Oregon is set to become the first U.S. state to alter its single-family zoning laws in order to encourage more homebuilding. Several cities have passed similar bills in recent months, but Oregon could be the first to introduce state-level legislation, NPR reported this week. Oregon’s House and Senate this week passed a bill that will […]
Millennials spur suburban population growth
July 3, 2019 by
U.S. suburbs are seeing rapid population growth due to an influx of millennials who’re moving out of the city centers. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Apex, a suburb of Raleigh in North Carolina, is now the fastest-growing suburban area in the country, earning the nickname “Millennial Mayberry” due to the number of young […]
Builders are targeting the growing build-to-rent market
July 3, 2019 by
The homebuilding sector has underperformed in recent years, but one segment, the “build-to-rent” market in which homes are built explicitly to be rented out, has managed to pull off some stunning growth CNBC reported that 37,000 homes were built as rentals in 2017, rising to 43,000 last year, which accounts for just under 5% of […]
The LGBT community is being priced out of ‘gayborhood’ markets
July 2, 2019 by
Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community claim they’re increasingly being priced out of so-called “gayborhoods” that they helped to establish. USA Today reported that in areas such as the Castro district in San Francisco, which has long been popular with the LBGT community, home values have risen to nearly $1.8 million on […]
Florida city wants homeowners to raise their homes to protect against flooding
July 2, 2019 by
Government officials in flood-prone areas are trying to make it cheaper for homeowners to raise their properties in order to help protect them against the threat. Flooding is one of the major threats to homes in low-lying coastal areas, and the problem is being compounded by increasing federal flood insurance premiums. “The seas are rising, […]
HUD moves to tackle lead paint hazards with $330M in grants
July 1, 2019 by
The Department of Housing and Urban Development wants to help clean up health hazards such as lead-based paint in low-income housing, and is allocating $330 million in grants to facilitate such projects. The grants will be made available via the HUD’s Lead Hazard Reduction and Healthy Homes Production for Tribal Housing programs, it said. “Your […]
Trump resolves to make housing more affordable
June 28, 2019 by
U.S. President Donald Trump is turning his attention to the affordable housing problem. He’s just signed an executive order to setup a “White House Council” that will be tasked with “identifying and removing barriers hindering the development of affordable housing”, HousingWire reported. What that means is the president is trying to “tear down the red […]
Selling a home brings a third of Americans to tears
June 27, 2019 by
Selling a home is one of the most stressful experiences in modern life, second only to a relationship break-up. More than three quarters of Americans who have sold a home in the past three years say it was a stressful experience, and it could easily become more stressful as the market slows and turns in […]
Why it’s important to stress functionality over style in home remodeling projects
June 26, 2019 by
The increased popularity of reality TV inspired by real estate is compelling many homeowners to put aesthetic before functionality in their home remodeling projects, and that’s a big concern, experts said in a recent article in Forbes. Popular trends include no-door kitchen cabinets, but that might not be such a good move for homeowners who […]
Urban renewal startup Venn raises $40M
June 24, 2019 by
Urban renewal tech startup Venn has announced the completion of its Series A round with a total funding to date of $40 million. Investors include Pitango Venture Capital, Hamilton Lane, on behalf of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, and Bridges Israel. Venn plans to use the investment to enhance R&D capabilities, refine Venn’s […]
