ers have lost back-to-back games. It’s uncharted territory for Brock Purdy, who threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter Monday night, including the game-sealing one with 33 seconds left. Christian McCaffrey pushed his touchdown streak to 16 games, but his fumble on the 49ers’ first possession cost them points. Perhaps most concerning is the play of the defense, which couldn’t get off the field on third down and allowed 452 yards. This is not the dominant team we thought it was through the first five weeks of the season.

5. Miami Dolphins (5-2, No. 3)

Last week: Loss vs. Eagles, 31-17

Up next: vs. Patriots

The Dolphins have played only two teams with winning records this season, and they’ve lost to them both. That’s not to diminish what Miami has done on offense with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but there are weaknesses here on the offensive line and on defense that good teams have been able to exploit. One silver lining? The Dolphins’ front seven has come on strong of late, including 16 pressures and three sacks Sunday night in Philadelphia.

6. Dallas Cowboys (4-2, No. 7)

Last week: Bye

Up next: vs. Rams

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2, No. 8)

Last week: Win vs. Saints, 31-24

Up next: at Steelers

Like the Ravens, the Jaguars have had a similar problem putting teams away. They entered the fourth quarter Thursday night leading 24-9 but needed a late touchdown pass from Trevor Lawrence to win after allowing the tying score. Four straight wins is impressive, no matter the competition, but there has been plenty of luck involved. Jacksonville leads the league with 16 turnovers, an unsustainably high rate that could regress to the mean at the worst time.

8. Buffalo Bills (4-3, No. 6)

Last week: Loss vs. Patriots, 29-25

Up next: vs. Buccaneers

It’s officially time to be concerned about the Bills. Close losses to division rivals happen all the time, but there’s no reason Buffalo should be trailing this Patriots team by two scores in the fourth quarter. Most concerning are the routine slow starts; over the past three games, the Bills have averaged 5.7 points in the first three quarters. Relying on Josh Allen for some late magic every week isn’t going to work. There are more injury concerns, too, with tight end Dawson Knox undergoing wrist surgery and defensive tackles DaQuan Jones (pectoral) and Ed Oliver (toe) sidelined.

9. Detroit Lions (5-2, No. 5)

Last week: Loss vs. Ravens, 38-6

Up next: vs. Raiders

How the Lions respond to their beatdown in Baltimore will be telling. Detroit was used to imposing its will on both sides of the ball during its strong start, yet coach Dan Campbell’s team didn’t look like it belonged on the same field as the Ravens. The Lions had some notable absences Sunday, including running back David Montgomery and cornerback Jerry Jacobs, but that’s no excuse for falling behind 28-0 in the first half.

10. Cleveland Browns (4-2, No. 10)

Last week: Win vs. Colts, 39-38

Up next: at Seahawks

It might seem odd to say for a team that allowed 38 points, but the defense won the game for the Browns on Sunday. More specifically, star defensive end Myles Garrett, who recorded two sacks, forced two fumbles and blocked a field goal attempt. But as good as the defense is, the attention this week will be on quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was pulled after an ugly start after missing two games with a shoulder injury. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday the Browns were still “gathering information” on it but that Watson is still the leader of the team. The offense has looked much better with practice squad call-up PJ Walker under center, which is a bad sign for Cleveland’s $230 million investment.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (3-3, No. 11)

Last week: Bye

Up next: at 49ers

12. Seattle Seahawks (4-2, No. 12)

Last week: Win vs. Cardinals, 20-10

Up next: vs. Browns

With star receiver DK Metcalf out, rookies Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo each caught a touchdown pass in the first half to help Seattle escape with a win Sunday. Geno Smith threw an interception at the Arizona 1-yard line in the third quarter and fumbled a snap in Seattle territory early in the fourth, continuing a curiously uneven stretch for the veteran quarterback. The defense has helped carry the way, however, allowing just 4.7 yards per play, and could be seeing a breakout season from 2022 second-round pick Boye Mafe, who has a sack in each of the past four games. That would be huge, especially if Uchenna Nwosu misses time with a strained pectoral muscle.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2, No. 17)

Last week: Win vs. Rams, 24-17

Up next: vs. Jaguars

It’s been ugly at times, but the Steelers just keep winning. They only had three points and 91 yards at halftime Sunday, yet they scored on three of their first four drives of the second half after T.J. Watt intercepted a pass on the opening play of the third quarter. Kenny Pickett came alive in the fourth, going 7-for-7 for 138 yards including a nice back-shoulder throw to George Pickens — a staple of this Matt Canada offense. Pittsburgh might not stack up well with the AFC’s elite, but coach Mike Tomlin has always kept this team in the mix to the bitter end.

