Housing sales in July hit their lowest level in a decade, down 25.3% from last year. Part of why is that July was the first month buyers couldn’t receive a tax credit of up to $8,000. Since this is a large factor, many economists reckon we shouldn’t panic.  Yet prices are still in the tank, dropping .2% last month at the usual peak time, after about a year of average stability. Sellers will compete for buyers as the markets lose sales during the colder months.

Despite the lowest mortgage rate in years, home sales will continue to be slow. If the economy improves, however – haha! – then you can expect the housing market to also. So people will continue to buy homes when they need to, but the way of investing in a home is gone for now.

Once a sign of American progress, paved roads exploded during the 50’s and 60’s when the Interstate Highway System was built. Today’s fiscal austerity makes these roads too expensive to maintain.  But experts say that gravel roads aren’t free of maintenance either. Grading and smoothing are necessities, but compared to the $2,600 per mile annual maintenance to keep up paved roads, it still might be a better alternative.

Grinding paved roads to gravel will surely dampen local businesses, preserving a more rural way of life. In North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Ohio, gravel roads are becoming more popular.  In Pennsylvania and Alabama, a cheaper form of pavement, chip and seal, is used.

While there are no plans yet for any major road, interstates and large state routes, to turn to gravel, this shows that the American way of life is returning to a time without opulence; when simplicity, hard work, and freedom defined the lives of an Average American.

The safest way to move interstate is to get an auto shipping company to move your car. Car shipping companies move cars using open shipping, where your car is transported with up to seven other cars and is exposed to the elements, or closed shipping, where your car is transported in a closed container. Open shipping is the cheapest option, while closed shipping may offer you more peace of mind, especially if you have a vintage or luxury car. It’s a matter of personal preference which method you choose.

Make sure you ring around and get a couple of quotes so you can compare prices and services before committing to a car transport company. If you live in a small town or remote area, you may be able to save money by having your car shipped to the nearest major metropolitan area.

Above all else, you want to choose a self storage company with high standards for security. Before settling on a self storage company, make sure you’re confident in the level of security offered. A good storage company will have barbed wire around the perimeter, on-site security and management staff, security staff, a security gate with key pad entry, and individualized access codes or solid locks for every storage unit.

The better self storage facilities will offer climate controlled storage units, well lit interiors and exteriors, wide doorways, automatic lighting, covered loading and unloading areas, and be generally hygienic and easy to use.

The S&P Case-Shiller Composite 20 home price index was up as April 2010 data filtered in. Because of an expired federal tax credit, home prices rose 3.8% from last April. San Diego has shown consistently strong data, up again this month and up 11.7% from last year. Among other high risers from last year were San Francisco at 18%, Washington at 7.3%, Los Angeles at 7.8% and Cleveland at 6.8%. To see your city, click here.

Realtors and builders are reporting weaker demand since the end of the tax credit, so this trend looks to weaken in the coming months. Overall, the president and Ben Bernanke are optimistic about the economy, but high unemployment and trouble abroad is worrying investors.

In other National News, Colorado is leading the way in marijuana selling as dispensaries in liberal states like California flock to Boulder to try their hand in the business. With still heavy regulations, like no convicted felons allowed to own a store, marijuana selling is turning away from the stoner counterculture of the 60’s and 70’s and toward a legitimate pain treatment method. Denver is helpful in determining the state’s growth in home prices, up 4.4% from last year.

Earlier in the decade, there was a spread of people from the Midwest and Northeast to the South and West. Today, even those colder cities up north are experiencing growth as people move from the suburbs to the cities where the jobs are. Moreover, young couples in the cities can’t afford to move to the suburbs so they stay and raise urban families.

In cities where the recession hit hard, and the housing bubble burst hugely, like Florida, there has been slight decay. Other rust belt cities like Akron, OH, and Detroit continue to lose people. Even Phoenix has seen population growth slow, this year down to 1.4%, the lowest of the decade.

In Texas, a state that weathered the recession fairly well, growth is constant and the state has 5 of the largest 25 cities in the country, more than any other state. I’m from Portland, which has continued to grow at a constant rate over the past decade, and holds down the spot as the 30th largest city. For the entire list click here.

I just visited Philadelphia for my first time, and I must say, it did not disappoint. Staying in Voorhees, NJ, I sampled the PATCO subway system, which takes South Jersey residents across the Delaware for little more than $2. If you want to walk and shop, Rittenhouse Square is a lovely park leading to Walnut St., the shopping epicenter of this patriotic town.

