News

Announcement July 9, 2026 Which State Policies Are Actually Working? Which State Policies Are Actually Working? A report from John Landis analyzes 25 years of evidence on land use, transportation, energy, and water conservation. John Landis Urban Development

News June 29, 2026 Susan Wachter Explores the History of the 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage on The Wall Street Journal's What's News Podcast Penn IUR's Susan Wachter (Wharton) and Penn IUR Scholar Edward Glaeser (Harvard) are featured in the Wall Street Journal podcast "Owning a Piece of America." Susan Wachter Edward Glaeser Housing

News June 12, 2026 Sellers are pulling homes off market at fastest pace in years. Here's why. Penn IUR's Susan Wachter notes a "re-freezing the housing market" in a recent piece by ABC News. Housing

Announcement June 10, 2026 Transportation Initiative at Penn Welcomes Nadine S. Lee as a Senior Strategic Advisor The Transportation Initiative at Penn (TRIP) announces the appointment of Nadine S. Lee, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), as a Senior Strategic Advisor Urban Development

News June 5, 2026 Trump administration’s plan to spin off mortgage giants Fannie and Freddie faces new uncertainty Penn IUR's Susan Wachter tells CNN that efforts to spin off Fannie and Freddie appear to have stalled. Housing

News June 2, 2026 Alstom strengthens U.S. rail future through partnerships with academic institutions Leslie Richards, founder and director of the Transportation Initiative at Penn, welcomes partnership with Alstom to bridge transportation research and real-world practice. Urban Development

Announcement May 22, 2026 Applications Due June 1 for Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership Program Applications for the 2026–27 Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership Program are due Monday, June 1. Urban Development

News May 20, 2026 Why are so many young women buying their own homes? “Young women increasingly have the resources to set up their own homes,” Penn IUR's Susan Wachter told The Times. Housing

Announcement May 19, 2026 Penn IUR Postdoctoral Researcher Co-Authors New Policy Brief on Rethinking the Future of Decentralization and Multilevel Governance Penn IUR Postdoctoral Researcher Kimberly Noronha has co-authored a policy brief with Jamie Boex of the Local Public Sector Alliance, "Rethinking the Future of Decentralization and Multilevel Governance." Climate Change & Resilience

News May 15, 2026 Listed median rents across the 50 largest metro areas decreased in April Penn IUR's Susan Wachter notes units coming to market years from now will be impacted by today's higher costs, particularly for fuel costs. Housing

News May 8, 2026 Special Briefing on Boosting Infrastructure Investment for Global Cities: Lessons from the $4 Trillion U.S. Municipal Bond Market NYU Center on International Cooperation (CIC) will host an event on May 14th. This will be a special briefing exploring how global cities and subnational governments can adopt attributes of the $4 trillion U.S. municipal bond market to drive private investment in public infrastructure. State & Local Finance

May 6, 2026 There Are More Shelter Beds Than Ever. It’s Not Enough. Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Dennis Culhane featured in The New York Times' Headway newsletter "There Are More Shelter Beds Than Ever. It’s Not Enough." Housing

News May 5, 2026 Home prices rose in most metro areas, but the market remains sluggish, report finds A Straight Arrow News report highlights why the U.S. housing market remains sluggish even as home prices rise in the majority of metro areas. Housing

News May 5, 2026 Penn Almanac: 2026 Penn IUR Lawrence C. Nussdorf Urban Leadership Award Recipients A Penn Almanac article highlights the 21st Annual Urban Leadership Forum hosted by Penn IUR, where global leaders and scholars gathered to examine the theme “Guiding Urban Futures in Uncertain Times.” Anchor Institutions

News April 28, 2026 Bipartisan Push to Protect Taxpayers in GSE Privatization As Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac move closer to privatization, bipartisan lawmakers and Susan Wachter are converging on one key safeguard: codifying credit risk transfer protections to shield taxpayers from future mortgage losses. State & Local Finance

April 23, 2026 Testimony on “Credit Risk Transfers: Stability & Transparency in the U.S. Mortgage System” Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter testifies before the Committee on Financial Services U.S. House of Representatives on Diversifying Risk: Benefits of Reinsurance and Credit Risk Transfers. Housing

Announcement April 13, 2026 Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter Launches Public Service and Policy Initiative at University of Pennsylvania Penn IUR and Weitzman School of Design is launching a Public Service and Policy Initiative with former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Urban Development

Announcement April 8, 2026 Penn IUR Honors Visionary Leadership in Cities at 21st Annual Urban Leadership Forum Penn IUR honored two distinguished leaders and outstanding students with the 2026 Nussdorf Urban Leaders Prize at the 21st Annual Urban Leadership Forum. Climate Change & Resilience State & Local Finance

News April 7, 2026 The Financial Planning Expert Who’s Boycotting 529s for His Kids Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter weighs in on a Wall Street Journal report, highlighting why some financial experts are reconsidering the traditional wisdom of 529 college savings plans. Housing

News April 3, 2026 Mounting foreclosures around Temple U spotlight questionable real estate deals In a Philadelphia Inquirer investigation into $45 million in questionable real estate deals near Temple University has prompted Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter to warn of systemic risks to the local housing market as these inflated properties spiral into foreclosure. Housing

News March 31, 2026 Housing Is Stable, but Still Out of Reach for Many Americans Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter discusses the current state of the U.S. housing market in Knowledge at Wharton. Housing

March 31, 2026 The Financial Planning Expert Who’s Boycotting 529s for His Kids Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter on the new environment today's families are navigating

News March 22, 2026 President Trump’s portable mortgage push may let you keep your 3% rate — experts say it might backfire. What to do now Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter on how interventions in the housing finance system must balance mobility with market stability Housing

