Petmate Celebrates National Pet Month with Tips and Tools for Happy Pet Families

Petmate is passionate about providing fun trusted quality products to enhance the lives of pets and their families. To celebrate National Pet Month this May, Petmate offers tips and tools to help pet families enjoy all the benefits and responsibilities of sharing their lives with their pets.

Studies show that pets provide social support and companionship to humans of all ages.  The human-animal bond can lead to lower blood pressure, increased movement and exercise and even build family happiness at home.

"With over 50 years of experience developing fun, quality pet products, we have accumulated a wealth of knowledge," says Chris Wilson, executive vice president of marketing and new product development for Petmate.  "We are proud to share these important tips with the pet community and to celebrate the everyday joy that pets bring to our lives."

As the weather gets warmer, Petmate can help pet families prepare for the seasonal transition with outdoor tips and products to support the bonds built between pets and their parents. 

Pre-exercise/training is a must after such a long winter

• You don't want to exercise your dog too hard right off the bat. It is important to ease into their training especially coming from a long winter inside where they have not been as active.
• Petmate delivers action-packed outdoor fun with the new Chuckit! Ultra Sling, the highly portable and versatile fetch device that can shoot long or short distances. The elastic band allows for adjustable range for smaller yards or open parks and its compact size is easy to store and carry. Its universal sizing works for any size dog. Five different fetch toys can be used with the Ultra Sling and it includes the Ultra Dart Spin!
• Transitioning from indoors to out, Petmate's new JW Cuz Collection allows for fun, interactive play with your dog to help train them and get them in better shape for summer. The iconic rubber "ball with feet" now comes in three new, fun characters – Hip, Muscle and Spiky Cuz - and features the classic JW squeaker to promote play.

As the temperature rises, focus exercise in the morning or evening

• It is generally cooler in the mornings and evenings so it is best to exercise and train your dog during those times. Try to avoid peak day when it can be hottest and allow your dog to walk through the grass or a cool surface.
• Petmate's Max Glow™ in the dark collars and leashes are just the option for safe, evening walks when the temperatures and asphalt are a bit cooler. These self-activating collars and leashes absorb sunlight throughout the day and automatically glow at night.

Always have water handy

• Dogs can easily get dehydrated in the warmer climate and especially after exercise. If your dog is panting excessively, stop and let them cool down. Always have water on hand to make sure they can rehydrate. Petmate's Travel Bowl Duo, the dishwasher safe, silicone collapsible bowls, are great options for on the go water and feeding anytime, anyplace.

Mediterranean Lemon Chicken and Potatoes recipe

From soup to strata and everything in between, creative cooking with your kids just got easier!  The United States Potato Board (USPB) and The Kids Cook Monday (TKCM) just released 52 Mondays, a potato recipe cookbook for families. Available as an e-cookbook on potatogoodness.com, it features meal suggestions for every Monday of the year.

TKCM and USPB put their heads together last fall to identify the most delicious and nutritious, family-oriented potato recipes families can enjoy cooking and eating together at home, even on a busy weeknight. 52 Mondays features clear recipe categories and signature "Kid/Adult/Together" preparation guides to help turn any kiddo into a capable cook. With recipes for every age and all taste preferences, kids will have a special sense of accomplishment knowing they helped put dinner on the family table. 

"We are so proud to partner with The Kids Cook Monday," said Meredith Myers, USPB Global Consumer Marketing Manager. "Research shows when children are exposed to cooking fresh foods from a young age, they are more likely to make healthy dietary choices later in life. So, why not learn to cook their favorite vegetable early?"

Exposure to scratch cooking also helps kids develop a mature palate and a taste for fresh, wholesome ingredients. The earlier kids become accustomed to nutritious foods (like potatoes), the less likely they will acquire a taste for processed foods.

