Monthly Archives: July 2022

What is happening? There is a 3.8 million home shortage to meet the U.S.’s housing needs. 47 states and Washington, D.C. are experiencing an increase in the “underproduction” of homes. 170 metro areas struggling with housing underproduction. Why is this important? It is moving more people to live together, reducing the number of households. How […]

What is happening? 1/4 of homes sold in 2021 were bought by investors. From January through May 2022, 22% of all homes were sold to investors. Why is this important? This is said to drive up the cost of rent for suburban dwellers thereby adding to housing affordability issues. How will this be important? Some […]

What is happening? The US Supreme Court may take up a 5th Circuit case that asks whether there is a deadline for a local governmental entity to pay just compensation. Why is this important? The 5th Circuit said there is nothing that prevents the local government from just not paying for a very long time […]

What is happening? Federal funds are being allocated to help communities that were divided when eminent domain was used to build the interstate system, and did so by separating neighborhoods of color. Why is this important? In Minnesota, Interstate 94 split in half the historic African American community of Rondo. This directly impacted 700 homes […]

What is happening? Rhode Island became the 50th state to allow for the sale of cottage foods. Why is this important? It is being touted as a pathway to entrepreneurship  How will this be important? Cottage foods, food trucks, access to unpasteurized milk… lots of access to food and food entrepreneurship issues IJ.COM | Rhode […]

What is happening? Page County Iowa is selecting its Compensation Commission. In Iowa the Compensation Commission members are pulled from a list of 28 that includes 1/4 members that are owner or operators of ag property, 1/4 that are owners of city property, 1/4 that are licensed real estate persons or brokers, and 1/4 that […]

What is happening? Meet Putting Assets to Work Incubator. The brain child of a former Utah Congressman who previously served as mayor to Salt Lake City and noticed city and county property going unused. Why is this important? The goal is to “help local governments identify underused public assets that could be ripe for private investment.” […]

What is happening? Cities are considering ways to stop institutional investors snapping up single family homes. In the 4th Quarter of 2021, “institutional investors spent approximately $50 billion to buy more than 80,000 homes—18.4% of all homes purchased in the U.S. and nearly 75% of them single-family homes.” Why is this important? Access to affordable […]

What is happening? The federal government is launching a $1Billion initiative to reconnect neighborhoods that were divided by infrastructure like roads, train lines and bridges. Why is this important? We’ve talked about how historic infrastructure decisions displaced Black and Brown communities and divided communities. For those of us in Austin, think of what I-35 did […]