The state mirrors a national trend of investors buying up housing to rent.
In California, 19 percent of homes are owned by outside investors — just below the 20 percent national average. This accounts for 8 percent of all investor-owned homes in the United States.
According to an article in the OC Register by Jonathan Lansner, “That 19% share is meek compared with where U.S. investors are most intensely busy – in states with small populations and tourism hooks. Those states include Hawaii at 40%, Alaska at 35%, Vermont at 31%, West Virginia at 30%, and Wyoming at 30%.”
California has one of the nation’s highest percentage of renters, at 45 percent. But the high cost of housing deters investors, too. “And underlying economics seem tepid. California’s flat population over five years ranked No. 47 and its five-year job growth at 3.8% was a middling No. 25.”
FULL STORY: 19% of California houses are owned by investors
Book review: Co-ops, commons and the conundrum of cashing in on the American dream
Jonathan Tarleton’s "Homes for Living: The Fight for Social Housing and a New American Commons" shows what happens when a loophole in housing legislation opens the door to the privatization of a common good — and when an affordable home suddenly becomes a commodity.
Atlanta Suburbs are Legislating Against Corporate Landlords
Before President Trump took up the cause, Atlanta-area municipalities sounded the alarm on institutional housing investors.
How Housing as a Financial Product Harms Communities
Institutional buyers who treat housing as an investment product become disconnected from the impacts of higher rents, displacement, and housing instability.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
Guerilla urbanists are building DIY bus stop benches in Chicago
A before-and-after of one of the bus stops with a new bench. The new benches are not officially sanctioned or permitted, but the residents who placed them hope they will be the start of a network of DIY benches across the city.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association