Housing

Housing Crash Forgot Dallas

In this segment from NPR, a Dallas residential realtor talks about how his city -- where the average price has actually gone up about 2% over the last year -- has bucked the national downward housing trend.

August 17, 2008 - NPR

British Columbia Considers Carbon-Neutral Construction By 2020

In British Columbia, a proposal to require all new buildings to be carbon-neutral is being considered. The rule would require that buildings have no carbon footprint by 2020.

August 15, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

Plans Vary for Foreclosure Relief Funds

Foreclosure-stricken cities and states are looking forward to receiving federal relief funding. Their plans for using the funding vary.

August 15, 2008 - The Christian Science Monitor

Troubles for D.C.'s Building Repair Program

A Washington D.C. project to clean up and repair dilapidated buildings in the city is coming under scrutiny for shoddy work and millions of dollars in public money that are virtually unaccounted for.

August 15, 2008 - The Washington Post

Vacation Home Shareholding

The American trend of "fractional ownership", a real estate concept in which a number of investors own fractions of vacation homes, has moved to Europe.

August 14, 2008 - International Herald Tribune

The $1 Home

A foreclosed property in Detroit was recently put on the market at a selling price of just one dollar.

August 14, 2008 - The Detroit News

When Housing Market Rebounds, Green Building May Boom

The current downturn in the housing industry may be opening the door for a greener upswing.

August 9, 2008 - Fast Company

New, Unfinished Housing Turns to Ghost Town

Early buyers in new housing developments are finding themselves stranded in virtual ghost towns as developers go belly up.

August 5, 2008 - Wall St. Journal

Decline in Homeless: Figures in Question

HUD's new report shows an astonishing decline in homelessness across the United States, but some groups are saying that they are too good to be true.

August 4, 2008 - Newsday

Builder Says Inclusionary Zoning Doesn't Work

In this op-ed, a builders association representative argues that proposals for inclusionary zoning laws in Minnesota that require a certain percentage of affordable housing do not achieve the goals they aim for.

August 4, 2008 - The Pioneer Press

Affordable Housing Relief Coming to Southern California

In the same week that Congress passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Los Angeles announcemed the New Generation Fund, a $100 million program for affordable housing.

August 1, 2008 - The Planning Report

Homelessness Drops 30% from 2005 to 2007

The amount of people living in homeless shelters and on U.S. streets has dropped roughly 30% since 2005, according to recent statistics compiled by the federal government.

July 31, 2008 - The New York Times

Bush Signs Housing Bill

President George W. Bush signed into law a package of housing legislation intended to ease the burden on thousands of borrowers who face losing their homes. The legislation will also bail out major mortgage financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

July 30, 2008 - The New York Times

Exurbs Hit Hard by Housing Crisis

Exurban developments are struggling to control their rampant foreclosure rates and plummeting housing values.

July 28, 2008 - The Christian Science Monitor

Does HUD Need To Be Modernized?

Professor Sudhir Venkatesh of Columbia believe it is time for HUD to be replaced by a more nimble agency capable of responding to the 21st century city.

July 27, 2008 - The New York Times

Moscow Tops List of World's Most Expensive Cities

Moscow tops an annual ranking of the world's most expensive cities. The survey examines housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment for corporations and government agencies determining living costs for expats.

July 25, 2008 - Forbes

British Town Reduces Carbon Footprint Through Small Changes

Small changes in British Victorian homes yield big changes in energy consumption, and help debunk the stereotype that 'green equals ugly' where architecture is concerned.

July 23, 2008 - The New York Times

Project Lilypad: A 'Floating Ecopolis'

Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has designed a floating city with the noble goal of housing displaced peoples who's homelands have been destroyed.

July 23, 2008 - The Daily Mail

Renewal of Cities Derailed by Mortgage Crisis

Decades of hard-won community revitalization work in America's cities is being undone by the mortgage crisis, and the Federal government is at odds over how to stop the decline.

July 22, 2008 - The Washington Post

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.