Creating timeless decor is an art and there’s no doubt that Pepper has mastered it. Launched in 2018, the brand has become a go-to for traditional and contemporary design enthusiasts. Best known for its cheerfully bold yet tasteful prints, Pepper offers a curated and customizable selection of home accessories including pillows, curtains, throws, table linens, and most recently rugs in collaboration with Loom & Company Better yet, everything ships quickly and is manufactured in the United States.

The brand was co-founded in 2018 by Erin Banta and Kelsey Brown who thought of the concept as students at Colombia Business School. “As good friends who both had backgrounds in retail, we held a shared interest in starting something together,” she tells me.

Banta previously worked in buying at Ralph Lauren and as a consumer analyst for MFP Investors. Brown was employed in retail technology at Deloitte but also interned for renowned brands including Hatch Collection, Rent The Runway and Louis Vuitton. All of these experiences along with a true passion for design are part of the formula that makes Pepper so successful. I recently spoke with Banta about what makes the brand so unique, the business aspects of running a direct-to-consumer company as well as the best ways to decorate and style with Pepper’s gorgeous prints.

Amanda Lauren: From a business standpoint, what made you want to focus on decor?

Erin Banta: We came to focus on decor in particular for two reasons. First, we visited India for a friend’s wedding and were totally captivated by the breadth of unique and colorful decor that we came across. Second, we simultaneously moved in with our now husbands and became really invested in decorating our spaces for the first time. As consumers, we started to notice that high-quality, well-designed, and reasonably priced decor was incredibly difficult to find.

After having those experiences, we felt that there was an opportunity to build a brand that offered the well-designed and well-priced decor that we wanted to buy but couldn’t find. We spent our second year at Columbia Business School taking courses that allowed us to work on this concept and, upon graduation, made the mutual decision to take the risk of transforming our idea into a business. I would be lying if I said we had it all figured out when we launched in 2018 but I believe that failing early on is what has enabled us to succeed long term.

Lauren: Can you describe the Pepper aesthetic?

Banta: I’d categorize our aesthetic as timeless with a twist. When we’re working with artists on new patterns, we love to reference textiles and paintings from the seventeen and eighteen hundreds and then interpret them to fit our perspective and our time. When we launched, we were primarily focused on bold colors and patterns.

As we’ve grown and come to better understand our customer— our aesthetic has evolved. We’ve created more balance in our offering by adding solids, neutrals, and a more expansive color palette.

Lauren: What products did the brand launch with?

Banta: Pepper is 180 degrees different from the company we were when we first launched. We started with a collection of pillows and table linens in a range of twelve patterns. After realizing we had an opportunity to really differentiate ourselves by focusing on customization, we prioritized building a supply chain that would support such a model.

In 2020, we introduced curtains along with customization options for our pillows. Since then, we’ve vastly expanded our collection by adding more customization features, different fabric types, and new patterns. Over the next six months, we plan to introduce some new product categories that our customers have been asking for and I think will be really excited about.

Lauren: Who is Pepper’s customer?

Banta: Pepper’s customer is predominantly female, usually starts coming to us in her late twenties, and seems to stick with the brand as she “grows up.” Many of our customers are renters and are looking for a quick refresh via our custom pillows while others own a home and are using a wider array of our products for a full redesign. Above all, this customer comes to us when they are at a point of transition— they have a growing family, have recently moved, or are finally able to invest in decorating their home.

Lauren: Why was manufacturing in the United States important to you?

Banta: Manufacturing in the United States isn’t just important to us, it’s essential to our business. Domestic production has enabled us to build a sustainable brand that offers our customers all of the things they value most: a large breadth of product, a vast suite of customization options, and industry-leading turnaround times.

By manufacturing in the United States and therefore partnering with factories that are easily accessible, we ensure that ethical labor practices are employed, workers are treated well, and the facilities are clean and safe.

Lauren: Supply chain issues and manufacturing delays have plagued just about every industry, but the furniture and decor industries have hit particularly hard because of Covid. However, Pepper has quick shipping and lead times, especially for a startup. How have you been able to make this work, especially during these challenging times?

Banta: Even prior to Covid, customers in our industry have been accustomed to longer lead times. That being said, our ability to deliver custom products in days versus months is one of the factors that really sets us apart. Our custom curtains, pillows, and table linens ship in seven days or less. Our wallpaper ships in two to four weeks. We are very proud of what we have accomplished on this front and I would be lying if I said that it’s been easy to get here. We have an incredible manufacturing partner who has worked with us to build a unique model that not only supports quick turnaround times but prioritizes our commitment to quality and customization.

Lauren: Sustainability has become more important than ever to consumers. What is Pepper’s approach to this?

