Over the past decade, baby boomers produced a high rate of entrepreneurial activity, and Dan Stangler, senior analyst at the Kauffman Foundation, says the number of baby boomers starting a business in their traditional retirement years is likely to increase.

In response to that analysis, U.S. News & World Report identified 10 places that it says are the best places for an entrepreneurial baby boomer to retire. It picked the areas because they have an affordable cost of living, proximity to healthcare, fun recreational amenities, and access to information, particularly colleges and university with technology-focused departments.

Here are their 10 best suggestions:

1. Arlington, Va.
2. Columbia, Md.
3. Fargo, N.D.
4. Fayetteville, Ark.
5. Fort Collins, Colo.
6. Knoxville, Tenn.
7. Lincoln, Neb.
8. Madison, Wis.
9. Round Rock, Tex.
10. West Des Moines, Iowa

Source: U.S. News & World Report, Emily Brandon (06/29/2009)

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Elliott Robinson, JD – Associate Broker
Adams Realtors
458 Cherokee Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(o) 404-688-1222

Drivers responding to the survey identified the two key characteristics of rude drivers as:

* Drivers who overreact and lose their tempers.
* Aggressive drivers who cut into lanes, tailgate, speed and honk.

The five cities with the largest numbers of these miserable drivers are:

1. New York City
2. Dallas/Fort Worth
3. Detroit
4. Atlanta
5. Minneapolis/St. Paul

The survey identified the five most courteous cities as:

1. Portland, Ore.
2. Cleveland
3. Baltimore
4. Sacramento
5. Pittsburgh

Source: AutoAdvantage (06/16/2009)

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Elliott Robinson, JD – Associate Broker
Adams Realtors
458 Cherokee Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(o) 404-688-1222

Forbes magazine examined the nation’s 40 largest metropolitan statistical areas and based on the number of Forbes’ 400 best big companies and 200 best small companies that are headquartered in each, it identified what it considered places with the most opportunity.

The magazine says it took this route because the best big companies provide opportunities for those who seek to be employees, and the rate of success of small businesses indicates how the area treats entrepreneurs.

Here are the top 10:

1. Houston
2. Dallas
3. Minneapolis
4. Pittsburgh
5. Boston
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Austin
8. St. Louis
9. Kansas City, Mo.
10. New York

Source: Forbes, Lauren Sherman (06/19/2009)

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Elliott Robinson, JD – Associate Broker
Adams Realtors
458 Cherokee Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(o) 404-688-1222

Under the old rules, when a company transferred someone or an employee accepted a new position that entailed a move and the spouse or partner quit his or her job to come along, Fannie Mae would count at least part of that person’s income when considering a mortgage application.

But now, Fannie will no longer count the income of what it calls the “trailing spouse” until that person actually finds a new job and has a paycheck in hand.

Brian Faith, a spokesman for Fannie Mae, says, “Given the current economic and job market instability, the company has opted to discontinue consideration of trailing secondary wage-earner income in the interest of safer underwriting, since this income would only be anticipated and undocumented.”

Jan Hatfield-Goldman, a vice president for Worldwide ERC, the international trade association representing the employee relocation industry, said Fannie’s decision “makes the current challenging relocation environment even more so. Some transfers will either have to qualify on the basis of one income.” This will force couples to “buy less house than they wanted,” or “they may be required to rent for an extended period of time until the spouse or couple is re-employed.”

Source: Washington Post Writers Group, Ken Harney (06/19/2009)

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Elliott Robinson, JD – Associate Broker
Adams Realtors
458 Cherokee Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(o) 404-688-1222
Blog – http://elliott.featuredblog.com