Redfin: “Today, we added zoning and land use information to home description pages on Redfin.com. This information, which is provided by our partners at Zoneomics, will help you understand the implications of your local zoning guidelines and how your property can and cannot be used. In addition to determining what property types and density are… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Housing
The ‘office apocalypse’ is upon us
Insider: “Before the pandemic, 95% of offices were occupied. Today that number is closer to 47%. Employees’ not returning to downtown offices has had a domino effect: Less foot traffic, less public-transit use, and more shuttered businesses have caused many downtowns to feel more like ghost towns. Even 2 1/2 years later, most city downtowns… Continue Reading
TIME The Best Inventions of 2022
“Every year for over two decades, TIME editors have highlighted the 100 most impactful new products and ideas. This year, in a rapidly shifting world, innovation boomed. So in 2022, for the first time ever, we selected the year’s 200 Best Inventions. To compile the list, we solicited nominations from TIME’s editors and correspondents around… Continue Reading
Scam apartment listings are everywhere. Here’s how to spot them.
Washington Post: Dodging fraudulent listings is creating extra stress for apartment-hunters. “But fake listings have telltale signs…Today, navigating real estate scams is part of the process for prospective renters looking for homes online. And the sustained spike in housing prices amid inflation and supply problems makes people more vulnerable as they scramble to find something… Continue Reading
Rent Going Up? One Company’s Algorithm Could Be Why
Pro Publica: “Texas-based RealPage’s YieldStar software helps landlords set prices for apartments across the U.S. With rents soaring, critics are concerned that the company’s proprietary algorithm is hurting competition…For years, RealPage has sold software that uses data analytics to suggest daily prices for open units. Property managers across the United States have gushed about how… Continue Reading
Exploring gaps in city climate planning and the need for regional action
Brookings: “The growing threats from climate change leave the global population no choice: We must decarbonize human activity as soon as possible. That includes changing how we build, travel, generate power, and more to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Achieving such transformative change will require a mix of policy reforms, new technologies, and significant capital… Continue Reading
The Elder Index
“The Elder Economic Security Standard™ Index (Elder Index), was developed by the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The Elder Index is a measure of the income that older adults need to meet their basic needs and age in place with dignity. The Elder Index is specific to household size, location, housing tenure,… Continue Reading
The 6th National Risk Assessment on Hazardous Heat
“New research from First Street Foundation analyzes the the prevalence of increasing extreme temperatures and dangerous heat wave events throughout the contiguous United States, with a key finding being the incidence of heat that exceeds the threshold of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) highest category for heat, called “Extreme Danger” (Heat Index above 125°F) is… Continue Reading
How Many U.S. Households Don’t Have Air Conditioning?
Energy Institute at Haas: “With rising adoption, nearly 90% of American homes have air conditioning, but almost 30% in California are still without it. And, once again, the U.S. is gripped by sweltering heat and humidity. Higher-than-average summer temperatures are everywhere, even in places like Portland, Oregon, which topped 100 degrees last weekend and in… Continue Reading
This is the Salary You Need to Buy a Home in 50 U.S. Cities
Visual Capitalist – “Depending on where you live, owning a home may seem like a far off dream or it could be fairly realistic. In New York City, for example, a person needs to be making at least six figures to buy a home, but in Cleveland you could do it with just over $45,000… Continue Reading
How flood maps can illuminate the risk from toxic waste sites
Fast Company: Climate science is clear: “Floodwaters are a growing risk for many American cities, threatening to displace not only people and housing but also the land-based pollution left behind by earlier industrial activities. In 2019, researchers at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigated climate-related risks at the 1,571 most polluted properties in the… Continue Reading
Household Income Distribution in the U.S. Visualized as 100 Homes
Visual Capitalist: “Household Income Distribution in the U.S. Visualized as 100 Homes – Income inequality and wealth disparity have been frequent topics of conversation, even before the pandemic upended the economy. Now, rising inflation and interest rates, and a possible recession on the horizon are bringing these societal divides into sharp focus. In the above… Continue Reading