Potatoes are a natural, fresh and nutrition-packed vegetable. One medium size, skin-on potato has just 110 calories per serving, more potassium than a banana and provides almost half the daily value of vitamin C with no fat, sodium or cholesterol. With so many recipes and potato types to choose from (Russets, reds, yellows, whites, purples/blues, fingerlings and petites), kids and parents can work together to keep dinner exciting, 52 weeks a year!

Ready to get cooking? Try the following recipe for Mediterranean Lemon Chicken and Potato Packets, a perfect quick dinner for the grill. For more recipes or to download the cookbook, visit www.PotatoGoodness.com.

Mediterranean Lemon Chicken and Potatoes

Prep time: 5 minutes  Cook Time:  30 minutes

1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup reduced-fat Greek or olive oil vinaigrette
1/3 cup quartered Kalamata olives (optional)
1/4 cup lemon juice 
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 cup chopped tomato

Family Directions:

Kids:  Mix all ingredients except tomatoes in a large bowl. 
Kids:  Place equal amounts onto 4 large squares of heavy-duty foil.
Together:  Fold in top and sides of each to enclose filling, leaving room for air to circulate. 
Adult:  Grill over medium heat for about 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are soft. 
Together:  Carefully open packets and sprinkle equal amounts of tomato over each.

This dish is delicious topped with crumbled feta cheese just before serving.

Makes 4 servings.

Note: Packets may also be baked at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes instead of grilling.

Nutritional analysis per serving:

Per serving: Calories 349, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 126 mg, Sodium: 1176 mg, Carbohydrates: 27 g, Fiber: 3 g, Potassium: 707 mg, Protein: 41 g, Vitamin C: 38%

Two Working Parents Means More Grandparents Moving to Help with Childcare

Forget warmer climates … more Baby Boomers are retiring near their adult children to help care for grandchildren.

According to the Mayflower Movers Insights study, one in four U.S. adults with children are more willing to move closer to their adult children now compared to one year ago. And, half of Americans believe that Boomers are more needed in the same town as their children and grandchildren than they were five years ago.

"Every day our Mayflower agents across the country are moving hundreds of families to their new homes, and many agents report that they're seeing more Boomers move to be near their children and grandchildren," said Melissa Sullivan, director, marketing communications, Mayflower. "This survey data supports the trend that our agents are seeing in the field, and helps us not only analyze where our customers move, but understand the reasons why."

Forty percent of survey respondents said their friends and family members age 50 or older have moved in the last year to be closer to their children and grandchildren in order to provide care for grandchildren. Additionally, one in five Americans said their friends and family members moved because their children needed additional help with their kids because both parents work. This new data complements the results of a 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, which found that 59.1 percent of all U.S. families with children under the age of 18 had two working parents.

"Both my son and daughter-in-law work full-time and neither wanted to leave their jobs when my granddaughter was born, but they also didn't want to spend a fortune on daycare," said Wanda Dobson, a Mayflower customer who recently relocated from Rolla, Mo. toSt. Louis to be near family and provide support with childcare. "I wanted to be able to see my grandkids grow up so I decided to move to St. Louis to help care for the baby while mom and dad are at work."

"Family dynamics have shifted dramatically over the last 50 years, largely due to the increasing number of families with two working parents, high rate of divorce, large number of cohabiting couples and single parents," said Dr. Philip Cohen, a professor of sociology at the University of Maryland who studies household and family structure. "All of these factors have led to an increased need for childcare across the U.S. and therefore an increased reliance on grandparents for support."

The Boomerang Effect – Once Fleeing the Coop, Millennials are Returning HomeThe Mayflower Movers Insights study also found that one in four U.S Millennials (age 18 to 34) have moved back to their hometown in the past five years. When asked why they're moving home, 68 percent of Millennial respondents cited that they wished to be closer to family, friends and significant others. An additional 18 percent said they were moving to help care for family members.

