A new service targeted at seniors buys homes, but lets the previous owner stay.
If you're over 65 and having trouble paying your mortgage and property taxes, a new startup has an interesting proposition for you. A new company called Irene will take the house off your hands and handle your taxes, too. The service targets a group that has increasingly small savings and is most likely to own homes. The situation of being asset rich and money poor is increasingly common among seniors. Irene will also pay for some maintenance. "The trade-off: a sale price far below market value," Henry Grabar reports for Slate.
The company is new, but the problem is not. Homes can be sold with lifetime rent clauses and equity in a home can be leveraged against retirement costs. "In sum, it’s probably a good idea for some seniors—though one that can hardly measure up to the scope of the problem," Grabar writes.
FULL STORY: Live Free and Die
Missing Out on Low Interest Rates
Wall Street Journal piece says loan regulations hurt home buyers with imperfect credit.
Explaining the Importance of Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning
A term you need to know.
Fair Housing and Community Development: Better Together!
Conversations about fair housing and place-based work too often lead to a perceived need to defend turf. Reece and Kriesberg got together instead to talk about common ground, using Rooflines as a hub for debate!
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)