Something Is Clearly Wrong With the Property Tax Appraisal System

Across the country, the property tax system is causing economic hardship for homeowners—and it’s because the system itself is flawed.

Housing, Sheppard, Top Story, Transparent AccountingSeairra SheppardApril 19, 2022Just Accounting for Health, Urban3, tax base, property tax, North Carolina, Vermont, homeowners, Homeownership, homeownership, homelessness, Homelessness

Not Just Bikes: The Only Car-Free Place in Canada (and Why You Can’t Live There)

Just off the coast of Toronto, Canada's largest city, you'll find a group of 15 small car-free islands. But just in case you thought you'd like to live here: you can't.

Video, Neighborhoods, Top StoryJay StangeApril 13, 2022Not Just Bikes, canada, Canada, car-lite, car culture, neighborhood, Neighborhoods, walkability, Homeownership, homeownership

Why Are Used Homes So Expensive? (Part 2)

We’ve explored why new housing is so expensive…but why is it often the same case for used housing?

Housing, Top StorySeth ZerenMarch 28, 2022housing, housing cost, housing affordability, housing crisis, Housing Crisis, housing market, Housing, Homeownership, homeownership

Can a Houstonian Approach to Homelessness Work in L.A.?

L.A. is facing an increasing problem with homelessness. Can it learn something from the efforts of another large Sunbelt city?

Upzoned, Podcast, Housing, Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 9, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, homelessness, Homelessness, Homeownership, Los Angeles, Houston, California, Texas, housing, Housing, housing crisis, Housing Crisis

Taking a Magnifying Glass to Property Tax Inequities

What is the real reason behind our striking property tax disparities?

Sheppard, Finance, Top Story, Transparent AccountingSeairra SheppardMarch 8, 2022Just Accounting for Health, Urban3, property tax, Homeownership, homeownership, Assessments, finance, public finance

Native American New Urbanism: How America's Poorest County Created a Vision for the Future of Cities

This nonprofit has created a template for what a 21st-century, regenerative community could look like; one that asks us what we really want for our future—and means it.

Wildfires and Ice Storms and Pandemics…Oh My!

Co-housing not only saves money for these two families—and enabled them to buy a home, in the first place—it’s also allowed them to better weather hard times.

Community, Housing, Pattison, Updates, Top StoryJohn PattisonFebruary 16, 2022Homeownership, homeowners, co-housing, housing, Housing, housing cost, housing affordability, community building, community, Community

Where Does Cohousing Fit in the Housing Ecosystem?

When her marriage of 17 years ended, this now-single mother found herself without a home in an expensive city. The solution she found? Co-housing with two other single parents.

Upzoned, Podcast, Housing, Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 9, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, co-housing, housing, Housing, housing affordability, homeowners, Homeownership

The Carpetbagger’s Guide to Home Ownership

Johnny Sanphillippo takes a break from writing about his current real-estate activities to talk about how he first bought property when he was younger and infinitely poorer.

Housing, Member Post, Sanphillippo, Top StoryJohnny SanphillippoJanuary 11, 2022housing cost, housing affordability, Homeownership, homeowners, housing, Granola Shotgun, California, San Francisco

Legalize the Village

The author of Happy City helped build a home that addressed some of the greatest challenges of our times. But his home is illegal almost everywhere in his city—and in your city, too.

Housing, Zoning, Top StoryCharles MontgomeryDecember 16, 2021Homeownership, housing, housing affordability, housing crisis, Housing Crisis, Housing, housing cost, co-housing, canada, Canada, Vancouver BC, zoning, upzoning

We Need More “Democratic Architecture”

This architect demonstrates how there are so many places ready and waiting to become a part of the housing solution—if we would just allow them.

Housing, Sanphillippo, Member Post, Top StoryJohnny SanphillippoNovember 9, 2021Housing, housing cost, housing affordability, housing crisis, Housing Crisis, Granola Shotgun, architecture, Homeownership, homeownership

The Hidden Problems of Property Taxes

Has your property tax bill skyrocketed this year? It’s worth taking a deeper look into how your county or city does their assessments...

Davis, Housing, Urban3, Top StorySarah DavisJuly 28, 2021property tax, Urban3, Buncombe County series, Homeownership, Assessments

The Suburbs Will Thrive or Fail on Their Own Terms

The society that built Main Street is long gone. Is it time to move on to Plan B?

Maintenance, Sanphillippo, Suburban Experiment, Member Post, Top StoryJohnny SanphillippoJuly 12, 2021real estate, suburbs, homeowners, Homeownership, Granola Shotgun, Wisconsin, Madison

When Do Legal Restrictions on Homes Become "Takings"?

The “Takings Clause” prohibits the government from taking private property without just compensation. But what if it’s interpreted in unexpected ways?

Housing, Local Government, Federal Government, Sanphillippo, Top StoryJohnny SanphillippoMay 4, 2021housing, San Francisco, Law, Homeownership, local regulation

We Used to Just Call These "Houses"

We used to have a different name for the modest dwellings that now get labeled “tiny houses.” For most of history, this was simply a house—a low-cost way for people to put down roots in a place and begin to grow some wealth for themselves and the neighborhood.