"After college, my husband and I moved to Los Angeles to start our careers," said Ashley Luther, a Mayflower customer. "But when we wanted to buy a house, we decided to move back to our hometown of St. Louis because it offers a much more affordable cost of living and allows us to be closer to family as we settle down and think about having children."

Ashley and her husband are not alone in following this logic. One-third of U.S. Millennials who do not currently live in their hometown would consider moving to their hometown at some point in their life. The top three reasons for considering a move are to be closer to family, friends and significant others (67 percent), to care for family (29 percent) and to settle down and start a family (17 percent). 

"Boomers had fewer children than previous generations, and therefore had more time to devote to nurturing their relationships with their kids. These stronger relationships probably are a big factor that is drawing Millennials back to live in their hometown near their parents," added Dr. Cohen. "Many of these Millennials appear to be moving back to their hometowns to receive help from their parents with childcare, but there's also a large number who are returning to provide care for their aging parents." 

Mayflower, America's most recognized and trusted moving company, moves an average of 60,000 families each year and has 300 agents across the country. Read Mayflower's moving tips to learn how to save time and money and avoid moving scams.

Survey Background and MethodologyRespondents to the survey were selected from Research Now's consumer panel to reflect a general distribution of the consumer population, ages 18 years and older. Respondents were also selected by regional geographic distribution (South, West, Northeast, Midwest) to reflect U.S. demographics. Without knowledge of Mayflower's sponsorship, 1,000 general U.S. adult population respondents completed the survey. Age/generation groups were assigned using the following criteria: Millennial: age 18-34; Gen X: age 35-49; Boomer: age 50-64; Pre-Boomer: age 65+. Additional samples were collected for Millennial and Boomer generational groups to ensure adequate sample sizes for questions specifically addressed to those groups. These responses were weighted to reflect standard U.S. distribution of age groups. For these (Millennial and Boomer) an additional 200 responses were collected for each group, resulting in a total of 1,400 total respondents.

More Consumers Positive On Housing, But Not Quite Ready to Leave the Sidelines

Results from Fannie Mae's April 2015 National Housing Survey™ show some improvement in housing sentiment, but likely not enough to trigger any breakout improvements in housing market activity this year. Among those surveyed, the share saying they would prefer to buy a home if they were to move increased to 63 percent in April, following a drop of six percentage points in February and March. In addition, average home price growth expectations continued their steady climb from late last year, with respondents now saying home prices will increase by 2.8 percent during the next 12 months. However, the share who believe this is a good time to buy a home decreased by four percentage points as consumer concerns regarding high home prices surged for a second consecutive month, matching renewed concerns regarding the state of the economy. These data points as a whole mirror Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Sentiment Index (expected to be released this summer), which has remained largely flat since last fall, further suggesting that housing growth may remain subdued in 2015.

"The spring and summer home buying season has gotten off to a stronger start, reflected in some of the improvement in consumer housing sentiment," said Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae. "The share of consumers who intend to own rather than rent their next home rebounded after a two-month slide. Meanwhile, home price growth expectations strengthened to the strongest pace since last October. Nevertheless, consumers continue to express concerns about the recent weakening economic conditions and high home prices. These combine to depress the share of consumers believing it is a good time to buy a home. When we consider both the continued caution of consumers and the positive start to the year, we believe that these results support our expectation that 2015 will be a year of modest growth in housing activity."

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

Homeownership and Renting

• The average 12-month home price change expectation rose to 2.8 percent.
• The share of respondents who say home prices will go up in the next 12 months fell to 46 percent. The share who say home prices will go down fell to 7 percent.
• The share of respondents who say mortgage rates will go up in the next 12 months stayed constant at 52 percent.
• Those who say it is a good time to buy a house fell to 63 percent, while those who say it is a good time to sell remained at 46 percent – tying last month's survey high.
• The average 12-month rental price change expectation rose to 4.1 percent.
• The percentage of respondents who expect home rental prices to go up rose to 54 percent.
• Those who think it would be easy to get a home mortgage increased by 2 percentage points to 52 percent, while those who think it would be difficult remained at 46 percent.
• The share who say they would buy if they were going to move rose 3 percentage points to 63 percent, while the share who would rent fell to 32 percent.

