Mortgage Crisis
Subprime Loans Are Back—Now They're Called Nonprime Loans
Some say that "nonprime" loans will create the same financial ruins as their "subprime" predecessors. Others say the housing market needs ways for more people to buy homes and drive the industry.
The Last Days of the Home Affordable Modification Program
The Washington Post takes stock of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) in its final days, finding a program hampered by bad faith from large banks and bad oversight by the Treasury Department.
The Case for Making Federal Housing Programs Like HAMP and HARP Permanent
There have been a number of federal and state programs to address the housing and foreclosure crisis. While these programs have helped a lot of people and continue to do so, many people that are qualified still have trouble completing these programs.
Homebuyers Return to the Exurbs
It's been a while since 2008, and a new crop of homeowners is colonizing the far-flung exurbs. Mostly foreclosed and even abandoned last time around, the exurbs are still a risky buy.
How Risky Lending Hollowed Out Detroit
Over one half of Detroit's foreclosed homes are blighted or abandoned. Buyers who purchased the homes for as little as $1 have little incentive to keep them in good shape—or pay taxes.
Greed Revealed in the Manufactured Housing Industry
A company owned by Berkshire Hathaway has been been indulging in some of the same tactics that led to the larger housing crisis about ten years ago.
Real Estate Boom and Bust Hit Minorities the Hardest
A new visualization tool by the Urban Institute provides a vivid portrait of an unfortunate truth: the foreclosure crisis and other effects of the Great Recession real estate market were worse for minority groups.
Why Some Cities are Using Eminent Domain to Save Mortgages
Some cities are fighting back against the mortgage crisis, using eminent domain to seize and write down troubled mortgages, keeping homeowners in their homes and keeping local economies afloat, writes Peter S. Goodman.
How Obama Bungled the Housing Crisis
President Obama can rightfully claim that many of the initiatives his administration pushed through in his first years in office helped reverse the acute economic slide he inherited. His efforts to cleanup the housing crash were far less successful.
The Obama Administration's Crusade for Homeowners
President Obama's multi-billion dollar proposal to help homeowners involves providing them refinanced, government-backed loans. The plan is not without its doubters, however.
Cleveland's Growing Problem with Abandoned Homes
60 Minutes reports on Cleveland, Ohio's growing problem of abandoned homes, where 1/5th of all houses are now vacant.
Even the 1% Are Selling Their Mansions At Auctions
After languishing on the market for years and steadily getting price-chopped, mansions and estates are hitting the auction block. Candace Jackson explains this has always been a last-resort move, and an unusual one for the wealthy.
Citi Gives $2.75m for Neighborhood Stabilization Programs
Multinational financial services company Citigroup was bailed out by federal stimulus funds after taking large losses on bad mortgages. Today, Citi Foundation is helping fund projects in 10 metro areas to increase stability and prevent foreclosures.
Outlook Rosy for Construction in 2011
Three economists with an understanding of the industry say that construction has finally hit bottom across the board (retail, housing, office) and is poised to come back with double-digit growth in 2011.
The Futility of Foreclosure Moratoriums
Christopher Leinberger argues that regardless of current coping strategies, the mortgage crisis is permanently reshaping cities and their edges.
Mortgage Headache Spawns Legislation in California
Mortgage debt is crippling the housing market all over the country, and the homeowners who've taken on more debt than they can afford. Now, real estate interests and banking interests are battling over legislation intended to ease the pain.
Mortgage Tax Breaks Encourage McMansions
Edward L. Glaeser says that the government policy of encouraging homeownership through tax breaks subsidizes Americans to buy bigger homes which waste energy.
2000 - 2009: The Decade in Planning
The editors' choice of the most significant stories in the realm of urban planning, design and development of the "aughts" (2000-2009). The decade began with one crash and ended with another, but in between we've learned a lot about making cities.
1 in 3 Mortgage Applications Denied in 2008
The Federal Reserve announced that 32% of loan applications were denied last year, and applications on the whole were down by a third from 2007.
Show Me the Mortgage!
Homeowners threatened with foreclosure are increasingly finding that a simple legal tactic is stalling the process.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.