Banta: In today’s world, customers expect that the brands they love are doing everything possible to minimize their environmental footprint. At Pepper, we prioritize sustainability in three key ways. First, we employ an on-demand manufacturing model. In doing so, we eliminate the risk of producing excess inventory which is obviously wasteful as it relates to materials and human resources.

Second, we use digital printing for all of our patterned fabric and wallpaper. This is critical because by going digital, we virtually eliminate the water wastage, electricity consumption, and pollution from dyes that have historically been associated with traditional printing methods.

Finally, we are able to use all of our fabric scraps. When fabric is cut to make any kind of product, there are inevitably small pieces that typically become unusable and wind up in landfills. We avoid that by utilizing them to make all of our fabric swatches.

Lauren: Tell me about your partnership with Loom & Company?

Banta: We partnered with Loom & Company on a collection of nine Oushak and Dhurrie rugs that feature some of our best-selling patterns. They are a female-founded company based out of Texas and we got to know each other after realizing that we shared many of the same customers.

That fact, along with our shared commitment to sustainability and quality, was the reason that we decided to collaborate. As with all Pepper products, each rug is custom-made. We offer ten sizes and all of the rugs are weaved with hand-dyed wool by artisans in India. I am currently renovating my house and am using several rugs from the collaboration throughout. They make such a fabulous foundation for any room.

Lauren: Can you share a few tips for styling and coordinating different prints?

Banta: When it comes to decorating, people are often intimidated by the use of color and pattern. If you stick to a common color to tie different types of prints together and pay attention to mixing scales, you really cannot go wrong in creating a scheme that is both balanced and cohesive!

Lauren: What are your best ideas for creating a timeless interior?

Banta: I try to avoid trends and stay true to what I personally like. As I mentioned previously, I am currently renovating a house. In going through this process, I’ve defined a timeless interior as one that isn’t too fussy or precious— it needs to be inviting and comfortable.

I see so much inspiration that I would love to make a reality in my own home but realize that, as a mom to two little boys, my definition of a perfect space has completely changed based on my phase of life. So, given where I’m at right now, I would say that a timeless interior is one that reflects your personal style, can be layered upon over time to evolve with you and your needs, and places equal value on practicality and design.

The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

The “Billionaire Dividend”

Now, sidestep roller-coaster market volatility … multiply your gains … collect generous dividends – and generate a steady income stream that can put you on easy street—for life …

Even if you don’t have a trust fund … family office … Swiss bank account … hedge fund … or a silver spoon in your mouth.

It’s true.

Now, thanks to our new Forbes Billionaire Investor, YOU can own—and make money from—the exact same financial instruments the ultra-wealthy invest in!

How?

Forbes Billionaire Investor reveals what top billionaire investors are doing … and tells you which of their positions you should own, when to buy and at what price …

… without having to pay huge fees for access to exclusive services normally available only to the super-rich.

Result: Forbes Billionaire Investor helps you generate an unending lifetime stream of income—with greater security, less risk, larger gains, handsome yields and higher total returns.

As you’ll see in a moment, owning the stocks and exchange-traded funds recommended by Forbes Billionaire Investor is akin to getting a steady paycheck from Forbes billionaires—almost a regular “salary” you reliably collect—week after week, month after month, like clockwork.

Can the Forbes “Billionaire Dividend” Pay

the Tab for Everything You Want or Need?

Today there are 2,688 billionaires worldwide. Collectively, they’re worth $12.7 trillion.

However, Forbes Billionaire Investor recommends only a small fraction of the investments held by a small fraction of these billionaires.

Now, here’s something that may surprise you—nearly all the stocks in our Billionaire Model Portfolios pay handsome yields—which we call Billionaire Dividends.

Here’s why….

The total return of most “ordinary” stocks is simply the price increase of their shares—if they in fact have gone up at all.

But with our “Billionaire Dividend,” you make money on the gains PLUS the dividends—giving you a higher total return.

Total returns = stock gains + dividend payments.

It’s like getting a steady paycheck from billionaires – with safety.

Forbes Billionaire Investor offers its members greater security, bigger gains, steady dividend income in both bull and bear markets and higher total returns. So your stock profits keep flowing whether the market is up, down or sideways.

In the Forbes Billionaire Investor, we bring to your attention stocks that have strong fundamental appeal—and are held by one or more billionaire investor recognized for their long-term skill at picking winners.

We only look for companies that have big yields, where dividends continue to go up over time, that have low levels of debt and that have a strong free cash flow.

Plus: Shares of these stocks are selling at discounts to historical valuations on prices/sales, price/book value, price/earnings, price/cash flow and enterprise value dividend by Ebitda—earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

A significant discount in current share price to past valuations is key. “The companies you invest in must be available at a sensible price,” said Warren Buffett in one of his annual letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders.