14. Minnesota Vikings (3-4, No. 25)

Last week: Win vs. 49ers, 22-17

Up next: at Packers

This Vikings team might be … better than the one that won 13 games last season? A statement win over the 49ers, led by two touchdown catches from rookie Jordan Addison and two interceptions by Camryn Bynum, provides plenty of hope for a Minnesota team that has quietly won three of four since starting 0-3. Kirk Cousins delivered an incredible performance Monday, particularly on third down, and finished 9 of 12 for 201 yards and two touchdowns on passes over 10 air yards. This could be a dangerous playoff team.

15. Atlanta Falcons (4-3, No. 21)

Last week: Win vs. Buccaneers, 16-13

Up next: at Titans

The Falcons tried to give the game away Sunday, but the Bucs wouldn’t take it. Desmond Ridder fumbled three times in the red zone, including at the 1-yard line on a run that would have given Atlanta a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. It was a maddening offensive performance, made even more so by the confusion surrounding Bijan Robinson’s availability, which was later explained as the rookie running back suffering from headaches. The Falcons are in first place in the NFC South, but this team doesn’t have the look of a division champion.

16. Los Angeles Rams (3-4, No. 13)

Last week: Loss vs. Steelers, 24-17

Up next: at Cowboys

If the Steelers don’t get a generous spot on a quarterback sneak to convert a fourth-and-1 at the Los Angeles 38 on the final snap before the two-minute warning, perhaps this Rams season feels different. They’ve been competitive in every game and have one of the league’s best offenses thanks to rookie receiver Puka Nacua, but they haven’t been able to string together wins. It sure feels like a rebuilding year.

17. Houston Texans (3-3, No. 18)

Last week: Bye

Up next: at Panthers

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3, No. 13)

Last week: Loss vs. Falcons, 16-13

Up next: at Bills

The Bucs are still in contention to win the NFC South, but they’re going nowhere fast with an offense that has struggled to score. They’re averaging just 17.2 points per game, making Baker Mayfield’s fourth-quarter interception to end a promising drive Sunday all the more painful. Nine penalties and 3.7 yards per carry isn’t going to cut it, no matter how good the defense is.

19. New York Jets (3-3, No. 19)

Last week: Bye

Up next: vs. Jets

20. Indianapolis Colts (3-4, No. 22)

Last week: Loss vs. Browns, 39-38

Up next: vs. Saints

It was the full Gardner Minshew experience Sunday, as he committed four turnovers but also averaged 13.3 yards per attempt and accounted for four touchdowns against perhaps the league’s best defense. The Colts will need to ride that roller coaster as long as rookie Anthony Richardson is out, but first-year coach Shane Steichen’s team has been much better than expected.

21. Los Angeles Chargers (2-4, No. 16)

Last week: Loss vs. Chiefs, 31-17

Up next: vs. Bears

This is starting to feel like the end of the line for this Chargers regime. Coach Brandon Staley built his reputation on defense, and Los Angeles allowed 24 points and 321 passing yards in the first half Sunday. The Chargers needed their stars to lead the way to pick up that elusive postseason victory, yet injuries and ineffective play have held them back. Asking Justin Herbert to carry the team with a fractured finger is a fitting situation for this franchise.

22. Washington Commanders (3-4, No. 15)

Last week: Loss vs. Giants, 14-7

Up next: vs. Eagles

How long can the Commanders stick with their Sam Howell experiment? The first-year starter has taken a league-high 40 sacks this season, which have killed drives and set the offense back. Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen’s frustration is warranted given how few signs of progress there have been over his seven seasons in Washington. A coaching change feels inevitable, and a new quarterback might soon follow.

23. New Orleans Saints (3-4, No. 20)

Last week: Loss vs. Jaguars, 31-24

Up next: at Colts

If tight end Foster Moreau hangs on to that pass to the back of the end zone with 30 seconds left Thursday, maybe the Saints enter their mini-bye sitting in first place in the division. Instead, they’ll face more questions about an offense that has put up empty stats under quarterback Derek Carr. They’ve scored a touchdown on just nine of 24 trips inside the red zone, a 37.5% rate that ranks fifth-worst in the NFL.