The Economy and Household Finances

• The share of respondents who say the economy is on the right track decreased by 1 percentage point to 42 percent, while those who say the economy is on the wrong track rose by 1 percentage point to 49 percent.
• The percentage of respondents who expect their personal financial situation to get worse over the next 12 months fell to 10 percent – matching the survey low.
• The share of respondents who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago rose 2 percentage points to 24 percent.
• A new survey low, 29 percent of respondents say their household expenses are significantly higher than they were 12 months ago. A survey high, 60 percent say their expenses are the same.

The most detailed consumer attitudinal survey of its kind, Fannie Mae's National Housing Survey™ polled 1,000 Americans via live telephone interview to assess their attitudes toward owning and renting a home, home and rental price changes, homeownership distress, the economy, household finances, and overall consumer confidence. Homeowners and renters are asked more than 100 questions used to track attitudinal shifts (findings are compared to the same survey conducted monthly beginning June 2010). To reflect the growing share of households with a cell phone but no landline, the National Housing Survey has increased its cell phone dialing rate to 60 percent as of October 2014. For more information, please see the Technical Notes. Fannie Mae conducts this survey and shares monthly and quarterly results so that we may help industry partners and market participants target our collective efforts to stabilize the housing market in the near-term, and provide support in the future.

U.S. Census Bureau Facts Older Americans Month

A meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens resulted in President John F. Kennedy designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute to older people across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter's proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public recognition.

44.7 million The number of people who were 65 and older in the United States on July 1, 2013. This group accounted for 14.5 percent of the total population.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPAGESEX

98.2 million Projected population of people 65 and older in 2060. People in this age group would comprise just over one in five U.S. residents at that time. Of this number, 19.7 million would be 85 or older.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections, Table 3http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2014/summarytables.html

2.4 millionProjected number of baby boomers in 2060. At that time, the youngest baby boomers would be 96 years old.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb12-243.html

2056The year in which, for the first time, the population 65 and older would outnumber people younger than 18 in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb12-243.html

Income and Poverty

$35,611The 2013 median income of households with householders 65 and older, not significantly different from the previous year.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2013, Table 1
http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-249.pdf

9.5%The percent of people 65 and older (4.2 million) who were in poverty in 2013. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States:  2013, Table 3http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-249.pdf

$170,516Median net worth for householders 65 and older in 2011, down from $203,015 (in 2011 dollars) in 2005.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Net Worth and Asset Ownership of Households: 2011 http://www.census.gov/people/wealth

14.6% Percent supplemental poverty rate for those 65 and older, equating to 6.5 million people. Excluding Social Security would leave the majority of this population (14.2 percent or 44.5 million) in poverty.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2013
http://census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-251.pdf

Serving Our Nation

9.3 million Estimated number of people 65 and older who were veterans of the armed forces in 2013.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk

Jobs

12.6% Labor force participation rate for men 65 and older in 2013, down from 17.6 percent in 1990 and significantly less than the rate for women 65 and older at 15.6 percent (8.4 percent in 1990).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey Table B23001
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk

4.9 millionNumber of full-time, year-round workers 65 and older with earnings in 2012, up from 1.5 million in 1993. 
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Historical Income Tables: People, Table P-32
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/historical/people/

Education

83.6%Proportion of people 65 and older in 2014 who had completed high school or higher education.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2014, Table 1 All Raceshttp://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2014/tables.html

26.3%Percentage of the population 65 and older in 2014 who had earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2014, Table 1 All Raceshttp://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2014/tables.html

Marital Status and Living Arrangements

58.3% Percentage of people 65 and older who were married in 2014.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements, Table A1 http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2014A.html

