“If you wonder why we have groups in this country who just don’t understand each other, this is it," said Natalie Jackson, the institute's director of research. "There’s no mixing."
The 'shocking' impact of mortgage rates and where Utah’s housing market goes from here
What's new: Close to 71% of Utah households are priced out of a median-priced home because of rising interest rates and prices, according to Dejan Eskic, senior research fellow at the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
Here's a breakdown of how things changed between April 2021 and April 2022:
Housing prices are up 24.4%.
Mortgage rates have risen from 3.06% to 4.98%.
Median monthly mortgage payments are up 56%, from $1,629 to $2,556.
Eskic predicted it would take "prolonged higher interest rates and pre-pandemic levels of inventory" for prices to actually drop.
And keep in mind that the rate of Utah's home price growth "tends to be slightly higher than national figures. Therefore, we can assume our housing prices will follow this trend," Eskic wrote.
Read more about what housing market trends mean for Utah.
Republican incumbent Sen. Mike Lee faced his challengers, Ally Isom and Becky Edwards, in the first and likely only debate between all three candidates before the Utah GOP primary election June 28.
The three candidates' stances on issues related to public lands, water infrastructure, energy independence and immigration were largely similar.
Their policy differences were most apparent when it came to abortion.
Edwards said she "believes in the sanctity of life" but has not "seen a need to revisit Roe v. Wade" because of women who have experienced rape and abuse and who have had to have "those heartbreaking, heart-wrenching conversations."
Isom said she hopes to see Roe v. Wade overturned, but it's "complex" for her, and that’s “exactly why we need women in the U.S. Senate” to also focus on issues around consent, family planning and sexual education.
Lee said he’s "unapologetically pro-life" and would "never, ever support legislation extending false claims of Roe v. Wade."
Read more about Edwards', Isom's and Lee's stances on gun rights and election security.
More in Politics
Incumbents no-show as challengers take the debate stage alone in Utah GOP primaries (Deseret News)
Should Utah’s drought lead to a ban on fireworks? What our poll says (Deseret News)
'The work's not done': Salt Lake leaders celebrate LGBTQ advancements, seek further inclusion (KSL.com)
Three gun safety measures Republicans think could actually pass (Deseret News)
These conservative states want to punish social media platforms for removing political speech. How is that going? (Deseret News)
Perspective: It’s not about fathers. It’s about guns (Deseret News)
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Business
Utah announces $69M in funding for small businesses (KSL.com)
Top exec Sheryl Sandberg exits Facebook. Here’s what she said (Deseret News)
The gas rocket: $5 per gallon is on the way, and it may just be the beginning (Deseret News)
Elon Musk gives ultimatum to employees: Come back to the office, or you’re fired (Deseret News)
Environment
Climate change behind ruling that could grant wolverines strict protections (Deseret News)
Opinion: When you water your lawn, what are you sacrificing? (Deseret News)
Cleaner yellow school buses could be a small part of clearing up Utah’s dirty air (KUER)
Family
Perspective: Marriage is increasingly for the rich and educated. These policies can help change that (Deseret News)
Health
Are COVID-19 vaccines struggling to keep up with variants? (Deseret News)
Southern Utah
With new policy, Washington County School District hopes to close latest chapter in banned book saga (St. George News)
‘To see the dream be kept alive’: St. George dance company to celebrate 40 years with anniversary concert (St. George News)
Northern Utah
Here's where Salt Lake County schools are serving free meals this summer (KSL.com)
Utah County attorney, sheriff trade angry barbs over sex abuse investigation (KSL.com)
The Nation
Tulsa mass shooting left 5 dead and multiple people injured (Deseret News)
Why this man created 21 custom caskets for Uvalde shooting victims (Deseret News)
Biden’s approval rating drops to new low (Deseret News)
Johnny Depp, Amber Heard respond to the trial verdict. So does the internet (Deseret News)
John Hinckley Jr. to be granted unconditional release 41 years after shooting Reagan (Deseret News)
The World
U.S. is sending rockets to Ukraine, Biden says (Deseret News)
Canada is testing decriminalizing drugs in this province to curb overdose deaths (Deseret News)
Entertainment
Gina Carano’s comeback movie will be released soon (Deseret News)
Clay Travis doubles down after getting ejected from Little League game (Deseret News)
Sports
Why another former U.S. Winter Olympics host may be bidding again (Deseret News)
Opinion: The NBA’s final four teams proved how far the Jazz are from being a contender (Deseret News)
Could Utah’s Cam Rising jump into the Heisman conversation this year? (Deseret News)
NHL’s lone Latter-day Saint hockey player is one step from the Stanley Cup Finals (Deseret News)
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