STORYLINE · active
Record home prices, rental unaffordability, a growing homelessness emergency, and limited federal and state policy responses
Ford Motor Co., Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Lowe's Foundation and BlackRock Foundation have announced roughly $400 million in new spending this year aimed at training more Americans for skilled trades jobs, as employers face a deepening…
3 MIN READNew York City has seen a steady increase in complaints about dog waste left on sidewalks, prompting city council members to introduce legislation aimed at encouraging responsible pet ownership. Data from the city shows complaints have…
3 MIN READAbout a dozen people attended an Ash Wednesday service at Boston's Old North Church in March. Two days later, a handful of worshippers gathered for a Shabbat service at Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island. Both congregations have been…
3 MIN READU.S. income inequality has widened significantly over the past five decades, with households at the 90th percentile earning 12.6 times as much as those at the 10th percentile in 2024, up from 8.7 times in 1976, according to Census Bureau…
3 MIN READFlorida lawmakers on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment for the November ballot that would dramatically overhaul the state’s property-tax system, significantly reducing the tax bill for many homeowners and creating potential…
3 MIN READThe U.S. homeless population fell 3% in 2025 to 745,652 people counted on a single night in January, marking the first national decline since 2016, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. California…
3 MIN READSingle Gen Z women are buying more homes than single Gen Z men, even as first-time homebuyers overall make up the smallest share on record, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. In a survey covering July 2024 through…
4 MIN READSales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat in April, holding at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million, the National Association of Realtors reported Monday. The median sale price rose 0.9% from a year ago to…
3 MIN READExisting U.S. home sales were essentially flat in April, another soft reading for the housing market during what’s typically its busiest spring season, the National Association of Realtors said Monday. The median home price rose 0.9% from…
3 MIN READA $3.8 billion California program to convert motels into homeless housing during the pandemic produced thousands of new units but also left roughly 3,000 promised homes unfinished, a CalMatters investigation has found, with one contractor…
3 MIN READCalifornia’s Homekey program, launched under Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020, awarded more than $3.8 billion to convert hotels and other buildings into homeless housing, but a new investigation finds outcomes ranged from immediate successes to…
4 MIN READMortgage rates rose for a second straight week as bond-market volatility persisted, with surging oil prices tied to the Iran war stoking inflation worries, Freddie Mac said Thursday. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed to…
3 MIN READWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is arguing against policies that would increase housing supply to lower home prices, instead warning that making homes cheaper could reduce values for existing owners. His approach is becoming a…
3 MIN READHawaii will need nearly 60,000 additional housing units by 2050, driven primarily by a rapidly aging population, according to a new AARP Hawaii report that warns the shortage is pricing young families out of the islands.
3 MIN READ
Hawai‘i will need nearly 60,000 additional housing units by 2050 to meet future demand, according to a new analysis that links the outlook to an aging population and the risk of younger residents being pushed out. The report says residents…
3 MIN READHawaii Gov. Josh Green on April 29 blasted a preliminary report from the state auditor that is examining his administration’s homeless “kauhale” tiny homes initiative, accusing the auditor of being overly aggressive and unwilling to help.…
3 MIN READThe average U.S. long-term mortgage rate rose this week, pushing borrowing costs higher for prospective homebuyers as spring approaches, according to Freddie Mac. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed to 6.3% from 6.23% the…
3 MIN READIn a new episode of the “Money Happens” series, financial therapist John Hankins speaks with a 21-year-old Massachusetts renter who says homeownership feels unreachable despite working and avoiding debt. Hankins offers practical steps for…
3 MIN READMaine Gov. Janet Mills signed L.D. 2173 into law, a bill aimed at clarifying parts of the state’s recent zoning reform that required towns to loosen certain land-use restrictions to boost housing. The change follows years of debate over…
4 MIN READThe average U.S. long-term mortgage rate fell for a third straight week, dropping to 6.23% as the spring homebuying season approaches, Freddie Mac said Thursday. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate eased from 6.3% last week,…
3 MIN READAuditor Les Kondo said in a letter to Hawaii lawmakers and the state human services director that the state’s tiny home initiative for people experiencing homelessness has accounting and internal-control deficiencies that need “immediate…
