Foreclosures on the rise

For the second year in a row, foreclosures are up across the country, and the trend has a lot of folks remembering the Great Recession. But we’re still nowhere near the levels we saw when that bubble burst. About 25 of every 100,000 homes in America had a distressed property or foreclosure filing in June, which is about 15 times lower than during the recession.

And the pain isn’t spread equally. The highest rates of foreclosure can be found in small to mid-sized metro areas like Modesto, which checks in at number ten on this list from Realtor.com.

So you want to move to Phoenix?

Yesterday, the city of Phoenix, Arizona, experienced its 18th consecutive day with temperatures of 110°F (43.3°C) or higher. That matched a record from 1974, which is likely to fall today if the city hits the projected high of 115°F.

Meanwhile, according to the National Weather Service, the Monday morning LOW in Phoenix was 95°F, the 8th straight day with an overnight low of at least 90°F. Get more numbers from Axios.

Peaks & Valleys

Although average mortgage interest rates have seen a slight decline over the past few weeks, they’re still twice as high as just one year ago. Meanwhile, median housing prices in the Bay Area are on the rise despite a 14% drop year over year. With this level of volatility, a fixed-rate mortgage makes more sense every day. But again, personal circumstances may do the deciding for you.

The Science of Hot Dogs

One 4th of July tradition the Geek looks forward to each year is the epic Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest from Coney Island, NY. Did you know that San José native and local hero Joey Chestnut has consumed 1,152 hot dogs totalling 252 pounds — bun included — over his career in this one event.

Want more numbers? We found a blog that breaks down this feast of fat.

Running the Carrier Numbers

When it comes to home insurance, it’s one thing to find a policy that fits your home. It’s another to find a policy that fits your budget. Surplus lines carriers can check both boxes. These “non-admitted” carriers don’t come with California Insurance Guarantee Association protections. But they’re a flexible option if your current provider kicks you to the curb. Just run the numbers using a service like A.M. Best to make sure they’re financially sound.