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Home ownership further out of reach a rising prices, high mortgage rates widen affordability gap

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Home ownership is receding further out of reach for most Americans as elevated mortgage rates and rising prices stretch the limits of what buyers can afford.

A homebuyer now needs to earn at least $114,000 a year to afford a $431,250 home — the national median listing price in April, according to data released Thursday by Realtor.com

The analysis assumes that a homebuyer will make a 20% down payment, finance the rest of the purchase with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, and that the buyer’s housing costs won’t exceed 30% of their gross monthly income — an often-used barometer of housing affordability.

Based off the latest U.S. median home listing price, homebuyers need to earn $47,000 more a year to afford a home than they would have just six years ago. Back then, the median U.S. home listing price was $314,950, and the average rate on a 30-year mortgage hovered around 4.1%. This week, the rate averaged 6.76%.

The annual income required to afford a median-priced U.S. home first crossed into the six figures in May 2022 and hasn’t dropped below that level since. Median household income was about $80,600 annually in 2023, according to the U.S. Census bureau.

In several metro areas, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston, the annual income needed to afford a median-priced home tops $200,000. In San Jose, it’s more than $370,000.

Rock-bottom mortgage rates turbocharged the housing market during the pandemic, fueling bidding wars for homes that pushed up sale prices sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars above a seller initial asking price. U.S. home prices soared more than 50% between 2019 and 2024.

The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from their pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years. In March, they posted their largest monthly drop since November 2022.

It’s not all bad news for prospective homebuyers.

Home prices are rising much more slowly than during the pandemic housing market frenzy. The national median sales price of a previously occupied U.S. home rose 2.7% in March from a year earlier to $403,700, an all-time high for March, but the smallest annual increase since August.

In April, the median price of a home listed for sale rose only 0.3% from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com.

Buyers who can afford current mortgage rates have a wider selection of properties now than a year ago.

Active listings — a tally that encompasses all homes on the market except those pending a finalized sale — surged 30.6% last month from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com. Home listings jumped between 67.6% and 70.1% in San Diego, San Jose and Washington D.C.

As properties take longer to sell, more sellers are reducing their asking price. Some 18% of listings had their price reduced last month, according to Realtor.com.

“Sellers are becoming more flexible on pricing, underscored by the price reductions we’re seeing, and while higher mortgage rates are certainly weighing on demand, the silver lining is that the market is starting to rebalance,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “This could create opportunities for buyers who are prepared.”



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Colorful plumed hats fills Churchill Downs as fans embrace the 151st Kentucky Derby

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Despite the chance of rain in the forecast, colorful plumed hats are again a fashion staple at Churchill Downs for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky.

The tradition of wearing hats to the Derby began with its first running in 1875. They began taking on a life of their own in the 1960s, growing larger and more ornate so the people wearing them could be spotted on television.

The hats are just one of the features among the 150,000 fans jammed under the Twin Spires for a fashion show mixed with an all-day party that is heavy on traditions like mint juleps, singing “My Old Kentucky Home” while they wait for the 2-minute drama to see the winning horse get a garland of red roses draped on its back.

A race fan stands in a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan stands in a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan stands in a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A photo gallery of the event, curated by AP photo editors. For more AP horse racing coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing

Race fans walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Race fans walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Race fans walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

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A jockey walks past flowers at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A jockey walks past flowers at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A jockey walks past flowers at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

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Hailey Burton stands in a hallway at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Hailey Burton stands in a hallway at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Hailey Burton stands in a hallway at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walks through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walks through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walks through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan stands in a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan stands in a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan stands in a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walks through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walks through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walks through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A fan looks out at the paddock at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A fan looks out at the paddock at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A fan looks out at the paddock at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

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Fans look over racing programs at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Fans look over racing programs at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Fans look over racing programs at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

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A drink sits on a table at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A drink sits on a table at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A drink sits on a table at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A person smokes a cigar at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A person smokes a cigar at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A person smokes a cigar at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

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A race fan looks at a program at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan looks at a program at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan looks at a program at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A person holds treats at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A person holds treats at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A person holds treats at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

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A person walks past hats for sale at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A person walks past hats for sale at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A person walks past hats for sale at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

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A sign warns of approaching sever weather at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A sign warns of approaching sever weather at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A sign warns of approaching sever weather at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

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A race fan walks through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walks through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walks through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A person wears a horse costume at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A person wears a horse costume at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A person wears a horse costume at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

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Tre Moser wears patriotic clothing at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tre Moser wears patriotic clothing at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tre Moser wears patriotic clothing at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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A race fan watches from the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan watches from the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan watches from the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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Race fans sit among flowers at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Race fans sit among flowers at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Race fans sit among flowers at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walks through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A race fan walks through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A race fan walks through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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A race fan walk through the grounds at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through the grounds at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through the grounds at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan watches from the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan watches from the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan watches from the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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People look over racing programs at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

People look over racing programs at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

People look over racing programs at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

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A race fan smiles at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A race fan smiles at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A race fan smiles at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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A race fan walks though the grounds at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walks though the grounds at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walks though the grounds at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walks though a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walks though a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walks though a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walk though a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk though a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk though a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A race fan walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A race fan walk through the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan watches from the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan watches from the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan watches from the stands at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

A race fan walk through a tunnel at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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Race fans walk though the grounds at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Race fans walk though the grounds at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Race fans walk though the grounds at Churchill Downs before the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race Friday, May 2, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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115-year-old British woman, now the world’s oldest, gives her recipe to long life

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LONDON (AP) — For Ethel Caterham, the trick to a long life — and in her case, it really has been — is not to argue.

