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Local Planning, Housing Research, Forecasts and Analyses

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September 24, 2026

Inclusionary Housing: One Tool, Not One Size Fits All

September 24, 2026

Inclusionary Housing: One Tool, Not One Size Fits All

As communities across the country grapple with rising housing costs, local leaders are looking for ways to expand the supply of housing that is affordable to lower- and moderate-income households.…
September 14, 2026

Income Inequality Drives Home Price Growth

September 14, 2026

Income Inequality Drives Home Price Growth

Home values have surged over the past decade, but appreciation varies significantly across markets. In general, economic theory would suggest that metro areas with stronger housing demand experience faster home…

Recent Posts

Local Solutions in Action: Housing Trust Funds
September 11, 2018

Local Solutions in Action: Housing Trust Funds

The Local Solutions in Action series highlights strategies for expanding housing options and increasing housing affordability. The focus is on land use, zoning, financial and other regulatory tools that are available to cities, counties and towns that can be used to meet the housing needs of their residents and workforce. Local Housing Trust Funds Housing […]
Preferences or Constraints? Why Millennials Are Not Becoming Homeowners
September 6, 2018

Preferences or Constraints? Why Millennials Are Not Becoming Homeowners

A recent report from the Urban Institute analyzed the factors that contribute to relatively low homeownership rates among Millennials (defined as ages 25 to 34). The most important factors the researchers identified are: delayed marriage, greater racial diversity, increased student debt, rising rents, and delayed childbearing. Parental wealth and homeownership status is also an important […]
Back to School: Examining the Link Between Housing and Educational Achievement
August 22, 2018

Back to School: Examining the Link Between Housing and Educational Achievement

As children head back to school this fall, millions of families are worried not only about homework and tests, but also about where they will live or how they will pay the rent. When families have trouble finding safe, stable, affordable housing, children’s school performance can be adversely affected. What do we know about the […]
Should the Federal or State Government Take a More Direct Role in Local Land Use and Zoning?
August 8, 2018

Should the Federal or State Government Take a More Direct Role in Local Land Use and Zoning?

Local land use and zoning requirements, and related entitlement and development review and approval processes, are a key factor behind the housing affordability challenge since these requirements have the effect of limiting housing production (or production of certain types of lower-cost housing) and/or make it more expensive to build housing. As economist Edward Gaeser has […]
Local Solutions in Action: Form-Based Code
July 30, 2018

Local Solutions in Action: Form-Based Code

The Local Solutions in Action series highlights strategies for expanding housing options and increasing housing affordability. The focus is on land use, zoning, financial and other regulatory tools that are available to cities, counties and towns that can be used to meet the housing needs of their residents and workforce. Form-Based Code A form-based code […]
Housing Affordability is an Important Issue for Counties, Too
July 24, 2018

Housing Affordability is an Important Issue for Counties, Too

Housing affordability is sometimes seen as a big city issue, or at least a city issue. The National League of Cities has found that housing tops the list of priorities for city leaders, along with the related issues of economic development, infrastructure and public safety. Housing has not been a priority in surveys of county […]
Local Solutions in Action: Preservation
July 19, 2018

Local Solutions in Action: Preservation

The Local Solutions in Action series highlights strategies for expanding housing options and increasing housing affordability. The focus is on land use, zoning, financial and other regulatory tools that are available to cities, counties and towns that can be used to meet the housing needs of their residents and workforce. Housing Preservation Programs Preserving affordable […]
If Not Rent Control, Then What?
June 20, 2018

If Not Rent Control, Then What?

I recently completed a research review of the effects of rent control and found—similar to what many others have found—that rent control is a decidedly inefficient approach to mitigating local affordable housing challenges. There are, of course, families that have benefitted from rent control and for those families the policy has had a positive outcome. […]