Money is made by discounting the obvious and betting on the unexpected.

We also know the wisdom of “buy low, sell high.” But unless you buy low, you miss the first half of that profit equation, no matter how high the stock price rises. And with Forbes Billionaire Investor, you follow only the leaders—and get way out ahead of the rest of the pack.

Importantly, you can comfortably hold Forbes Billionaire Investor stocks for months or even years. It’s low-pressure, buy-and-hold investing. No day trading. No need to stay stuck in front of your computer monitoring complex price charts. You make money with less effort and time—without making investing in the stock market your life.

That’s because, historically, owning shares of conservatively financed growing businesses has always been financially rewarding over time—given a long enough holding period.

Forbes Billionaire Investor’s conservative, dividend-paying stocks—all owned by our elite group of top billionaire investors—give you a true edge in the markets.

As for which billionaire investors we monitor and track, they range from famous investors like Warren Buffett, Leon Cooperman and Ken Fisher to less well-known names like Louis Bacon, Howard Marks and Nelson Peltz. Combined, their investing acumen delivers some of your best prospects for market profits.

Plus, at Forbes Billionaire Investor, we do more than just give you the stock—we bring you the billionaires behind them.

Their stocks alone can put you on easy street … while the education, ideas, advice and inspiration you get from our billionaire investors can empower you to do better in every aspect of your life.

About FBI Editors

Forbes Billionaire Investor Editor John Dobosz has more than two decades of experience picking conservative value stocks that deliver above-average returns combined with superior safety.

John has been featured on CNN Financial News and Bloomberg TV. In addition to Forbes Billionaire Investor, John heads up two other Forbes advisories, Forbes Premium Income Report and Forbes Dividend Investor.

Since its inception in 2012, his recommendations in Forbes Dividend Investor are up 313% — which means that within a decade, we more than quadrupled our money.

Forbes Wealth Team

For nearly four decades, the Forbes Wealth Team has estimated the fortunes of the world’s wealthiest by digging into their public and private holdings and speaking with dozens of experts. A core team of ten reporters and editors plus dozens of other beat reporters throughout the world value everything from their real estate and art to yachts to come up with our definitive lists of The Forbes 400 richest people in America and the World’s Billionaires. Forbes’ Real Time Billionaires tracker updates these net worths daily using up-to-the-minute stock prices and updated exchange rates.

Forbes is recognized and respected as a major business and financial publisher with accurate, thorough and comprehensive coverage of wealth builders—unduplicated by any other financial publication for more than a century.

Forbes’ unmatched billionaire reporting and in-depth research, combined with John’s track record, makes us ideally suited to help you profit by following the “smart money.”

We have inaugurated the Forbes Billionaire Investor with two model portfolios—one made up of large-caps and the other of small- and mid-cap stocks. Both portfolios include one stock from each of the market’s 11 sectors: energy, finance, industrials, materials, healthcare, technology, communication services, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, utilities and real estate.

The Forbes Billionaire Investor Model Portfolios currently include:

• A healthcare company that Warren Buffett absolutely loves
• An energy pick from John Paulson that is crushing the S&P 500 this year with a gain of 157% versus a loss of 23% for the index
• Ken Fisher’s favorite technology infrastructure company
• A natural gas distributor with a 3% yield that Carl Icahn favors
• And more

Which combined have, so far in 2022, have left the Dow in the dust!

It’s like getting a steady

paycheck — from billionaires.

You can also use Forbes Billionaire Investor to get an income check every month—using our simple, but effective laddering strategy.

How “laddering” works: Different companies pay dividends at different intervals: usually monthly, quarterly or annually.

By investing in the right combination of billionaire companies based on their dividend payout schedule, you could see dividend checks arriving in your mailbox all around the year—even every month.

Or, you could take your dividend profits, reinvest them in the company and reap an even higher payday.

The attractive yields of Forbes Billionaire Investor’s recommendations could easily cover your monthly expenses—and then some.

Your principal can grow in value, while you use their dividend income to live comfortably, day in and day out.

And in today’s economy—with consumer prices rising at their fastest pace in the last 40 years, and climbing more than twice as fast as wages—an extra dividend income stream from Forbes billionaire stocks might come in handy, right?

Plus, owning what billionaires have in their asset troves can give you welcome, added protection against whatever may be coming down the pike.

Right now, we have roller-coaster market volatility, with no immediate end in sight. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has experienced six crashes, ten bear markets and 36 double-digit corrections. That means, on average, the S&P 500 has a correction once every two years.