4 MIN READUnion leaders representing nearly 34,000 New York City apartment building workers announced Friday that they had reached a tentative contract agreement with building owners, averting a strike set to begin at midnight Monday. The strike…
3 MIN READAn analysis by the Flatwater Free Press shows Nebraska has lost an estimated 70,000 jobs relative to its regional competitors since 2010, marking a sharp reversal for a state once recognized nationally for creating jobs. The decline became…
5 MIN READLocal governments across California are scrambling to respond to a major state housing law, Senate Bill 79, which takes effect July 1 and requires more transit-area zoning for mid-rise apartments near rail, subway and some bus stops. With…
3 MIN READU.S. existing home sales fell 3.6% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million units, the National Association of Realtors said April 13. Despite easing mortgage rates earlier this year, the housing market’s spring pickup…
3 MIN READThe White House’s Council of Economic Advisers estimates the United States has a shortage of 10 million homes, according to a report in the Economic Report of the President released Monday. The analysis says regulatory cuts could help…
3 MIN READConnecticut churches are pushing a bill that would speed up local approvals for affordable housing on land owned by religious organizations. The “Yes in God’s backyard,” or YIGBY, proposal would allow eligible projects to receive a 90-day…
3 MIN READMaine’s real estate transfer tax, which funds affordable housing initiatives, is projected to rise in the coming years, and lawmakers are now debating whether to steer more of the money toward homeless shelters. The tax rate changed for…
3 MIN READCalifornia lawmakers are considering a package of bills aimed at speeding up factory-built housing, including a proposal by Assembly members Buffy Wicks and Juan Carrillo to create a state backstop for construction-insurance payouts. The…
4 MIN READAffordable housing developers say a federal “Build America, Buy America” rule is slowing construction and raising costs, as U.S. agencies review waivers needed when some building materials aren’t made in the United States. The rule…
3 MIN READMaine is evaluating legislation that would create a $5 million fund to help towns convert vacant, closed school buildings into housing, with benefits for some communities but complicated costs and financing questions for others. The…
4 MIN READPresident Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at improving home affordability ahead of November midterm elections, the White House said and an Associated Press report detailed. One order targets federal rules tied to housing…
3 MIN READPresident Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Friday aimed at addressing home affordability, a key issue for voters ahead of November’s midterm elections, according to The Associated Press. The orders would change federal housing…
3 MIN READThe U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a broad, bipartisan housing bill aimed at improving access to homeownership and affordability nationwide, with the measure clearing the chamber 89-10. The bill would reduce some regulations, curb certain…
4 MIN READThe U.S. Senate approved a sweeping bipartisan housing bill on Thursday, voting 89‑10 to advance legislation aimed at widening access to affordable homes. The measure, championed by Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Republican Senate…
4 MIN READExisting home sales rose in February after a dismal January, as homebuyers took advantage of easing mortgage rates heading into the spring homebuying season, the National Association of Realtors said. Sales climbed 1.7% from January to a…
3 MIN READCalifornia has about 40,000 affordable housing units “ready to break ground” but stuck because sponsors lack enough money to start construction, an industry report and developers said. Enterprise Community Partners estimates 39,880…
3 MIN READPresident Donald Trump called on Congress at his State of the Union address to permanently bar large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, and the U.S. Senate this week advanced a housing bill with a provision that…
6 MIN READSan Jose plans to clear about 100 people living in a creek-side homeless camp known as “the Jungle” near Story Road across from Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, beginning April 15. City officials said outreach ahead of the sweep will prioritize…
3 MIN READA homelessness prevention program launched in Santa Clara County is expanding across the U.S., aiming to keep families housed by offering rental assistance, case management and supportive services before eviction. Destination: Home said it…
3 MIN READMaui’s Planning Commission voted to recommend the County Council oppose a bill that would create new hotel zoning districts, allowing thousands of vacation rentals to keep operating as short-term stays. After more than two hours of public…
3 MIN READZohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, visited President Donald Trump at the White House and presented him with a mock newspaper front page to illustrate a proposed package of federal housing investments for the city, the Associated…
