Housing Equality & Policy
Policy
The Price of Opportunity: Homes Cost 38% More in Neighborhoods That Offer the Best Shot at Upward Mobility
The typical home purchased in high-opportunity U.S. neighborhoods went for $470,000 last year—$130,000 more than the typical home in low-opportunity areas. The price premium for
The Housing Market Has Already Endured 10 Long Years of Inflation. These are the Hard-Learned Lessons We Should Apply Now to the Broader Economy.
It all comes down to supply and demand. For the first time since the 1980s, Americans are dealing with 8%+ inflation in consumer prices. American
In Texas and Florida, Nearly 90% of Flood-Insurance Policyholders Set to See Premiums Rise Due to FEMA Overhaul
The two Sun Belt states—which have gained more residents than any other state during the pandemic—are getting hit hardest by FEMA’s price hikes. By comparison,
Homebuyer’s Agent Commission Rate Dips to 2.63%, the Lowest Since At Least 2017
In a strong seller’s market, some homeowners are realizing they can attract bidders without offering as high of a percentage to the buyer’s agent. The
Neighborhood Crime Data Doesn’t Belong on Real Estate Sites
We recently decided not to add neighborhood crime data to Redfin.com. We were considering this because we’re very much focused on answering all the questions
2 in 5 Real Estate Agents Say Pocket Listings Are Becoming More Common
Pocket listings—homes sold without being marketed publicly—have become more common since 2019, according to a survey of agents. 2.3% of homes listed in the third
It Should be Easier and Less Expensive for Americans to Move to Affordable Parts of the Country
2020 Presidential Candidates want to make housing more affordable, but only Andrew Yang has proposed a policy that would make it easier for Americans
Elizabeth Warren’s Plan to Forgive Student Debt Could Help Millennials Buy Homes 3 Years Faster
Under Elizabeth Warren’s plan to cancel up to $50,000 of student loan debt, a typical aspiring homeowner currently laden with student debt could save a down payment three years faster.
Tax Reform’s Impact on Homebuyers Lower than Expected—Less than Half of Buyers Said it Has Affected Their Search
Over a year after the historic tax code overhaul, less than half of homebuyers say that tax reform has had an effect on their home search.
Eliminating Single-Family Neighborhoods in Minneapolis is Less "Revolution," More "Smart Evolution"
As population has begun to surge in Minneapolis, the city gets ahead of a potential affordability crisis in a way that other cities should emulate.
Why Do 2020 Presidential Candidates Want to Change Zoning?
In the second in a series of blog posts examining candidates’ housing policies, Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather breaks down the zoning proposals put forward
Rent Relief: Pros and Cons of a Housing Affordability Policy Proposed by Two 2020 Presidential Candidates
In the first in a series of blog posts examining candidates’ housing policies, Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather breaks down rent relief, put forward by