Caterham, who is 115, became the world’s oldest living person, according to the Gerontology Research Group, after Sister Inah Canabarro, a Brazilian nun and teacher, died on Wednesday at the tender age of 116.

“Never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like,” she said from her nursing home in Surrey, southwest of London, on the secret to her longevity.

She was born on Aug. 21, 1909, in the village of Shipton Bellinger in the south of England, five years before the outbreak of World War I. She was the second youngest of eight siblings.

Travel has been in her blood, it’s clear. In 1927, at the age of 18, Caterham embarked on a journey to India, working as a nanny for a British family, where she stayed for three years before returning to England, according to the GRG.

This undated handout provided by Hallmark Care Homes shows Ethel Caterham, who on Friday, May 2, 2025 is now the world's oldest woman according to LongeviQuest. (Hallmark Care Homes via AP)

This undated handout provided by Hallmark Care Homes shows Ethel Caterham, who on Friday, May 2, 2025 is now the world’s oldest woman according to LongeviQuest. (Hallmark Care Homes via AP)

This undated handout provided by Hallmark Care Homes shows Ethel Caterham, who on Friday, May 2, 2025 is now the world’s oldest woman according to LongeviQuest. (Hallmark Care Homes via AP)

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She met her husband Norman, who was a major in the British army, at a dinner party in 1931, and they were stationed in Hong Kong and Gibraltar, the GRG said. They had two daughters whom they raised in the U.K. Norman died in 1976.

Hallmark Lakeview Luxury Care Home in Camberley, where Caterham is a resident, posted pictures of her cutting a cake and wearing a “115” tiara in a Facebook post on Thursday.

“Huge congratulations to Lakeview resident, Ethel on becoming the oldest person in the world! What an incredible milestone and a true testament to a life well-lived,” it said in an accompanying statement. “Your strength, spirit, and wisdom are an inspiration to us all. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable journey!”

The title of the oldest person ever is held by French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.



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Smurfs, dragons and aliens: Family movies lean into magic and wonder this summer

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“How to Train Your Dragon” filmmaker Dean DeBlois has heard the “remake fatigue” concerns. In Hollywood’s quest to get family audiences to movie theaters, the industry has often opted to re-package something familiar, lately in the form of a live-action, or hybrid remake. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

That’s part of the reason why DeBlois, who directed the animated movies, wanted to also be the person behind the live action remake, coming to theaters June 25. He knew how to do it, and how to do it well.

“We were careful,” DeBlois said. “We wanted to make sure that if we were going to do it, we wanted to do with a lot of integrity and love and make sure there’s nothing cynical about it.”

Several of this summer’s family friendly options have come from a personal place including the Rihanna-produced “Smurfs” (July 18) and the Hawaii-shot “Lilo & Stitch” (May 23). And a lot of them are PG-rated, including “The Bad Guys 2” (Aug. 1); “Freakier Friday” (Aug. 8); And the new Pixar movie “Elio” (June 20), about a space fanatic kid whose dream of being abducted by aliens comes true.

The PG rating is having a bit of a resurgence in box office cred after years of being the “uncool” little sibling to PG-13. Last year PG movies made up 1/3 of the annual box office, led by “Inside Out 2.”

Smurfs nostalgia and Rihanna

Rihanna and the Smurfs might seem like an odd match, but the Grammy-winning megastar is “steeped in Smurfs knowledge,” according to director Chris Miller. She told Miller that growing up in Barbados, her family’s television had one channel, and that channel played the Hanna-Barbera show constantly.

This image released by Paramount Animation shows Papa Smurf, voiced by John Goodman in the film "Smurfs." (Paramount Animation via AP)

This image released by Paramount Animation shows Papa Smurf, voiced by John Goodman in the film “Smurfs.” (Paramount Animation via AP)

This image released by Paramount Animation shows Papa Smurf, voiced by John Goodman in the film “Smurfs.” (Paramount Animation via AP)

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It’s why she wanted to produce and star as Smurfette in “Smurfs,” a hybrid reboot that takes the little blue creatures on a rescue mission to save Papa Smurf. There have been other attempts (including two with Neil Patrick Harris), but for this one Miller wanted to do something different that drew on the original comics by Belgian artist Peyo.

