By Michael Stubel

November 28, 2012

Throughout the week, the BPC Housing Commission highlights news items that address critical developments in housing policy. Any views expressed in the content posted on this forum do not necessarily represent the views of the Commission, its co-chairs or the Bipartisan Policy Center.

What We're Reading posts now include a compilation of useful links in the Housing Visualized section below. These resources offer the latest economic indicators, expert insight, and statistical trends related to the U.S. housing market.

Housing Visualized

2010 Census l Mapping the Census l Comparing Recessions and Recoveries
Infographic: Rental Housing Market Trends l Housing by the Numbers
Infographic: Household Formation Gap l Who Gains Most From Tax Breaks
Infographic: Housing's Economic Impact l Measuring Economic Mobility
Past Commissions and Reports l Trulia’s Housing Barometer
Credit Conditions l U.S. Housing Summary
Changes in Home Prices l Wells Fargo Monthly Economic Outlook
WF Real Estate & Housing Reports l Prices and Inventory by Metro Area

Mortgage Interest Deduction, Once a Sacred Cow, Is Under Scrutiny
By Peter Eavis
The New York Times

"Given the apparent sturdiness of the higher end of the housing market, politicians may decide there are few risks in effectively capping mortgage deductions for high earners. Limiting tax breaks in a way that could reduce mortgage relief would be a change for Washington, which has done so much to support housing." Read more here.

By Michael Stubel

September 17, 2012

Throughout the week, the BPC Housing Commission highlights news items that address critical developments in housing policy. Any views expressed in the content posted on this forum do not necessarily represent the views of the Commission, its co-chairs or the Bipartisan Policy Center.

What We're Reading posts now include a compilation of useful links in the Housing Visualized section below. These resources offer the latest economic indicators, expert insight, and statistical trends related to the U.S. housing market.

For the latest look at BPC's Housing by the Numbers indicators dashboard, click here.

Housing Visualized

2010 Census l Mapping the Census l Comparing Recessions and Recoveries
Housing by the Numbers l Infographic: Household Formation Gap
Who Gains Most From Tax Breaks l Infographic: Housing's Economic Impact
Measuring Economic Mobility l Past Commissions and Reports
Trulia’s Housing Barometer l Credit Conditions l U.S. Housing Summary
Changes in Home Prices l Wells Fargo Monthly Economic Outlook
WF Real Estate & Housing Reports

NAR calls for easier mortgage lending
By Kerri Ann Panchuk
HousingWire

"Regulators and lenders could spur the creation of 250,000 to 350,000 jobs by easing tight lending standards that are causing an overcorrection in the space, the National Association of Realtors said Monday. If there is one complaint NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun gets the most from Realtors, it's that the mortgage market is too tight with 53% of August loans going to borrowers with credit scores above 740, according to NAR survey data." Read more here.

By Michael Stubel

August 21, 2012

Throughout the week, the BPC Housing Commission highlights news items that address critical developments in housing policy. Any views expressed in the content posted on this forum do not necessarily represent the views of the Commission, its co-chairs or the Bipartisan Policy Center.

What We're Reading posts now include a compilation of useful links in the Housing Visualized section below. These resources offer the latest economic indicators, expert insight, and statistical trends related to the U.S. housing market.

Housing Visualized

2010 Census l Mapping the Census l Housing Market Indicators
Infographic: Household Formation Gap l Who Gains Most From Tax Breaks
Infographic: Housing's Economic Impact l Measuring Economic Mobility
Past Commissions and Reports l Trulia’s Housing Barometer
Credit Conditions l U.S. Housing Summary l Changes in Home Prices
Wells Fargo Monthly Economic Outlook l WF Real Estate & Housing Reports

Poll Finds Voters Want Mortgage-Interest Deduction Untouched
By Matthew Cooper
National Journal

"A new study shows voters overwhelmingly opposed to changes in the mortgage-interest income tax deduction — an idea that’s been widely discussed as Washington seeks to tame the national debt. According to the survey sponsored by the National Association of Homebuilders that was released on Tuesday, 73 percent of voters oppose eliminating the mortgage-interest deduction. Broken down by party, 77 percent of Republicans, 71 percent of Democrats, and 71 percent of independents shared that belief." Read more here.

By Michael Stubel

July 20, 2012

Throughout the week, the BPC Housing Commission highlights news items that address critical developments in housing policy. Any views expressed in the content posted on this forum do not necessarily represent the views of the Commission, its co-chairs or the Bipartisan Policy Center.

What We're Reading posts now include a compilation of useful links in the Housing Visualized section below. These resources offer the latest economic indicators, expert insight, and statistical trends related to the U.S. housing market.

Housing Visualized

2010 Census l Mapping the Census l Housing Market Indicators
Infographic: Household Formation Gap l Who Gains Most From Tax Breaks
Infographic: Housing's Economic Impact l Measuring State-Level Economic Mobility Past Commissions and Reports l Trulia’s Housing Barometer
Credit Conditions l U.S. Housing Summary 2012 l Changes in Home Prices since 2003
Wells Fargo Monthly Economic Outlook l Wells Fargo Real Estate & Housing Reports

High rents, tight credit put many at the mercy of the market
By Michelle Conlin and Ilaina Jonas
Reuters

"Five years after the housing bubble burst, the United States is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis. Home prices have fallen a third from their peaks, but many Americans cannot benefit because they cannot get a mortgage. With credit tight, many consumers have no choice but to rent. Others who can afford to buy are also renting, because they view real estate as a lousy investment. With this increased demand, rents in some cities have jumped by double-digit percentage rates." Read more here.