Even crypto is no longer a safe haven from the vagaries of the market. After reaching 3 trillion in total market cap last year, the value of the cryptocurrency market has dropped to less than a third of that level—to $930 billion.

Imagine hiring a billionaire to manage

your money—for pennies on the dollar!

Let’s say you wanted the world’s sharpest billionaire investors to guide you in managing your own money.

What would be your options?

Well, one obvious play would be to latch onto Warren Buffett’s “Midas touch” by buying a share of his company.

That way, you can essentially own the same basket of stocks he does. That’s as close to “hiring” Buffett as your investment advisor as you can get.

The only problem is that one single Berkshire Hathaway Class A stock today will cost you (as of this writing) a staggering $404,000.

So you need almost half a million dollars to ante up to Buffett’s table.

What about “hiring” a billionaire investor—let’s say Bill Gates—for advice by the hour?

Well, Forbes reported a $5 billion increase in Gates’ net worth from 2021 to 2022.

An annual wage of $5 billion translates into Bill Gates earning almost $13.7 million per day—too rich for almost anyone’s blood.

But now, by becoming a Charter Member of the Forbes Billionaire Investor, you can own the same great dividend-paying picks that Gates, Buffett and other top billionaire investors—including Leon Cooperman, Howard Marks and Daniel Loeb—are pouring their wealth into today.

Your Invitation to Charter Membership in

The Forbes Billionaire Investor

Right now, you can join us—absolutely risk-free—as a Charter Member of our newest and most elite advisory service – Forbes Billionaire Investor.

Just look at all you get….

1. 12 Monthly Issues. Each month, you will receive any new buy recommendations, with some of the portfolio additions delivered via email and text message hotlines to take advantage of market opportunities. Your monthly issue also includes Market Overview & Commentary plus the latest updated Model Portfolios.
2. Two Model Portfolios. As a member, you’ll get exclusive and private access to the Forbes Billionaire Investor’s model portfolios of dividend-paying, price-discounted stocks spanning 11 different market sectors. Both the large-cap portfolio and the small- and mid-cap portfolio will help you achieve greater safety through diversity, while also making plays in your preferred and “hot” sectors.
3. Action Alerts. If there is important news or recommendations, we send you Alerts via email or text between your monthly issues.
4. Member Meetings. Editor John Dobosz will lead webcasts where members gain in-person advice from market experts, ranging from Forbes analysts and researchers to live interviews with our billionaires.

Get billionaires to give you their top stocks

picks—just $2.78 a day—100% risk-free!

You can’t hire Warren Buffett, Bill Gates or other billionaires directly for investment advice.

But right now, you can join Forbes Billionaire Investor and follow the world’s top billionaire investors at a very affordable rate.

For a limited time only, you can become a member of Forbes Billionaire Investor for the special new-subscriber Charter Rate of $1,000 for a full year of service.

Which you may pay either annually OR in four quarterly installments of $250 each. It’s your call.

That works out to just $83.33 per month to join our “billionaire investor club”—or only $2.78 a day … less than what you’d pay for your daily Starbucks cup of caffè latte.

Best of all, you are fully protected by

Forbes ironclad guarantee of satisfaction.

If you are not 100% satisfied with Forbes Billionaire Investor for any reason you may cancel your membership within 60 days—for a full and prompt refund of every penny paid. After that you may cancel at any time for a full refund on the unused portion of your membership

That way, you risk nothing.

Be ready for what’s coming in the

markets—before it gets here.

When you follow Forbes Billionaire Investor—and own the same stocks the billionaires do—you gain extra safety against whipsaw volatility, geopolitical conflicts, inflation, recession, pandemic, corrections and other evils of the markets.

With Forbes Billionaire Investor, you get the best of both worlds … above-average returns combined with a steady flow of big dividend checks.

As a Forbes Billionaire Investor member you can make money in ANY type of market—bull, bear, or sideways markets … during corrections, recessions, downturns or rising inflation.

Because through any kind of turbulence or market exuberance, Forbes Billionaire Investor guides you to robust dividend-paying investments even as your portfolio of our billionaire stocks handily trounces the market.

So, what are you waiting for?

For more information or to activate your Charter Membership in our new Forbes Billionaire Investor service on a 60-day no-risk trial basis … just click here now.

But I urge you to hurry. This special discount Charter offer is for a limited time only, and once it expires, it may never be repeated again.

Remember, there’s no risk of any kind. You have everything to gain.

Sincerely,

Charles Morgan

P.S. Join Forbes Billionaire Investor as a charter member today, and we’ll send you these 2 FREE Bonus Reports:

** FREE Special Report #1: Forbes Billionaire Investing Secrets

Investors are naturally interested in what billionaires invest in.

And billionaires are spotlighted in the media more than ever.