“I thought, let’s make a contemporary version and a real immersive visual experience but reference those drawings,” Miller said.

They also had a sharp, witty script from Pam Brady, best known for her collaborations with Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Plus, Rihanna would contribute music too. This, Miller thought, could be really fun.

“Rihanna’s performance is so great,” he said. “She’s really funny and gets to the heart and soul of everything.”

Practically everyone in the starry voice cast (which includes Kurt Russell, John Goodman, Nick Offerman, Octavia Spencer, Amy Sedaris and Dan Levy) had some nostalgia for the Hanna-Barbera show. But no one needs a degree in “smurfology” to take a chance on the film. Offerman said it reminds him of “The Lego Movie.”

“It has a freshness and a sass that I think makes it appealing and kind of imperative for everybody to see,” Offerman said.

Making the dragons real

The animated “How To Train Your Dragon” films already leaned into a live-action sensibility, but DeBlois took it to the next level for the new version, creating an immersive world where the dragons felt credible, and mythology that went deeper in telling this story of the unlikely friendship between a Viking boy Hiccup (Mason Thames) and a dragon named Toothless.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Mason Thames in a scene from "How to Train Your Dragon.", (Universal Pictures via AP)

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Mason Thames in a scene from “How to Train Your Dragon.”, (Universal Pictures via AP)

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Mason Thames in a scene from “How to Train Your Dragon.”, (Universal Pictures via AP)

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“It aspires to be and does deliver on the promise of being a crowd pleaser,” DeBlois said. “It has thrills and it has adventure and it has wonder, which I think is kind of rare and important.”

Nico Parker, who plays the aspiring dragon hunter Astrid, was in awe of the level of detail the production put into the sets and atmosphere in making the isle of Berk feel real, from actual fire to “horrible” ambient fish smells. The dragons too all have animal kingdom counterparts to add to the authenticity — with the exception of Toothless, who they kept a little more fantastical.

“Even though Toothless’ eyes are huge and there’s no animal on earth, not even a blue whale that has eyes that big, we went with it because the smaller we made the eyes, the less Toothless-like he was,” DeBlois said. “We had to make sure that we weren’t just creating photoreal dragons, but we were maintaining the personalities.”

For as popular as the books and films (which have made over $1.6 billion) are, there are also plenty of people who aren’t familiar with the stories. This version might be the thing that draws newcomers in (they’ve already announced a sequel).

“For those who do know the stories and have seen the animated films, it is a bit of nostalgia,” DeBlois said. “It’s a way of returning to that world and seeing it through a new lens and maybe sharing that experience, perhaps with their own kids now.”

Finding something for the whole family

This image released by Disney shows Lindsay Lohan, left, and Jamie Lee Curtis in a scene from "Freakier Friday." (Glen Wilson/Disney via AP)

This image released by Disney shows Lindsay Lohan, left, and Jamie Lee Curtis in a scene from “Freakier Friday.” (Glen Wilson/Disney via AP)

This image released by Disney shows Lindsay Lohan, left, and Jamie Lee Curtis in a scene from “Freakier Friday.” (Glen Wilson/Disney via AP)

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The struggle to find something the whole family wants to watch is real.

Jamie Lee Curtis, who reunited with her on-screen daughter Lindsay Lohan for “Freakier Friday,” wrote in an email that theirs is a “big spectacle film” with “all the bells and whistles that a big comedy should have” and “deep emotional resonance.”

“Elio” filmmaker Domee Shi also promised a blend of a wacky sci-fi adventure and “also a deep and poignant story about loneliness, looking for connection, and finding it where you least expect.”

This image released by Disney/Pixar shows Elio, voiced by Yonas Kibreab, center, and OOOOO, voiced by Shirley Henderson, in a scene from "Elio." (Disney/Pixar via AP)

This image released by Disney/Pixar shows Elio, voiced by Yonas Kibreab, center, and OOOOO, voiced by Shirley Henderson, in a scene from “Elio.” (Disney/Pixar via AP)

This image released by Disney/Pixar shows Elio, voiced by Yonas Kibreab, center, and OOOOO, voiced by Shirley Henderson, in a scene from “Elio.” (Disney/Pixar via AP)

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And no matter how many options are available for kids to watch on streaming services and YouTube, out of the home options remain a compelling draw. The box office backs it up: Last year PG movies outgrossed PG-13 movies for the first time in many years.

“PG movies really punch above their weight,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “These films could represent a huge part of the summer box office,”

This image released by Disney shows promotional art for "Lilo & Stitch." (Disney via AP)

This image released by Disney shows promotional art for “Lilo & Stitch.” (Disney via AP)

This image released by Disney shows promotional art for “Lilo & Stitch.” (Disney via AP)

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“Lilo & Stich” director Dean Fleischer Camp thinks the big screen experience remains important for young moviegoers.

“I fell in love with the movies, seeing them in theaters as a kid,” he said. “I don’t think there’s yet any substitute for it.

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For more coverage of this summer’s upcoming films, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/movies



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