11.3%Percentage of people 65 and older in 2014 who were widowed.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements, Table A1
http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2014A.html

Computer and Internet Use

71%The percentage of those 65 and older who reported living in homes with computers in 2013. Additionally, 62.4 percent accessed the Internet through a high-speed Internet connection.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Computer and Internet Use, Table 2
http://census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/acs/acs-28.pdf

Voting

69.8%Percentage for those 65 and older who reported casting a ballot in the 2012 presidential election. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2012, Table 2
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/publications/p20/2012/tables.html

Homeownership

79.5% Percentage of householders 65 and older who owned their homes as of fourth quarter 2014.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, Table 7
http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/q414ind.html

Services for the Older Population

25,899
Number of business establishments providing services for the elderly and people with disabilities in 2012. These businesses employed 911,331 workers and generated $34.4 billion in revenues. In 2007, there were 20,433 such establishments, employing 621,545 and producing $25.3 billion in revenues. Senior citizens centers are among the establishments in this industry.
Source: 2012 and 2007 Economic Census Industry Series (NAICS 624120)

4,792Number of continuing care retirement communities in 2012. These businesses employed 426,109 workers and generated $27.7 billion in revenues. In 2007, there were 5,939 such establishments, employing 442,219 people and producing $26.0 billion in revenues. These establishments provide a range of residential and personal care services with on-site nursing care facilities for older people who do not desire to live independently. Individuals live in a variety of residential settings with meals, housekeeping, social, leisure and other services available to assist residents in daily living.
Source: 2012 and 2007 Economic Census Industry Series (NAICS 623311)

On the Map

17.8%Percentage of Florida's population that was 65 and older in 2013, followed by Maine (16.5 percent) and West Virginia (16.5 percent).Alaska had the lowest percentage (8.2 percent), followed by Utah (9.3 percent) and Texas (10.7 percent). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_S0103&prodType=table

51.6%Percentage of the population in Sumter County, Fla., that was 65 and older in 2013, which led the nation. Chattahoochee County, Ga.(3.8 percent) had the lowest percentage.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2014/cb14-118.html

114,350The estimated July 1, 2014, population of The Villages, Fla., metro area. The Villages, located to the west of the Orlando metro area, was the nation's fastest-growing metro area between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014, with its population increasing by 5.4 percent. The metro area is home to one of the largest age-restricted retirement communities in the world.
Source: 2014 metro area population estimates
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2015/20150326_popestimates.html

Centenarians

54,956The number of people age 100 and older counted by the 2010 Census.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, The Centenarian Population: 2007-2011 Table 1
http://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/acsbr12-18.pdf

20.7For every 100 centenarian women, the number of centenarian men in 2010.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, The Older Population: 2010
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-09.pdf

43.5%In 2010, percentage of centenarian men who lived with others in a household, the most common living arrangement for this group. For their female counterparts, the most common living arrangement was residing in a nursing home (35.2 percent).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf

3.29Number of centenarians per 10,000 people in North Dakota in 2010. North Dakota was the only state with more than three centenarians per 10,000 people.

Home Field Advantage - Shane Victorino, Boston Red Sox

Pet Ownership at 54% of U.S. Households

From 2010 to 2014, the overall rate of pet ownership has held fairly steady, going from 53% of U.S. households to almost 54%. This equates to 61 million households in 2010 vs. 64 million in 2014, according to U.S. Pet Market Outlook, 2015-2016, a new report by market research publisher Packaged Facts.

The percentage of households that own dogs has held steady for the last four years, at about 38%.  Since 2008, almost 6 million more dog-owning households have come into the market.  Households with cats have basically stayed flat between 2008 and 2014.  In 2014, about 25% of U.S. households had cats, or about 30 million households. Overall, more than half of U.S. households own either a dog or a cat. Among other animal types, reptiles have seen something of an increase in popularity from 2010 to 2014.  In contrast, households with fish have declined.