In this report, we show you how to generate a special income stream from what are known as “Billionaire Dividends.”

As I said earlier, these are regular dividend payments from billionaire-owned stocks with exceptionally high yields.

These dividend checks can add up fast.

And can reach the point where your Billionaire Dividend income more than covers your living expenses – including housing, food, health care, and all other costs of living — regardless of your age, income, or current net worth.

** FREE Special Report #2: Three Forbes Billionaire Stocks You Must Own Now

This report gives you our full research recommendations on our hottest 3 billionaire stock picks – including the name and symbol of each company.

Because this bonus report is delivered to you almost instantly via quick email, you can take positions in one or all of these billionaire stocks right away!

To claim your 2 FREE Bonus Reports … and try Forbes Billionaire Investor service 100% risk-free … simply click here now.

P.P.S. I know that in today’s ferocious bear market, you are being bombarded from all sides with advice from money managers, financial planners, brokers, and investment advisors – and also friends, neighbors, and relatives.

But … how many of them are billionaires?

Sep 30, 2022,09:28am EDT

Modern Home Near Austin Showcases One Architect’s Vision“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:1,”title”:”Modern Home Near Austin Showcases One Architect’s Vision”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/6336ebce7e11903637592c39/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 30, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”09:28″,”amPm”:”am”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664544534176},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/30/modern-home-near-austin-showcases-one-architects-vision/”}},”id”:”55jqlahl0heg00″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 29, 2022,11:00am EDT

At $10.25 Million, This Fifth Avenue Address Fulfills All The Requirements“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:2,”title”:”At $10.25 Million, This Fifth Avenue Address Fulfills All The Requirements”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/6335ae6fe2ca3b8925592c3c/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 29, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”11:00″,”amPm”:”am”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664463657000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/29/at-1025-million-this-fifth-avenue-address-fulfills-all-the-requirements/”}},”id”:”5qpjerboe8mo00″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 27, 2022,10:30am EDT

Villa Plays To The Water Views In The Stockholm Archipelago“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:3,”title”:”Villa Plays To The Water Views In The Stockholm Archipelago”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/6332fd8e7bd4625881dd5382/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 27, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”10:30″,”amPm”:”am”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664289049000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/27/villa-plays-to-the-water-views-in-the-stockholm-archipelago/”}},”id”:”ea2ilph9p2l400″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 25, 2022,02:00pm EDT

Organic Architect Robert Oshatz Delivers ‘Surprise, Beauty And Delight’ In The Pacific Northwest“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:4,”title”:”Organic Architect Robert Oshatz Delivers ‘Surprise, Beauty And Delight’ In The Pacific Northwest”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/63308a3c4dfe25053c44b12a/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 25, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”02:00″,”amPm”:”pm”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664128856000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/25/organic-architect-robert-oshatz-delivers-surprise-beauty-and-delight-in-the-pacific-northwest/”}},”id”:”5jm7q4flgh200″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 25, 2022,09:30am EDT

Exploring Michigan’s Traverse City: Why Homebuyers Are Turning Sweet On The Cherry Capital“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:5,”title”:”Exploring Michigan’s Traverse City: Why Homebuyers Are Turning Sweet On The Cherry Capital”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/632f5abda6ff4eba237d2c2d/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 25, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”09:30″,”amPm”:”am”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664112600000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/25/exploring-michigans-traverse-city-why-homebuyers-are-turning-sweet-on-the-cherry-capital/”}},”id”:”85chfkh2i2bk00″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 24, 2022,08:33am EDT

5 Striking Homes With Windows Designed To Capture Multimillion-Dollar Views“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:6,”title”:”5 Striking Homes With Windows Designed To Capture Multimillion-Dollar Views”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/632da85fd489b4ff8044b12a/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 24, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”08:33″,”amPm”:”am”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664022780000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/24/5-striking-homes-with-floor-to-ceiling-windows-designed-to-capture-their-luxury-views/”}},”id”:”e2affhl5kbbc00″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 24, 2022,05:30am EDT

Crypto Real Estate Sales Are Officially Here, But Will They Last?“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:7,”title”:”Crypto Real Estate Sales Are Officially Here, But Will They Last?”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/62e30cfdf10dafe44e9932d6/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 24, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”05:30″,”amPm”:”am”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664011800000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/24/crypto-real-estate-sales-are-officially-here-but-will-they-last/”}},”id”:”cqj51hb4f3dk00″}],”breakpoints”:[{“breakpoint”:”@media all and (max-width: 767px)”,”config”:{“enabled”:false}},{“breakpoint”:”@media all and (max-width: 768px)”,”config”:{“inView”:2,”slidesToScroll”:1}},{“breakpoint”:”@media all and (min-width: 1681px)”,”config”:{“inView”:6}}]};

The housing market has changed considerably in recent months as higher mortgage rates, rising inflation and economic uncertainty have sidelined many buyers. At the same time, sellers still have the upper hand in most markets throughout the country, according to this month’s Knock Buyer-Seller Market Index, which analyzes key housing market metrics to measure the degree to which the nation’s 100 largest markets favor home buyers or sellers.