4 MIN READA developer has proposed a 148-unit housing project for Kōloa, a historic rural town on Kauai's South Shore, sparking a community debate over local affordability and preservation. The Kauai Planning Commission is set to hear the proposal…
4 MIN READVivian Tu, who has 10 million social media followers, shares practical advice on managing money and relationships. Tu, recently appointed chief of financial empowerment at fintech platform SoFi, has built her following through her 'Your…
3 MIN READMayor Zohran Mamdani said New York City will resume clearing makeshift homeless encampments, days after he paused the prior administration’s sweeps. He said the new approach would be led by the city’s homeless services department, with…
3 MIN READCalifornia lawmakers are pursuing a new push to speed up factory-built housing, aiming to make 2026 “the Year of the Housing Factory,” according to state Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. The effort includes select committee hearings on “housing…
3 MIN READExisting home sales fell sharply in January, sliding 8.4% from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million units, the National Association of Realtors said. The decline came as mortgage rates continued to ease, while home…
3 MIN READIndiana lawmakers are debating a bill that would make it illegal to sleep or camp on public land in Indianapolis for certain residents experiencing homelessness, a proposal advocates say could disrupt a local housing program. The measure,…
4 MIN READA new report from University of Hawaiʻi economists argues that Hawaiʻi’s affordability problem is not only about high prices, but also about low incomes and a lack of high-paying jobs that has helped drive people to leave the state. The…
3 MIN READWest Virginia is projected to lose access to 28% of its federally subsidized low-income rental housing as federal rent restrictions tied to affordability periods expire, according to a statewide housing report. The report says nearly 200…
3 MIN READAverage long-term U.S. mortgage rates edged higher for the second week in a row, though they remain just above the lowest level in more than three years, Freddie Mac said Thursday. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 6.1%…
3 MIN READThe family of a homeless man who died after a bulldozer crushed his tent during an Atlanta encampment sweep last year has filed a lawsuit against two nonprofits. The suit, filed Friday, accuses Partners for HOME and SafeHouse Outreach of…
3 MIN READSan Diego imposed its first-ever parking fees at Balboa Park this month to secure dedicated funding for the century-old cultural site and help close a city budget gap, but the policy prompted immediate backlash that has already reshaped…
4 MIN READThe family of Cornelius Taylor, a 46-year-old man who died when a bulldozer crushed his tent in an Atlanta encampment, filed a lawsuit Friday against two nonprofits it says are partly responsible for his death. The lawsuit names Partners…
4 MIN READPastor Monique French and her congregation at Washington Heights United Methodist Church in Battle Creek are raising money to build 17 affordable homes in one of the Cereal City's poorest neighborhoods, joining a growing number of…
4 MIN READConnecticut Gov. Ned Lamont ordered a halt to new farm land valuations on Monday, citing an "unforeseen lack of data" that had undermined the state's effort to update property assessments. The decision came after weeks of intense pressure…
5 MIN READPresident Trump outlined four policies Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, aimed at making homeownership more affordable: lower interest rates, a ban on large institutional investors buying single-family homes, a…
3 MIN READPresident Donald Trump outlined four housing-related proposals at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, aiming to make homeownership more affordable. His plan includes pushing for lower interest rates on home loans and credit…
3 MIN READFannie Mae aired a one-minute advertisement Sunday featuring an AI-generated voice of President Donald Trump, created with his administration's permission, as the White House escalates its push on housing affordability. A disclaimer in the…
3 MIN READCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and the state Legislature are tightening requirements counties and cities must meet to receive homelessness money, putting new focus on local encampment rules and housing planning. The changes…
4 MIN READCalifornia counties seeking state homelessness funds now face a new set of accountability requirements — including a state-approved encampment policy and a coveted "prohousing designation" held by fewer than 12% of the state's…
4 MIN READU.S. existing home sales stayed near a 30-year low in 2025, the National Association of Realtors reported, with high home prices and mortgage rates keeping many buyers sidelined. In December, sales rose, helped by easing mortgage rates…
3 MIN READU.S. existing-home sales stayed near a 30-year low in 2025, the National Association of Realtors said, as home prices rose and mortgage rates remained high enough to keep many would-be buyers on the sidelines. In December, sales picked up…
3 MIN READZohran Mamdani will become New York City mayor on Jan. 1, stepping into a job where his campaign’s big affordability proposals will face scrutiny from both political allies and skeptics. Ahead of his inauguration, advisers and analysts…
3 MIN READ
