Financial analysts and members of the real estate industry are worried that, if the U.S. government doesn't resolve the debt ceiling crisis soon, an already fragile housing market will be dealt a serious blow, and with it the entire U.S. economy.
NPR looks at how the ongoing struggle between President Obama and the Republicans is affecting the economy, particularly housing. The concern is that if it appears that the U.S. is going to default on its debt, then the global marketplace will abandon U.S. treasuries.
Reporter Chris Arnold summarizes:
"Here's how this would work: If the debt ceiling isn't raised, the U.S. Treasury could default on its debts. The Treasury says it would run out of the money it needs to make payments on some of its Treasury bonds...[then] investors could demand higher interest rates to loan the U.S. government money. But it could also drive up interest rates for all kinds of things, including home loans. If Treasuries are no longer sacred, what about home loans that are guaranteed by the government-backed mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? [A]nother crash in housing could bring the banking system with it. An actual default on Treasury bonds could be even worse."
FULL STORY: Debt Drama Could Be Another Blow To Housing

Good Planning Under Bad Leadership
Planners must sometimes work under bad leadership. Here are suggestions for responsive planning in challenging political environments.

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86
Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.

Amtrak Cascades Line Breaks Ridership Record
The route linking Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC served nearly one million riders in 2024.

Over 71K Office-to-Apartment Units in the Pipeline for 2025
Adaptive reuse projects are continuing to bring thousands of new housing units onto the market as demand for office space remains low.

How Houston Can Be a Model for Housing Reform
The city builds more new housing than almost any other and has dramatically reduced homelessness, yet low-income families struggle to find affordable housing.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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.
City of Brookings
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