Despite the fact that home sales were down 38%, inventory was up 5.5%, and days on market increased 50% in August compared to a year ago, the index showed 71 of the nation’s 100 largest housing markets remained sellers’ markets. Meanwhile, the number of buyers’ markets more than doubled to seven from three in July, spreading from California into Arizona and Utah, two popular relocation destinations during the pandemic. The rest were neutral markets, areas offering no advantage to either sellers or buyers.

“Although the general consensus is the housing market is undergoing a much-needed reset, which is welcome news to many home shoppers who will have more choices and less competition for the foreseeable future, not all markets are seeing the same trends,” said Knock co-founder and CEO Sean Black. “In reality, there’s a great housing divide taking place in the U.S., especially in the East and South, where despite a slowdown in sales and slower home price growth, many markets continue to favor sellers.”

The nation’s top 10 sellers markets

Of the 10 markets most favorable to sellers in August, half are in the South, three are in the East and two are in the Midwest. For the second month in a row, Fayetteville, North Carolina ranked as the most favorable seller’s market in the nation. Akron, Ohio came in second place, followed by Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Cleveland; Syracuse, New York; Rochester, New York; Hartford, Connecticut; Greensboro, North Carolina; El Paso, Texas and Columbia, South Carolina.

The most resilient housing markets are those with some of the lowest home prices in the nation. In eight of the top 10 sellers’ markets, the median home price was $250,000 or less, considerably lower than the U.S. median home price of $390,000. With the exception of Hartford, Connecticut (23 days), and Columbia, South Carolina (18 days), the time a home spends on the market is well below the national average of 18 days.

With a median sale price of $225,000, Fayetteville ranks among the lowest priced housing markets in the nation. It is among the nation’s hottest with homes selling in an average of seven days in August. Fayetteville also saw a 56% increase in home sales in August year-over-year, bucking the national trend of double-digit sales declines. Fayetteville’s housing inventory dropped 21% over last August to 447 — nearly the lowest housing inventory of any large housing market.

Bucking the national cooling trend, Akron and Cleveland were more favorable to sellers this August compared to last August.

Cooling in the West spreads beyond California to relocation hot spots

Once home to some of the most favorable housing markets for sellers the nation has ever seen, the West continued to cool in August. In fact, nine markets in the Western United States — San Francisco (No. 1); Salt Lake City (No. 2); Phoenix (No. 3); San Diego (No. 4); San Jose (No. 5); Los Angeles (No. 6); Fresno, California (No. 7); Las Vegas (No. 8) and Boise, Idaho (No. 9) were among the 10 most favorable buyers’ markets in August. New Orleans ranked as the 10th most favorable buyers’ market.

San Francisco was the only market among the top 10 buyers’ markets, and one of only four nationwide, to see home prices decline in August (-5.3%). At $1.1 million, San Francisco still has the second highest median home prices of any large city. In the rest of the top buyers’ markets, home prices rose slower than the national average increase of approximately 8%.

In another sign of favoring buyers, days on market in all but one of the top 10 buyers’ markets (Fresno, California) exceeded the national median of 18 days on market. In San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and San Jose, the time a home spent on the market doubled from last August.

Buyers could see the most favorable housing in recent years

Based on the forecast component of the index, the housing market is projected to equally favor sellers and buyers in August 2023. For home buyers, this could mean that they may see the most favorable national market in recent years.

For sellers, the most favorable months to list their home in 2023 are likely to be March, April and May, before the market dips into neutral territory in June. While the national index value for March is projected to be slightly more favorable to sellers overall than it was in August, more markets will favor buyers starting June next year.

Nineteen of the 100 largest housing markets are projected to favor buyers in August 2023, meaning sellers are more likely to accept a lower price than they listed their houses for. Those markets are: Austin, Texas; Boise, Idaho; Charleston, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Denver; Fresno, California; Jacksonville, Florida; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Nashville; New Orleans; Phoenix; Portland, Oregon; Riverside, California; Salt Lake City; San Diego; San Jose, California and San Francisco.

An additional 17 more, a majority of which are in Florida, are expected to move to neutral territory, where neither buyers nor sellers are favored. Those markets are Atlanta; Cape Coral, Florida; Columbus, Ohio; Crestview, Florida; Dallas; Deltona, Florida; Detroit; Greenville, South Carolina; Lakeland, Florida; Naples, Florida; North Port, Florida; Orlando, Florida; Palm Bay Florida; San Antonio; Tampa; Tucson, Arizona and Washington, D.C.

