Housing Affordability

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
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
Article June 4, 2026 Benjamin Keys on Property Insurance and Disaster Risk Dr. Benjamin Keys studies how financial systems shape outcomes in housing markets, with a particular focus on the role of credit, insurance, and regulation in influencing household behavior. Benjamin Keys Housing
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
Article May 19, 2026 Penn IUR and Urban Studies Program Convene the 21st Urban Doctoral Symposium Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR), in partnership with the Penn Urban Studies Program, hosted the 21st Urban Doctoral Symposium on May 15, 2026. 
Article May 19, 2026 Susan Wachter Testifies Before Congress on the Future of Housing Finance and Credit Risk Transfer On April 22, 2026, Penn IUR Co-Director and Wharton Professor Susan Wachter testified before the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, offering expert analysis on how credit risk transfer (CRT) mechanisms can strengthen the resilience and transparency of the U.S. housing finance system. Housing
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
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
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
Article April 20, 2026 Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership Explore Housing Policy in Washington, D.C. Penn IUR 2026 Fellows in Urban Leadership traveled to Washington, D.C. on March 27 for an intensive, day-long immersion focused on housing policy. Urban Development Housing
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
Videos March 20, 2026 How Fannie and Freddie Can Help Make Housing Affordable In a new video produced by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter discusses the historical significance of the American mortgage system in fostering economic equity. Reflecting on the post-war era, she notes that the "great explosion of economic productivity in America was shared by America's households," largely due to the stabilizing force of the fixed-rate mortgage. This innovation provided a shared promise "that growth in our economy is not just for the elite," but for everyone—a standard she argues we must innovate to ensure for the future. 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
Podcasts February 19, 2026 Special Briefing on Addressing the Housing Crisis: Innovative Solutions from Across America Special Briefing expert panel discussing what the nation can do to alleviate housing shortages.  Housing State & Local Finance
Article February 12, 2026 Fernando Ferreira on the Economic Value of Zoning Reform Fernando Ferreira studies how public policy and market forces interact to shape cities, housing markets, and public outcomes 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
Feb 09 2026 Past Event The Senator Nikil Saval Forum Speakers:  Nikil Saval Vincent Reina Housing
Feb 19 2026 Past Event Special Briefing on Addressing the Housing Crisis: Innovative Solutions from Across America Speakers:  William Glasgall Susan Wachter Hannah Blitzer Eric Goldywn Laurie Goodman Paul Steenhausen State & Local Finance

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