Tim Phillips Show, 4/9/26

How well do you know the people who live next door or across the street? Borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor or letting your kids play together was very common decades ago, but most of us can’t imagine doing that now. According to a new survey, only 30% of Americans know their neighbors beyond a casual level now.

The Rocket Mortgage poll of 2-thousand people across the country finds that while nearly 80% believe strong neighborhoods improve their quality of life, only one in six actively try to interact with their neighbors.

The thing is, 50 years ago, neighborhoods were a big part of our culture and identity, and 80% say they were places people naturally connected.
But today, we’re hesitant to reach out, as 22% admit they feel awkward making the first move with a neighbor.
Nearly 42% say people in their neighborhood tend to keep to themselves, and 41% say even knocking on a neighbor’s door feels too bold.
Still, 68% report getting support from a neighbor in the last year and 58% say they would rely on a neighbor in an emergency. And more than two-thirds (65%) would feel comfortable offering help.
Connecting doesn’t have to be a big thing, as 53% say small, repeated moments, like a quick hello, short chat, or returning a misdelivered package - help build relationships more than planned gatherings.
But 29% admit they sometimes avoid socializing with neighbors, usually because they’re in a hurry or preoccupied.⠀
Source: Barchart

Throwback Thursday to 1996

BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME  -  CELINE DION

Princess Diana and Prince Charles get divorced.

The internet search engine "Ask Jeeves" is created.

The Summer Olympics are held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kofi Annan becomes the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Bill Clinton is elected for a second term as the United States President after he defeats Bob Dole.

Buzz Lightyear Costume
Tickle Me Elmo
DVD's Launched in Japan
Duke Nukem 3D Shareware released to public

Popular Films
Independence Day
Twister
Mission: Impossible
Jerry Maguire
101 Dalmatians
The Rock
The Nutty Professor
The Birdcage
A Time to Kill
The English Patient
Star Trek: First Contact

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to buying a home, but it all comes down to “location, location, location,” according to the old real estate saying. The thing is, location affects everything from the home’s value to your lifestyle and the community you’ll live in, so it is a pretty important factor, but it’s not the only one that matters. A new report looks at location and much more to determine the best places to buy a home in the U.S.

Niche.com looked at cities across the country, analyzing them on a long list of qualities to find the most ideal ones for homebuyers.
They evaluated home values and housing costs, real estate trends, taxes, crime rates and the quality of local schools in thousands of communities nationwide.

Based on all of that, McCord, Oklahoma, tops the list.

The small community has a population under 2-thousand, but has a “suburban rural mix feel,” according to Niche. McCord gets high scores for cost of living, housing, public schools, family-friendliness, and jobs.
The median home value in the northeastern Oklahoma town is $202,400, which is just half of the national median of $405-thousand.
Larkin Charter Township, Michigan, comes in second, where home values are in the lower-to-mid $200-thousands.
The Top 10 Places to Buy A Home in the U.S. in 2026

McCord, Oklahoma
Larkin Charter Township, Michigan
Pine Grove Mills, Pennsylvania
Massac, Kentucky
Williamstown, West Virginia
Hazel Green, Alabama
St. Johns, Arizona
Hanover, Kansas
Granger, Indiana
Level Green, Pennsylvania
Source: Travel and Leisure