As more markets slowly shift toward favoring buyers, the median home price is expected to bottom out in January 2023 at over $385,000. It is then projected to begin rising again, reaching $401,000 in June 2023. Even with prices projected to fall slightly over the remaining months of next summer, the national median sale price in August 2023 will rise over this August to approximately $397,000.

Sep 27, 2022,10:30am EDT

Villa Plays To The Water Views In The Stockholm Archipelago“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:1,”title”:”Villa Plays To The Water Views In The Stockholm Archipelago”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/6332fd8e7bd4625881dd5382/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 27, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”10:30″,”amPm”:”am”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664289049000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/27/villa-plays-to-the-water-views-in-the-stockholm-archipelago/”}},”id”:”f5eqq244142o00″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 25, 2022,02:00pm EDT

Organic Architect Robert Oshatz Delivers ‘Surprise, Beauty And Delight’ In The Pacific Northwest“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:2,”title”:”Organic Architect Robert Oshatz Delivers ‘Surprise, Beauty And Delight’ In The Pacific Northwest”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/63308a3c4dfe25053c44b12a/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 25, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”02:00″,”amPm”:”pm”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664128856000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/25/organic-architect-robert-oshatz-delivers-surprise-beauty-and-delight-in-the-pacific-northwest/”}},”id”:”9hc48cfg5h6800″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 25, 2022,09:30am EDT

Exploring Michigan’s Traverse City: Why Homebuyers Are Turning Sweet On The Cherry Capital“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:3,”title”:”Exploring Michigan’s Traverse City: Why Homebuyers Are Turning Sweet On The Cherry Capital”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/632f5abda6ff4eba237d2c2d/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 25, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”09:30″,”amPm”:”am”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664112600000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/25/exploring-michigans-traverse-city-why-homebuyers-are-turning-sweet-on-the-cherry-capital/”}},”id”:”7r55nd753qeo00″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 24, 2022,08:33am EDT

5 Striking Homes With Windows Designed To Capture Multimillion-Dollar Views“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:4,”title”:”5 Striking Homes With Windows Designed To Capture Multimillion-Dollar Views”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/632da85fd489b4ff8044b12a/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 24, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”08:33″,”amPm”:”am”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664022780000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/24/5-striking-homes-with-floor-to-ceiling-windows-designed-to-capture-their-luxury-views/”}},”id”:”12qffan1876400″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 24, 2022,05:30am EDT

Crypto Real Estate Sales Are Officially Here, But Will They Last?“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:5,”title”:”Crypto Real Estate Sales Are Officially Here, But Will They Last?”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/62e30cfdf10dafe44e9932d6/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 24, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”05:30″,”amPm”:”am”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1664011800000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/24/crypto-real-estate-sales-are-officially-here-but-will-they-last/”}},”id”:”acdleqjelchk00″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 23, 2022,05:45pm EDT

Steady Second-Home Market Extends Hawaii’s Real Estate Boom“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:6,”title”:”Steady Second-Home Market Extends Hawaii’s Real Estate Boom”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/632d1a0a61be5758a17d2c21/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 23, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”05:45″,”amPm”:”pm”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1663969521952},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/23/steady-second-home-market-extends-hawaiis-real-estate-boom/”}},”id”:”ap0orbk2k5fc00″},{“textContent”:”

Sep 23, 2022,03:15pm EDT

$19.6 Million La Jolla Compound Makes The Most Of Endless Pacific Sunsets“,”scope”:{“topStory”:{“index”:7,”title”:”$19.6 Million La Jolla Compound Makes The Most Of Endless Pacific Sunsets”,”image”:”https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/632e015e494bcfca4923daf8/290×0.jpg”,”isHappeningNowArticle”:false,”date”:{“monthDayYear”:”Sep 23, 2022″,”hourMinute”:”03:15″,”amPm”:”pm”,”isEDT”:true,”unformattedDate”:1663960546000},”uri”:”https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2022/09/23/196-million-la-jolla-compound-makes-the-most-of-endless-pacific-sunsets/”}},”id”:”eampo1lr97pk00″}],”breakpoints”:[{“breakpoint”:”@media all and (max-width: 767px)”,”config”:{“enabled”:false}},{“breakpoint”:”@media all and (max-width: 768px)”,”config”:{“inView”:2,”slidesToScroll”:1}},{“breakpoint”:”@media all and (min-width: 1681px)”,”config”:{“inView”:6}}]};

Dividend stocks are securities that include a regular distribution of the issuing company’s earnings. They operate like ordinary stocks and represent a share of ownership in a company. The stock price may move up or down. As long as the shareholder owns a stock, they receive a dividend for each share.

