Housing Affordability

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 21, 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. 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
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
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 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
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 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 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
Research Paper November 12, 2025 The Future of the GSEs: Conservatorship, Capital, and Mission This brief is the outcome of a roundtable examining the privatization of the GSEs through a utility model. Attendees considered the elements needed and best structure for a more privatized GSE model for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Housing

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