2020 Urban/Suburban Report: How Housing in Cities and Suburbs Both Thrived in an Extraordinary Year
Despite some early pandemic-era narratives, suburban housing markets did not disproportionately strengthen in 2020 at the expense of urban areas.
2020 Urban/Suburban Report: How Housing in Cities and Suburbs Both Thrived in an Extraordinary Year
Despite some early pandemic-era narratives, suburban housing markets did not disproportionately strengthen in 2020 at the expense of urban areas.
Two Months without Pay Pushes Food and Retail Workers to Spend 40% of their Annual Income on Rent
Renters working in food and retail industries could spend 40% of their annual income on housing costs if they are unable to work for two months.
These Low-Income Communities Should Prepare for an Influx of Cash
Local leaders have additional policy options they can layer atop Opportunity Zone investments to achieve their desirable policy outcomes from developments—such as maintaining affordable housing, creating jobs for residents, supporting green building, and so on.
Sale Prices Surge in Neighborhoods With New Tax Break
Sale prices ticked up sharply in some of the nation’s lowest-income and highest-poverty communities near the end of last year—but mostly in the neighborhoods now eligible for newly created tax breaks.
A Tweak to Vouchers Allows Low-Income Renters Access to High-Income Areas
The new rule increases the overall metro-wide share of rental listings affordable to voucher holders in all 23 metros immediately affected by the new rule.
Having low credit can come with a lot of high costs. A borrower with a “fair” credit score could pay 7 percent more over the life of a 30-year mortgage for the same home as an otherwise identical borrower with an “excellent” score.
Rental Options Could Double for Seattle Voucher Holders, Thanks to Higher Ceiling
Seattle voucher recipients could see double the rentals available to them because of an upcoming increase in the value of their vouchers.
How Mortgage Payments Vary With Interest Rates, Loan Products
As discussions evolve around reforming mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (so-called GSE reform) -- the two institutions largely responsible for enabling the affordable 30-year mortgage in the first place -- it's worth taking a look at how monthly mortgage payments on the typical U.S. home would change if rates rose and/or other mortgage products became more popular.
Mortgage Comparison Tool: A Glimpse at Life Without the 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage
Hoping to reduce taxpayers’ risk, policymakers are considering changing the mortgage guarantee, which may lead to a shift toward adjustable-rate products, higher fixed interest rates and/or shorter-duration loans. Here's a comparison tool that shows how sensitive house payments are to changes in interest rates and loan duration.
Experts: Changes to GSE Affordable Housing Goals Likely to Reduce Lending to Underserved Groups
Experts predict replacing Fannie and Freddie’s Affordable Housing Goals will result in decreased lending to underserved borrowers. They are split on whether potential changes will improve taxpayer protection or provide better targeting for borrowers in need.