The Philadelphia Art Museum has a world renowned collection (and some world renowned steps, which the statue of Rocky pays homage to) featuring some of Marcel Duchamp’s most game changing pieces, including “Fountain,” “Bicycle Wheel” and the deliciously voyeuristic “Etant Donee.”

For dinner, head to South Street, party central in this revolutionary town. Try Core de Roma on 2nd, which doesn’t misrepresent -  house made bread with navy beans to begin, a stunning list of daily specials, and a not to be missed bolognese took me back to Italy. Take Papa GiGi’s suggestions – he and his four sons own the joint and mingle with the crowd as the food is served.

This blue collar town shows a lot of passion wherever you go. The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in the Historic District serve as a reminder that this was the one time capital of the United States. When all is said and done, it’s easy to see why Ben Franklin ran away from Boston to come to Philadelphia – it’s a happy medium, geographically and sensationally, between all the other Atlantic ports.

In Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln disproved the anit-incumbent mood that everyone was taking for granted this year. She beat Lt. Gov. Bill Halter’s multi-million dollar campaign to hold her bid for the Senate seat in November.

In California, new legislation passed that proposes the top two vote getters in a primary, not including presidential primaries, will be placed on the ballot regardless of party. Voters hope that this new system will buck the the pattern of partisan leaders working to win the favor of their party, often at the expense of the state budget, or what’s best for the denizens. California has $18 billion of debt.  Two tea party backed female technology moguls earned spots for November, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman, for Senate and Governor, respectively.

Nikki Haley from South Carolina moved past two competitors in her bid to become South Carolina’s first female governor. Despite infidelity allegations, she will compete in a runoff against J. Gresham Barrett, a four time congressman, to succeed Gov. Mark Sanford, who last year went to Argentina to be with a lover.

Anti-incumbents may not take the cake this year, but they certainly have set the stage for a lot of uncertainty. The next five months will help to decide what plays out in November. By then you may have a better idea of where you want to move.

Data released listing college degrees per square mile make San Francisco and New York by far the most educated cities with 7,031 and 6,357, respectively. Also in the top 10 were Boston, Washington, Seattle (which also had the greatest drop in rental price last year), Chicago, Minneapolis, Providence, Philadelphia, and Miami. The entire list can be found here.

This data can be somewhat misleading according to size; the top 2 also have some of the country’s highest population density. Clearly, a smart city can be overshadowed if it lacks the community that allows for smart people to work together. County and city borders differ, which is demonstrated by the smartest county graphs.

If you want to move, now is a great time. Real estate is still cheap, and hasn’t recovered the ground it lost during the recession. Cities like San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco all experienced rental drops close to 10%, which means that apartment living in these large areas hasn’t been this affordable for a long time.

All I know is that I can’t wait for the new Census figures to come out. There’s a lot of difference between cities and their metropolitan area, and in determining where to move, both figures should be examined.

1. L.E.S.: Right in the heart of downtown Manhattan, this neighborhood has the galleries, convenience, and fun that make it one of the most livable neighborhoods. Granted, it’s not great if you’re looking to settle down and yes it’s pretty pricey, but as far as funky Manhattan neighborhoods go, this is the West Village of the 21st century.

2. Greenpoint: Cheaper (and safer) than Williamsburg, and just as hip, Greenpoint is a great locale for those who want to live in Brooklyn, but don’t want to be scared when they walk home at night. It’s off the G train, which is still sorting out its issues, but a commute to midtown Manhattan is easy when you transfer to the 7.

3. BoCoCa: (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens) Close to downtown Brooklyn and its vast transportation hub, these three distinct neighborhoods are all hidden gems. Court St and Smith St are cafe laden and cool. The apartments aren’t nearly as expensive as in Brooklyn Heights. What’s not to love?

4.  Park Slope: Right in the heart of Brooklyn, this trend setting area has tons of life, green space, and safety. It’s close to a number of trains, and the bang for the buck housing is great.

5. Murray Hill: Traditionally the place for people who have always wanted to live in New York (i.e. college postgrads and kids from Kansas) this neighborhood has more than just bars and beer. Curry Hill (28th and Lex.) and tons of restaurants draw some ethnic diversity into the mix. And did I mention it’s actually affordable?