Housing Affordability | Penn IUR

Fellow in Urban Leadership Ryan Rodriguez

Penn IUR Fellow in Urban Leadership

Fellow in Urban Leadership Michael Shapiro

Penn IUR Fellow in Urban Leadership

News August 1, 2026 Wachter on how the American Dream is faring at 250 Susan Wachter featured in Yahoo Finance on how the American Dream is faring as the U.S. turns 250 Housing

Fellow in Urban Leadership Danielle Esan

Penn IUR Fellow in Urban Leadership

Fellow in Urban Leadership Jack Kramer

Penn IUR Fellow in Urban Leadership

News July 30, 2026 Susan Wachter on the Great Postponement Hard work isn’t enough to achieve the American Dream anymore, says Penn IUR's Susan Wachter. Housing

News July 29, 2026 Wachter on The State of the American Dream at 250 Susan Wachter writes on the state of the American Dream at 250 in Knowledge at Wharton. Housing

News July 13, 2026 Is Buying a Home Still the Way to Wealth? Some Young Americans Aren't Sure Susan Wachter weighs in for Bloomberg on whether buying a house is still a good investment for American youth. Susan Wachter Housing

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

Don’t miss the latest from Penn IUR. Subscribe to Urban Link.

Providing expert commentary on urban topics and highlighting Penn IUR's research in the context of pressing urban issues.

scholarly voices cover dark blue with light blue lines

Urban Scholarship Penn Scholars Inspiring Urban Policy

greening vacant lots PHS

From Research to Action Philadelphia’s Green Transformation

2025 urban leadership awardees with president jameson

Celebrating Urban Leadership 2025 Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize Winners