Real Estate

Post-Harvey Homeowners Face an 'Army of Speculators'
In Houston, investors are snapping up damaged homes that will be dependent on flood insurance.

How Mobile Homes Fill a 'Critical Gap' in Affordable Housing
Cities across America have a housing crisis on their hands—should they be talking more about trailer parks?

Op-Ed: The Real Estate Industry Is Actually Fighting Emissions
Efstathios Valiotis of Alma Realty argues that the New York real estate industry has made strides to curb emissions and been a leader in fighting climate change in the city.

A Vacant Lot in Palo Alto is Asking $5.4 Million—And Will Probably Get It
In an unsettling distillation of the broader housing market, the lot's price rose by $2.3 million in under two years.

Housing Growth Stagnates in Boston Suburbs
Boston economists are sounding the alarm: while the city itself is adding plenty of housing, there's not a lot happening in the suburbs. That may adversely affect older folks who want to sell and younger people looking to buy.

Logistics Industry Footprint Grows in the Inland Empire
Some residents are holding out as warehouse developers scope out their property. Others have already accepted offers well above market value.

Up and Running: The Speedy Recovery of Houston's City Hall
Following Hurricane Harvey, Houston's City Hall became flooded with four feet of water, rendering the building's electrical and mechanical equipment useless. Restoring power back to City Hall quickly was crucial in aiding the recovery efforts.

The True Cost of Parking in Philadelphia
What will people really pay for parking? This study measures the value of garages or dedicated spaces to properties on the market in Philadelphia.

AVs and Real Estate - A Guide to Potential Impacts
AVs are more than a transportation issue and will have significant impacts on real estate. Expect AVs to affect parking, sprawl, housing prices, and transit.

Explained: How 'Collaborative Consumption' Has Reshaped Real Estate
Everything you wanted to know about shared working and living spaces but were afraid to ask.

A Rejuvenation Plan for Detroit's Highland Park
Along with Hamtramck, Highland Park is one of two tiny cities entirely surrounded by the city of Detroit. Here's how its leaders want its center to develop over the next five to ten years.

Bad Bets on Detroit Housing Speculation
When investors from Belgium and elsewhere snapped up Detroit houses for a song, some of them didn't consider the full picture. The lesson: do your research, and maybe don't invest thousands of miles form home.

All the Reasons to Map a City's Smells
"Smell-mapping" is gaining attention from urban planners, data scientists, and nature conservationists alike.

As Homeownership Slips, So Do Expectations
For an "entitled generation," Millennials feel less and less entitled to one of the hallmarks of the American Dream: homeownership. But that doesn't mean the goal is permanently out of reach.

Columbus Developers Revealed Big Plans in 2016
Columbus Underground takes a look back at the year that was in the real of real estate development.

Mapping Los Angeles' Underutilized City-Owned Property
New data shows that the city of Los Angeles owns nearly 9,000 parcels throughout the region—and that it could be doing a lot more with them.

A Sordid History: Race in Real Estate
Commentators relentlessly debate whether Donald Trump's support hinges on economics or race. Alexis C. Madrigal discusses how the two are joined at the hip, especially in real estate.

A Case Against Homeownership
Against all odds, both political parties agree on at least one thing: the merits of homeownership. But is buying a home really such a great investment, even for the well-off?

Are Rent-to-Own Homes Predatory?
On the promise of ownership, rent-to-own landlords make tenants pay for repairs. And on the lower end, homes often come with code violations built in. This market's legal grey spaces distinctly echo 2008.

The Danger of Buying By the Sea
Zillow has released research on how many of the nation's homes may be underwater (literally) by the year 2100. Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Louisiana are at the highest risk.
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research