Housing

Seven Housing Markets With Most Potential

How to identify and invest in housing markets with good short- and long-term appreciation potential.

June 1, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Multigenerational Households Increase Across Country

Living together for economic and social reasons, multigenerational households begin to influence architects and developers.

June 1, 2006 - The New York Times

China takes measures to curb soaring housing prices

Aggressive steps were taken by China to restrain soaring housing prices and discourage real estate speculation.

May 31, 2006 - China Daily

Loft-Style Living Becoming Popular In Smaller Towns

Even humble burgs like Mount Airy, N.C., inspiration for Mayberry on the "Andy Griffith Show," are experiencing the trend. A local tobacco warehouse there is slated to be redeveloped into 43 market-rate apartments.

May 31, 2006 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thousands With 'Exotic' Home Loans Face Foreclosure

Unscrupulous lenders and brokers in South Florida promoting "exotic" loans blamed for a dramatic increase in foreclosures, with worse still to come.

May 31, 2006 - Palm Beach Post

Hip, Downtown Living Revitalizing Fading Small Towns

Even humble burgs like Mount Airy, N.C., inspiration for Mayberry on the "Andy Griffith Show," are experiencing the trend. A local tobacco warehouse there will be redeveloped into 43 market-rate apartments. Has technology made location irrelevant?

May 30, 2006 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Study Finds Local Ordinances Create Sprawl

A new study shows that Adequate Public Finance Ordinances (APFOs)in the National Capital Region may counter state's efforts at managing growth effectively.

May 30, 2006 - The Washington Post

New York City Losing Affordable Housing

Two studies confirm that NYC is loosing its affordable housing stock at an increasingly rapid pace notwithstanding Mayor Blumberg's to both preserve existing stock and add substantially to it. Section 8 and Mitchell-Lama programs were studied.

May 30, 2006 - The New York Times

FL County Approves Huge Rural Development Conflicting With Comprehensive Plan

Despite working with rural property owners for seven years to develop a 'sector plan' directing growth in rural areas, Palm Beach County voted to send a proposed plan amendment allowing 10,000 homes to the State for review. Area residents object.

May 29, 2006 - Palm Beach Post

Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance Ruled Unconstitutional In San Diego

A judge has ruled the City of San Diego's 10 percent inclusionary zoning ordinance unconstitutional. Building industry officials are pleased, although the decision "could bankrupt the affordable housing fund".

May 28, 2006 - Voice of San Diego

Cities Use Zoning, Housing Code To Define Social Norms

A city does not consider an unmarried couple and their children a family and denies them an occupancy permit.

May 23, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Does Land Use Planning Equal Unaffordable Housing In San Francisco?

Randal O'Toole blames land use planning for high housing costs in San Francisco in this op-ed column.

May 23, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

China's Housing Headed For Serious Deflation?

An astronomical vacancy rate and prices that are far from affordable have prompted government action.

May 22, 2006 - Asia Times

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Calls Workforce Housing Ordinance 'Communistic'

Fort Lauderdale's mayor condemned a proposed workforce housing ordinance as unfair to developers and 'communistic'. He said people mistakenly think they're entitled to an affordable single family house on a 40-hour work week.

May 22, 2006 - Sun-Sentinel

The Ever-Expanding New York City Commute

As housing prices continue to increase in the New York City metropolitan area, residents are moving farther and farther away to find affordable housing.

May 22, 2006 - The New York Times

A 'Soft Landing' In Southern California?

The median home price in the six-county Southern California region rose a modest nine percent during the last 12 months, compared to the muscular 26 percent climb on a year-over-year basis at the market's peak in Spring 2004.

May 18, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Cataloguing The Catalog Homes

Preservationists, historians, and amateur urban sleuths are scouring U.S. neighborhoods to identify and protect as many of the 70,000 to 100,000 "kit" homes made by Sears, Roebuck and Company as possible.

May 15, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

Los Angeles Okays 1-Year Ban on Loft Conversions

Los Angeles City Council hopes to slow gentrification of downtown by approving a moratorium on conversion or demolition of low-cost hotels.

May 11, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Norman Castle Invades Atlanta Neighborhood As McMansion Moratorium Ends

In Buckhead, a 6,000 square foot Norman-style house dwarfs its 2,700 square foot neighbors, while the City Council's Zoning Committee defeats the moratorium on "McMansions".

May 11, 2006 - Creative Loafing

Got Plans For 2056? Announcing The 50-Year Mortgage

In the face of skyrocketing house prices, some lenders are offering unprecedented 50-year mortgages.

May 11, 2006 - CNN Money

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.