What is a dividend?

A dividend is a payment from a company (or other entity) to shareholders tied to stock ownership. Most dividend-paying companies pay their shareholders quarterly, though the exact timing of the dividend is up to the company’s board of directors. The board also decides the size of the dividend and can change the figure depending on the company’s earnings each quarter. Once the board picks a suitable figure, the dividend yield is presented as a percentage of the stock’s price.

Companies that pay dividends tend to be stable, profit-earning companies looking to make their stock a more attractive investment. Not all profitable companies choose to pay a dividend, though. Some companies reinvest profits into the business or boost employee compensation.

Many prominent investors—like Warren Buffett—love investing in companies that pay dividends because they provide multiple sources of income. As with any stock, an investor can earn a profit by selling a dividend-paying stock after the price has risen. Combined with quarterly dividends, this can create an attractive return on investment.

How do they work?

Dividend payments follow a strict series of events to determine who is eligible to receive compensation.

The first step is for the company’s management to announce a dividend payment. The shareholders must then agree to the dividend payment.

The next step is the ex-dividend date or the day dividend eligibility expires. Investors must purchase the stock before the ex-dividend date. If a stock’s ex-dividend date is, for example, October 15, any purchases on or after the 15th are ineligible to receive compensation. Anyone who owns the shares before that date is eligible.

The record date is typically the day after the ex-dividend date and is marked by the issuing company recording (hence the name) the owners of all dividend-paying stocks.

Finally, the payment date is the day the company pays its dividend, typically via payments directly to the stockholder’s brokerage account.

How are dividends taxed?

Dividend income is taxable, but the exact tax percentage depends on whether the dividend is qualified or non-qualified.

Qualified dividends are taxed at the long-term capital gains tax rate, which is lower than the tax rate on regular income. To earn qualified dividend status, the dividend must be disbursed by an American corporation or a corporation subject to U.S. taxes and easily accessible on U.S. stock exchanges. Also, the dividend is only qualified if the investor has held the stock for at least 60 days during the 121 days beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date. For preferred stock, the investor must have held the stock for at least 90 days during the 181 days starting 90 days before the ex-dividend date.

The long-term capital gains tax rate for qualified dividends is either 0%, 15% or 20%, depending on the investor’s income. Those earning less than $79,999 per year pay 0%. Those earning between $80,000 and $441,449 pay 15%. Anyone earning more than $441,500 annually pays 20% tax on qualifying dividends.

Unqualified dividends are taxed at the short-term capital gains tax rate, which is the same as the tax rate on regular income. The current rates range from 10% to 37%, depending on the investor’s income level.

Examples of Dividend Stocks

Companies that pay dividends tend to be mature, stable companies that are turning a regular net profit. They also tend to be companies that don’t need to dedicate a considerable portion of earnings to innovating. Thus, many dividend-paying companies are from sectors like oil & gas, banks & financials, healthcare & pharmaceuticals or other mature sectors.

The following are currently among the highest dividend-paying stocks:

• Lumen Technologies (LUMN): 11.3% Forward Dividend Yield
• Altria Group
  MO
  (MO): 8.9% Forward Dividend Yield
• Verizon Communications
  VZ
  : 6.3% Forward Dividend Yield
• Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA): 5.6% Forward Dividend Yield
• Prudential Financial
  PRU
  : 4.87% Forward Annual Dividend

Hundreds of other companies in the S&P 500 pay dividends to shareholders. Other dividend-paying securities include real estate investment trusts (REITs), master limited partnerships (MLPs), as well as some mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

What are “Dividend Aristocrats”?

Dividend aristocrats are companies—typically those in the S&P 500—that have increased their dividends for the last 25 years. The current list, which includes 64 companies, comprises many of the healthiest companies in the U.S. These companies consistently generate a profit, allowing the board of directors to approve a higher dividend each year. Companies on the list include IBM
IBM
, Walmart and PepsiCo
PEP
.

The list is regularly updated yearly to remove companies that cut their dividends, ensuring that only the most stable companies earn a spot on the list of dividend aristocrats.

Five Market-Beating Dividend Stocks to Whip Inflation

Many investors may not realize that since 1930 dividends have provided 40% of the stock markets total returns. And what is less known is its outsized impact is even more acute during inflationary years like the one we’re having now, a whopping 54% of shareholder gains.

If you’re looking to add high quality dividend stocks to hedge against inflation, Forbes’ investment team has found 5 companies with strong fundamentals to keep growing when prices are surging.

Click Here to Learn More