March 4, 2026 How Even Mortgage Rates are Impacted by the War in the Middle East Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter on how the rise in oil prices contributes to increased inflation leading to increased mortgage rates Housing

News March 1, 2026 Real Estate Business Data Shows Housing Market Shifting Back Toward Buyers In Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter weighs in on the direction of the housing markets. Housing

News February 25, 2026 The Housing Market Is Tilting Back Toward Buyers Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter on the nationwide shift toward a buyer’s market. Housing

News January 28, 2026 A Municipal Debt Boom Is Driving Public Projects and Tax Breaks for Investors Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter on how municipal debt is reshaping how cities build... and who benefits State & Local Finance

News January 27, 2026 Trade tensions are whipsawing US mortgage rates. What happens next? Penn IUR Co-Director and Wharton professor Susan Wachter weighs in on an ABC News report on the volatile state of the U.S. housing market. Housing

News January 21, 2026 Trump Jabs CNN as Mortgage Rates Hit 3-Year Low A new Newsmax piece quotes Penn IUR Co-Director and Wharton professor Susan Wachter to underscore how the drop in mortgage rates could offer substantial affordability relief for homebuyers. Housing

News January 15, 2026 Mortgage rates fall to lowest level in more than three years In WRAL News, Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter discusses the recent drop in mortgage rates to their lowest levels since September 2022. Housing

News January 6, 2026 Waymo, meet Pittsburgh: Are driverless taxis ready for Steel City streets? Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Erick Guerra on how Waymo's technology fits into the U.S. traffic safety crisis. Urban Development

News January 4, 2026 Beyond zoning reform Penn IUR Faculty Fellows Ben Keys (The Wharton School) and Vincent Reina (University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design) on how the solution to the housing affordability crisis goes beyond zoning reform Housing

News January 3, 2026 Despite Fed rate cuts, mortgage rates could still rise. Here's why. In WCVB, Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter discusses why the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cuts may not translate into lower mortgage rates. Housing

News December 30, 2025 Home prices ticked up in October, but the pace of growth remains slow Penn IUR Co-Director and Wharton professor Susan Wachter weighs in on a recent Marketplace story examining the cooling U.S. housing market. Housing

News December 30, 2025 Housing Market 2026 Forecast: Wharton Professor's Real Estate Trends to Watch Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter of The Wharton School on predictions for real estate in 2026 Housing

News December 16, 2025 Leslie Richards on Penn’s Ambitious New Transportation Initiative The former CEO of PennDOT and SEPTA is working to break down silos and overcome the barriers to innovation. Leslie Richards Urban Development

News December 15, 2025 Rethinking streets designed for life Yadan Luo, lecturer in the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of the Design's Department of Landscape Architecture, on a blueprint for what’s possible for Philadelphia's streets. Urban Development

News December 12, 2025 Evidence-Based Design Is Making Philadelphia Safer Penn IUR Faculty Fellows Charles Branas, Eugenia South, and John MacDonald, among others on how small, targeted environmental design interventions can meaningfully improve safety and strengthen community bonds in the process Urban Development

News December 9, 2025 New Report on Pennsylvania’s Creative Workforce Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Jamaal Green on his data analysis involvement for the statewide report to inform workforce development, apprenticeships, and creative economy policy Urban Development

News December 9, 2025 NYC leading office-to-housing conversions Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Vincent Reina of the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design on what it takes to make office-to-housing conversions viable. Housing

Announcement December 8, 2025 Call for Papers: Demographic Dynamics and Housing Affordability Housing Studies invites submissions by February 1, 2026, for a workshop and special issue on the relationships between demographic dynamics and housing. Housing

News December 4, 2025 Map Shows States Rolling Back Property Taxes Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter on affordability benefits to homeowners through a reduction of property tax rates Housing

News December 3, 2025 Seattle Completes Two-Year United Nations Generation Restoration Program Penn IUR's joint study with United Nations Environment Programme contributes to Seattle Parks and Recreation's joining of a global cohort as the only U.S. "Role Model City" Urban Development

News November 25, 2025 The Trump Administration’s Portable Mortgage Push Could Let You Keep Your 3% Rate, but Experts Warn It May Backfire. What Can Homeowners Do Now? In a Moneywise article, Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter discusses how a portable mortgage policy could encourage homeowners to sell and open doors for new buyers. State & Local Finance

News November 25, 2025 AI’s Ripple Effects Extend to Home Sales Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter on how AI-driven shifts in the labor market contribute to national home-price appreciation deceleration Housing

News November 25, 2025 The $7,500 Self-Deportation Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter on how self-deportation decreases demand for housing and exerts downward pressure on rent growth Housing

Announcement November 19, 2025 Penn Institute for Urban Research Releases Policy Brief on the Future of the GSEs The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) at the University of Pennsylvania has released a new policy brief, “The Future of the GSEs: Conservatorship, Capital, and Mission, Housing

News November 19, 2025 Climate risk is reshaping America’s housing market Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Ben Keys on how rising home insurance premiums are eroding property values in the nation’s most disaster-prone areas. Climate Change & Resilience Housing

News November 18, 2025 Air travel quandary: Gad Allon and Megan Ryerson on challenges and solutions Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Megan S. Ryerson examines why is air travel so strained and what can fix it. Urban Development

News November 12, 2025 President Trump has proposed a 50-year mortgage. What that would mean for home buyers On NPR’s Morning Edition, Penn IUR Co-Director and Wharton Professor of Real Estate and Finance Susan Wachter joined host A Martínez to discuss President Trump’s recent proposal for a 50 year mortgage. Housing

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