24. Denver Broncos (2-5, No. 31)

Last week: Win vs. Packers, 19-17

Up next: vs. Chiefs

For all the criticism the Broncos have received for their terrible start to the season, Russell Wilson has not been the problem. The 34-year-old quarterback ranks seventh in passer rating, ahead of more celebrated stars such as Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence. The defense has been the bigger problem, ranking last in DVOA, but it held up long enough Sunday to help secure the win.

25. Tennessee Titans (2-4, No. 26)

Last week: Bye

Up next: vs. Falcons

26. Chicago Bears (2-5, No. 28)

Last week: Win vs. Raiders, 30-12

Up next: at Chargers

With the caveat that his average depth of target was 2 yards Sunday, former Division II quarterback Tyson Bagent was efficient and avoided mistakes in helping Chicago end a 10-game home losing streak. At the very least, the Bears should be competitive as they wait for starter Justin Fields to return.

27. New England Patriots (2-5, No. 30)

Last week: Win vs. Bills, 29-25

Up next: at Dolphins

Mac Jones delivered the second game-winning drive of his NFL career, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. His touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki with 12 seconds left will at least keep questions about his long-term outlook as the starter at bay for another week. Bill Belichick is now the third coach in NFL history with 300 regular-season victories, but it doesn’t look like he’ll get many more this year unless this win sparks a dramatic turnaround.

28. New York Giants (2-5, No. 29)

Last week: Win vs. Commanders, 14-7

Up next: vs. Jets

Do the Giants have a Daniel Jones problem? It’s hard to ignore how much better the offense has looked with backup Tyrod Taylor under center, even though it’s only produced 23 points in two games. Perhaps New York would have been better off riding with a stopgap quarterback this season rather than giving Jones a new contract. It’s still early, but the pressure is on for the 26-year-old to prove himself when he returns from a neck injury.

29. Las Vegas Raiders (3-4, No. 23)

Last week: Loss vs. Bears, 30-12

Up next: at Lions

Without Jimmy Garoppolo, this is an unserious team. Brian Hoyer and Aidan O’Connell combined to average 4.5 yards per attempt and threw three interceptions Sunday, and the running game averaged just 2.8 yards per carry. There are not many reasons why coach Josh McDaniels should keep this job for much longer.

30. Arizona Cardinals (1-6, No. 27)

Last week: Loss vs. Seahawks, 20-10

Up next: vs. Ravens

The Cardinals’ defense did its job Sunday, but the offense turned three Seattle turnovers into just three points. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs has struggled three weeks in a row after a surprisingly strong start, with Arizona now slipping to 28th in the NFL in passing (180.9 yards per game). The running game remains the team’s only strength.

31. Green Bay Packers (2-4, No. 24)

Last week: Loss vs. Broncos, 19-17

Up next: vs. Vikings

Make that three straight losses for Green Bay — and it could easily be five in a row if not for the Packers overcoming a 17-0 fourth-quarter deficit against the Saints in Week 3. The main story coming out of Sunday’s debacle was coach Matt LaFleur reaffirming his faith in Jordan Love, which is not something you want to hear midway through a quarterback’s first season as the starter. Injuries have taken their toll on offense, but Love hasn’t met expectations so far.

32. Carolina Panthers (0-6, No. 32)

Last week: Bye

Up next: vs. Texans

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Ruben Caginalp | Bankrate.com (TNS)

Prospective homebuyers across the U.S. are feeling the squeeze amid high home prices and steep mortgage rates. Up against these challenging conditions, many homeowners are disinclined to sell, further restricting the already-short supply of homes on the market.

“The unintended consequence of the so-called lock-in effect has limited the supply of homes for sale, because most owners have relatively low mortgage rates and don’t want to move,” explains Mark Hamrick, Bankrate’s senior economic analyst.

As a result, today’s housing market looks different than it has in past years. “Buyers and sellers both typically take a step back in the fall, but mortgage rates now near 8% are cooling the market faster than normal,” says Jeff Tucker, a senior economist at Zillow. “A lack of competition from other buyers is offering opportunities to those still in the market, as many listings are lingering after the summer shopping season.” Read on to learn all about the current state of the U.S. housing market.

Key factors driving the U.S. housing market

—Home prices are sky-high. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the country’s median existing-home price topped $400,000 three times this year — in June, July and August — coming within just a few thousand dollars of its highest median ever on record ($413,800, in June 2022). September was the year’s third consecutive month of year-over-year median home price increases.

—Housing inventory is too low to meet demand, resulting in a nationwide housing shortage that has been tough to dent. September saw just a 3.4-month supply of homes for sale, per NAR data, which is well short of the 5 or 6 months required for a healthy, more balanced market.