The age bracket from 18-44 (Millennials and Gen Xers) represents a combined 27 million pet owners as of 2014, or almost 2 million more than the next major bracket (45-64, essentially Baby Boomers). Pet ownership has shown marked gains among Gen Y adults over the past few years, as ownership rate was just 50% as recently as 2010 but reached 59% in 2014 and was as high as 66% in 2012. 

Despite the strong tendency toward pet ownership among 18-44 year olds, it's Baby Boomers who are poised to be the pet industry's most influential demographic group.  Boomers have broken the historical pattern of slacking off in pet ownership as they age.  Instead, they have superimposed their proclivities toward health/wellness and self-pampering onto their pets. In and of itself, this is very good news. But the news gets even better in that Boomers are rapidly aging into the senior bracket (the oldest Boomers turn 69 in 2015). If Boomers' "rule-breaking" behavior with regard to pet ownership continues, the result will be robust pet market participation in the senior cohort, where pet ownership rates have historically been far below average. On the other hand, if Boomers retroactively revert to traditional patterns of reduced pet ownership among seniors, the market may find itself challenged indeed. Packaged Facts views this latter scenario as less likely, and instead expects the aging Boomer to help drive market growth for many years to come.

Appraisal Institute Shares Property Tax Appeal Tips

Homeowners who are considering property tax appeals should be prepared with all the relevant information and be mindful of local rules, the nation's largest professional association of real estate appraisers said today.

As many U.S. homeowners begin receiving their local property tax bills, the Appraisal Institute offered suggestions to make the appeal process easier.

The amount of property taxes due to local municipalities is typically based on the location and assessed value of the home. Consumers also should understand that the assessed value of a property can change over time if, for example, improvements are made.

"There can be a big difference in property taxes from county to county and state to state. Regardless of where one lives, it's important to know how property taxes are calculated locally and to follow all related legal requirements," said Appraisal Institute President M. Lance Coyle, MAI, SRA.

While consumers might think they have a good idea of whether their property has been properly assessed, it's much easier to make the case that their taxes are too high if there's a professional appraisal to back up the argument. Homeowners should consider having an independent appraisal prepared and present the appraisal report to the assessor because appraisers are third-party experts who provide credible opinions of value. Consumers also should be mindful of Internal Revenue Service rules.

"Many homeowners recently filed tax returns with the IRS. Looking ahead to future tax filings, it's important to understand that the agency has specific rules about the deductibility of property taxes, and consumers should with check with their tax professionals accordingly," Coyle said.

There can be various stages of tax appeals based on the municipality, and Coyle suggested that homeowners consult with their assessor's office or a local appraiser who can provide expertise. An experienced appraiser can also shed light on the local appeals process.

"Homeowners should be sure to hire a highly competent, well qualified appraiser, such as a Designated member of the Appraisal Institute," Coyle said.

To find an appraiser, go to the Appraisal Institute's website and use the Find An Appraiser function.

CoreLogic Reports National Homes Prices Rose by 5.9 Percent Year Over Year in March 2015

 CoreLogic® (NYSE: CLGX), a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled services provider, today released its March 2015 CoreLogic Home Price Index (HPI®) which shows that home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased by 5.9 percent in March 2015 compared with March 2014. This change represents 37 months of consecutive year-over-year increases in home prices nationally. On a month-over-month basis, home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased by 2 percent in March 2015 compared withFebruary 2015.*

Including distressed sales in March, 27 states plus the District of Columbia were at or within 10 percent of their peak prices. Seven states, including Colorado, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming, reached new home price highs since January 1976 when the CoreLogic HPI started.

Excluding distressed sales, home prices increased by 6.1 percent in March 2015 compared with March 2014 and increased by 2 percent month over month compared with February 2015. Excluding distressed sales, only New Mexico (0.4 percent) showed year-over-year depreciation in March. Distressed sales include short sales and real estate-owned (REO) transactions.

