A New York Times analysis comparing the costs and benefits of owning versus renting a home turned up surprising results.
"After five years in which rents have barely budged while house prices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and elsewhere have doubled, renting has become a surprisingly smart option for many people who never would have considered it before....
There are obviously benefits to home ownership... But the calculation can look quite different for those who are considering a move anyway or who do not yet own a home...renters in boom markets...should know that their choice has as powerful an economic rationale as buying does right now...when owning is more expensive every month, buyers are betting entirely on price appreciation...The single biggest misconception about home ownership, some brokers and economists say, might revolve around tax deductions...
Owning a home today is more expensive than renting in much of the Northeast, Florida, and California. Only if prices rise well above their already lofty levels will home ownership turn out to be the good deal it is widely assumed to be."
Thanks to Anne Hersch

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
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Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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