—The pace of new construction has not yet been able to meaningfully ease the shortage. Both new building permits and housing starts, a metric that measures the beginning of construction on a new residential home, saw year-over-year declines of more than 7% in September, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development.

—Mortgage interest rates continued climbing, topping 8% in mid-October for the first time in 23 years. Just two years ago, in October 2021, rates were below 3.5%. This challenge alone puts buying a home out of reach for many Americans for the time being.

Local markets have their own dynamics

Local market conditions can vary widely by region, state or even individual city. The disparities mean that your money can go much further in some markets than in others.

The unique Florida housing market is a perfect example. The Sunshine State led the country in net migration last year, according to a study by NAR — meaning it topped all other states in terms of new residents moving there — despite being in the throes of a home-insurance crisis that has made some properties uninsurable. Perhaps that’s why its home prices remain right on par with the national median, even with outsize buyer demand.

On the other hand, median home prices in notoriously expensive San Francisco remain far above $1 million ($1.33 million as of September 2023), according to Redfin data. This despite a 5.4% year-over-year drop and the state of California actually losing residents last year, rather than gaining them.

In Austin, Texas, meanwhile, prices have been on a roller coaster influenced by a boom of tech companies and remote workers. According to Redfin, the median home price started 2021 at $465,000, then skyrocketed to a high of $670,000 by mid-2022 before dropping back down to $525,000 and then jumping past $600,000 again in 2023. Even with these fluctuations, Austin was named the best place in the country to start your career in a recent Bankrate study.

Navigating the current housing market

Thinking of buying or selling a home soon? Your experience will vary based on a wide variety of factors, including mortgage rates and home prices, both of which are at historically high levels.

While experts predict that the market will cool down eventually, they’re confident that there will not be a housing market crash akin to the Great Recession in the early 2000s. Inventory is still too low, and demand too high, for a crash — plus, mortgage lending standards today are much stricter than they were back then.

On the whole, sellers still have the upper hand — but as illustrated above, that could range wildly from one geographic location to another. “Depending on the market, location and price point, sellers could find either multiple offers or the need to be flexible on price,” says Hamrick.

And buyers who are willing to brave the market should stay on their toes. “Buyers should be aware that attractive listings still sell quickly,” says Tucker.

Should I buy a house now or wait?

Is now a good time to buy a house? Whether to buy now or wait is a big decision that depends a lot on your personal circumstances. Yes, mortgage rates are currently high, but days-on-market figures are up too, giving you more time to make an informed decision. And there’s no guarantee things will improve if you hold off.

If you’re ready to buy, remember that you don’t have to go for your dream home right away. Look for what you can afford now. “Prospective buyers might need to dial down their aspirations for what they’re willing to buy,” says Hamrick. If you have a strong credit score and enough saved up for a down payment, buying now will allow you to start building equity immediately — you can always refinance if rates go down later.

Should I sell a house now or wait?

Low inventory levels mean sellers have the upper hand in most of the U.S. But with mortgage rates and prices remaining elevated, buyers are wary — which makes selling more challenging.

With that in mind, deciding whether now is a good time to sell your house can be tricky. Again, it depends on a number of personal factors. Selling may be a good idea if you’re ready to downsize or retire, or if you need to relocate. But if you need to then buy a new house, the tables will be turned and you’ll be facing the same headwinds buyers currently are. Before you list your home, make sure you have a good understanding of how much it’s worth, so you’ll know what kind of profit you stand to make and if it will be worth it.

Next steps

If you think you’re ready to start your homebuying journey, it’s important to keep saving as much as possible and working on your credit. A bigger down payment can save you thousands in mortgage principal and interest in the long run, and a higher credit score will help you snag a more competitive rate, which will also result in a more affordable monthly payment.

And be sure to team up with an experienced local real estate agent who can help you navigate your local market successfully. A knowledgeable agent can help sellers price and market their home competitively, and help buyers negotiate a good deal on a home that meets their needs — or at least comes as close as possible. Ask friends and family for recommendations and try to interview at least three candidates before settling on the right agent for you.

FAQs

—Are home prices dropping or rising in the U.S.?

They are rising. According to information from the National Association of Realtors, the median home price in the U.S. rose 2.8% between September 2022 and September 2023 and currently stands at just below $400,000. The median sale prices for July, August and September were all record highs for that month.

—Is the U.S. housing market going to crash?