News

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

News November 5, 2025 The housing market looks K-shaped, too In a new Marketplace by APM feature, Penn IUR Co-Director and Wharton Professor Susan Wachter explains how today’s K-shaped housing market favors repeat buyers with accumulated equity, while locking out new entrants facing high mortgage rates and limited affordable inventory. Housing

News October 29, 2025 Penn IUR Received $10 Million Grant to Bolster Urban Research Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) was featured in The Pennsylvania Gazette for receiving a $10 million anonymous gift to advance research, education, and policy solutions that impact cities locally and globally. Urban Development

Announcement October 17, 2025 Penn IUR and the Transportation Initiative at Penn Announce Public Sector Advisory Committee The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) and the Transportation Initiative at Penn (TRIP) announce a new public sector advisory committee. Urban Development

News October 8, 2025 Penn launches new initiative to integrate research with ‘practical needs’ of transportation agencies The Transportation Initiative at Penn (TRIP), a new program housed in Penn IUR, was featured in The Daily Pennsylvanian for its upcoming launch. Urban Development

News October 7, 2025 Trump wants more homebuilding: Can Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac help? In Yahoo Finance, Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter discusses President Trump's recent push to increase the nation's housing supply. Housing

News October 1, 2025 Penn Launches Transportation Initiative To Drive Smarter, More Accessible Mobility Solutions The University of Pennsylvania has announced the launch of the Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (TRIP), a new hub for research, innovation, and real-world solutions in transportation. Urban Development

News September 30, 2025 University of Pennsylvania launches mobility solutions initiative The Transportation Initiative at Penn (TRIP) will bring together leading minds from academia, government and industry to tackle the complexities of the modern transportation system, while delivering innovative ideas from the lab to the streets. Urban Development

News September 26, 2025 Transit Briefs: TRIP, MTA LIRR, Metra, REM The University of Pennsylvania launches the Transportation Initiative at Penn (TRIP), "a new hub for research, innovation, and real-world solutions in transportation." Urban Development

News September 26, 2025 Former SEPTA chief Leslie Richards will lead a Penn transportation research initiative The University of Pennsylvania is establishing a new transportation think tank led by Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards, former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Professor of Practice at Penn's Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Urban Development

Announcement September 25, 2025 Penn Launches Transportation Initiative to Drive Smarter, More Accessible Mobility Solutions Penn Launches Transportation Initiative to Drive Smarter, More Accessible Mobility Solutions. Urban Development

Announcement September 22, 2025 Penn receives $10M to strengthen urban research locally and globally The funds will support the Institute for Urban Research’s advancement of research, education, and policy solutions for cities. Urban Development Anchor Institutions

News September 12, 2025 Marketplace: The Effect of Falling Mortgage Rates Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter talks with Marketplace on what falling mortgage rates represent for the economy and potential homebuyers. Housing

News September 5, 2025 SEPTA Cuts Threaten Commutes and Local Economy Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards discusses the threats SEPTA cuts pose for vulnerable residents. Urban Development

News August 26, 2025 Transit cuts ripple far beyond commutes Faculty Fellow Megan Ryerson on SEPTA service reduction impacts Urban Development

News August 25, 2025 U.S. home sales rose 2% in July — but affordability remains near historic lows Penn IUR's Susan Wachter tells Marketplace: there’s only a “slight — but I have to underline slight — improvement.” Housing

News August 15, 2025 Eugenie L. Birch to receive the 2025 Above and Beyond Award from the Regional Plan Association RPA will recognize Dr. Birch for her many contributions to urban planning and policy here and abroad in October 2025. Urban Development

News August 13, 2025 The Global Threat of Salt Contamination to Water Supplies Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Allison Lassiter is featured in Penn Today for her work on rising salt levels in freshwater sources. Climate Change & Resilience

News July 24, 2025 The Mortgage Rate Shift That Could Change the Housing Market Co-Director of Penn Institute for Urban Research, Susan Wachter, featured in Newsweek discussing the pivotal role of mortgage rates in shaping housing affordability and demand. Housing

News July 20, 2025 This is the summer of flooding across the US, and scientists know why In a new CNN feature, Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Dr. Michael Mann, Presidential Distinguished Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, explains how human-caused climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of so-called “1,000-year” rainfall events. Climate Change & Resilience

News July 11, 2025 Gen Z Homeowners Suffer Property Tax Shock Co-Director of Penn Institute for Urban Research, Susan Wachter, featured in Newsweek discussing how rising property taxes and hidden ownership costs are catching Gen Z homebuyers by surprise. Housing

News July 10, 2025 Transit Funding Crisis Unfolds in Pennsylvania Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards is featured in The American Prospect . Urban Development

Announcement June 18, 2025 Penn Institute for Urban Research Joins with Korea Housing Finance Corporation to Advance Global Housing Finance and Urban Policy Solutions through New Partnership Penn IUR and the Korea Housing Finance Corporation have entered into a formal partnership, marking a significant milestone in international collaboration on urban policy, housing finance and sustainable development. Housing

News June 11, 2025 Fannie and Freddie could make hedge funds a huge payday if they go public. One expert wants a ‘utility model’ for the Fortune 500 giants Co-Director of Penn Institute for Urban Research, Susan Wachter, featured in Fortune speaking about how hedge funds are set to make substantial profits from the potential public offerings of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Housing State & Local Finance

News May 22, 2025 There are more houses for sale in the U.S., but not enough buyers that can afford them Co-Director of Penn Institute for Urban Research, Susan Wachter, featured in Marketplace speaking about the inaccessibility of buying houses despite more homes are going for sale. Housing

News May 21, 2025 Trump Floats ‘Very Serious’ Plan That Could Hike Mortgage Rates Co-Director of Penn Institute for Urban Research, Susan Wachter, featured in Yahoo Finance and The Daily Beast speaking about Trump’s plan to hike mortgage rates. Housing

Announcement May 13, 2025 Applications Now Open: Become a 2025–2026 Penn IUR Fellow in Urban Leadership The Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership Program is now accepting applications for the 2025–2026 academic year. Urban Development

News May 7, 2025 Supercool, Penn IUR Spotlight Mayors Driving Global Urban Climate Finance A partnership with Supercool, a leading climate solutions podcast, will highlight mayors who are innovating how cities finance sustainable development in the face of climate change. Climate Change & Resilience

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