housing affordability

San Francisco View from Dolores Park

Seattle Looks to San Francisco—For What Not To Do

San Francisco has long been the envy of other cities. But in recent years, as real estate prices have skyrocketed and the city's soul seems on the wane, many cities have begun looking at San Francisco as an example of what not to do.

October 14, 2015 - The New York Times

For Rent

Reconsidering Rent Control

Rent control's heyday came and went decades ago, as free-market advocates won out over long-term renters. With housing prices skyrocketing in many U.S. metros, the benefits of rent control may outweigh the harms.

April 4, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Home Sold Sign

More Critique of Demographia's International Housing Affordability Survey

The Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey contains significant biases and errors. It is important that anybody working with the survey's results be aware of these problems.

January 22, 2015 - Todd Litman

Does Airbnb Impact the Affordable Housing Market?

Michelle Cohen discusses whether or not companies like Airbnb, which provide platforms for room and house-sharing aimed at travelers, impact a city's affordable housing market.

November 14, 2014 - 6ftsq

Housing Affordability Follows Partisan Divide

Recent analysis by Trulia found that the current housing market shows trends that follow along conservative and liberal lines—specifically, that the country's "blue" states are much more expensive than the "red" states.

October 28, 2014 - Trulia Trends Blog

San Francisco Approves Airbnb-Enabling Regulation Despite High Profile Opposition

None other than U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, former mayor and native of San Francisco, penned an op-ed opposing a recent action by the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors to legalize short-term stays in private homes.

October 22, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

The Washington D.C. Housing Market Completely Flipped in One Decade

Trends in Washington D.C. housing affordability is similar to other cities around the country, but is also unique in how swiftly the housing market has shifted.

October 7, 2014 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

Cleveland and Pittsburgh Lead First-Time Buyer Market

Calling Pittsburgh "the next Boston," recent analysis finds Pittsburgh and Cleveland are bucking trends in stagnant first-time buyer rates in the housing market.

September 23, 2014 - DS News

Los Angeles is the Least Affordable Rental Market in the Country

A new study confirmed that the average Los Angeles renter allocates 47 percent of their paycheck towards rent.

August 22, 2014 - KPCC

Suburbia

What is a 'House'? Critiquing the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey

Demographia's International Housing Affordability Surveys are widely used to compare cities and evaluate urban development policies, but there are good reasons to question their analysis methods, starting with their definition of "house."

August 15, 2014 - Todd Litman

Debate Continued: Supply vs Demand

Jim Russell is again taking to the pulpit to dissent from the popular view that supply problems are causing housing affordability crises in cities like New York and San Francisco.

August 14, 2014 - Pacific Standard

Unbundling Parking Costs to Keep Families in Cities

Cities tend to attract Millennials, but as the saying goes, when they get older and start families, off they go to the suburbs! Seattle developer and author A-P Hurd promotes parking unbundling as a key strategy enabling families to remain in cities.

August 11, 2014 - CityLab

DC Nightlife

Surveying the Most Affordable Stomping Grounds for Millennials

Everyone knows a Millennial-friendly neighborhood when they see one, but which places are most friendly to the wallets of Millennials?

August 3, 2014 - RealtyTrac

Architects Design Fix For New York's Retro Parking Requirements

The "9x18" design team (named after the dimensions of a standard parking space) has evaluated and reimagined New York's parking regulations so they reflect actual parking demand and support affordable housing goals.

July 30, 2014 - Architizer

Rhode Island's 'Blue State' Policies Criticized

Aaron M. Renn has written a scathing review of the state of affairs in Rhode Island, which he describes as a result of decades of unfettered "blue state" policies.

June 10, 2014 - City Journal

Boston Mayor's Agenda Prioritizes Middle Class Housing Affordability

Boston is experiencing a period of brisk residential construction—most of which will enter the luxury market. New Mayor Martin Walsh has set the creation of middle class housing as a top priority for the city.

May 28, 2014 - Boston Globe

A Comprehensive Examination of the Bay Area Housing Crisis

The Google Bus protests got the media’s attention, and the Ellis Act has politicians' attention, but the Bay Area’s current tech-housing-gentrification crisis is a big, complicated mess.

April 16, 2014 - TechCrunch

Edge condition houses transect

How Not To Measure Housing Affordability

Critics argue that smart growth reduces housing affordability. Their criticisms are partly legitimate and largely wrong, based on incomplete and biased analysis.

April 14, 2014 - Todd Litman

Breaking Down Housing Affordability for Teachers

As coastal real estate markets—especially in California—grow more expensive, it’s harder for teachers to afford a home. A recent article breaks down the affordability of homes for teachers around the country.

March 18, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Google maps screengrab of the United States

A Map of Housing Affordability in Each State

A recent report from the National Housing Conference has moderately good news about the housing market—in many states, the number of working households “severely cost-burdened” by the cost of housing dipped slightly in 2012.

February 21, 2014 - Governing

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