The CoreLogic HPI Forecast indicates that home prices, including distressed sales, are projected to increase by 0.8 percent month over month from March 2015 to April 2015 and on a year-over-year basis by 5.1 percent** from March 2015 to March 2016. Excluding distressed sales, home prices are expected to increase by 0.7 percent month over month from March 2015 to April 2015 and by 4.7 percent** year over year from March 2015 to March 2016. The CoreLogic HPI Forecast is a projection of home prices using the CoreLogic HPI and other economic variables. Values are derived from state-level forecasts by weighting indices according to the number of owner-occupied households for each state.

“The homes for sale inventory continues to be limited while buyer demand has picked up with low mortgage rates and improving consumer confidence,” said Frank Nothaft, chief economist for CoreLogic. “As a result, there has been continued upward pressure on prices in most markets, with our national monthly index up 2 percent for March 2015 and up approximately 6 percent from a year ago.”

“All signs are pointing toward continued price appreciation throughout 2015. In fact, the strong month-over-month gain in March may be a harbinger of accelerating price appreciation as we enter the spring selling season,” said Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “Tight inventories, job growth and the inexorable impact of demographics and household formation are pushing price levels in many states, and especially large metropolitan areas like Dallas, Denver, Houston, Seattle and San Francisco, toward record levels.”

Highlights as of March 2015:

• Including distressed sales, the five states with the highest home price appreciation were: Colorado (+9.2 percent), South Carolina (+9.1 percent), Kansas (+8 percent), Texas (+8 percent) and Nevada (+7.6 percent).
• Excluding distressed sales, the five states with the highest home price appreciation were: Kansas (+9.5 percent), Colorado (+8.5 percent), South Carolina (+8.2 percent), Florida (+7.9 percent) and Texas (+7.6 percent).
• Including distressed transactions, the peak-to-current change in the national HPI (from April 2006 to March 2015) was -11 percent. Excluding distressed transactions, the peak-to-current change for the same period was -6.7 percent.
• Including distressed sales, two states and the District of Columbia experienced home price depreciation at the following rates: Connecticut (-0.6 percent), the District of Columbia (-0.2 percent) and Maryland (-0.1 percent).
• The five states with the largest peak-to-current declines, including distressed transactions, were: Nevada (-34.7 percent), Florida (-31.5 percent), Rhode Island (-29 percent), Arizona (-27.4 percent) and Connecticut (-25.5 percent).
• Ninety of the top 100 Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) measured by population showed year-over-year increases in March 2015. The 10 CBSAs that showed year-over-year declines were: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Camden, NJ; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT; New Orleans-Metairie, LA; Rochester, NY; Worcester, MA-CT.; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY; New Haven-Milford, CT and Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ.

Americans spend $1,133 per year on a pet; costs increase by almost 10 percent

Annual pet care costs increased by almost 10 percent between 2012 and 2014, with approximately 40 percent of costs being preventive and annual medical expenses, according to The Buddy Index, an infographic produced by Carter Financial Management in Dallas.

When it comes to their pets, Americans love, care … and spend. The Buddy Index infographic reveals that:

• Between 2012 and 2014, pet care spending increased by almost 10 percent (8 percent)
• Americans are spending $1,133 per year on their pets
• Between 2012 and 2014, pet expenses were more than 2.5  times the cumulative U.S. inflation rate
• Preventive and annual medical costs represents almost 40 percent of annual pet costs
• Of medical costs, heartworm tests showed the biggest jump in costs—28 percent between 2013 and 2014
• 51.6 percent of all U.S. households own a dog or cat; 57 percent of Millennial households own a dog or cat.

* U.S. Inflation numbers from US Inflation Calculator. Pet medical expenses from an annual review of Banfield Pet Hospital service pricing. Pet lifestyle expenses from an annual review of PetSmart product pricing. U.S. pet ownership statistics fromPetFoodIndustry.com.