Thread by @Shelterforce

A home isn't just a home anymore. Housing has become less about shelter and more about extracting 💰. In our new Under the Lens series—Homes or Cash Cows—we explore the 'financialization' of housing, its causes and effects, and what to do about it. bit.ly/HomesorCashCows

Miriam Axel-Lute (@miriam_mjoy), Shelterforce's editor-in-chief, talks more about this important issue and what you can expect from us over the next several weeks. bit.ly/3deE4QV

Let's lay the groundwork: We've been hearing a lot about 'the financialization of housing,' but what does it really mean? We've put together this video to help explain the wonky term:

Here's more from Don Layton (@FurmanCenterNYU), @Martine_August, @EloraRaymond, Ananya Roy (@ananyaUCLA), @alexschafran, and @UNHumanRights. bit.ly/3Ad8YT2

The financialization of housing is part of a long-term transformation of the economy, writes Benjamin Teresa (@BenFTeresa). How has this changed the housing market for the worse, and how can we fix it? bit.ly/3vUFlDe

In the second week of our new series—Homes or Cash Cows—Shelterforce explores some patterns and policies behind housing speculation. bit.ly/HomesorCashCows

First: Speculative buyers often refinance their buildings not to fix them up, but to extract cash they then use to speculate on other buildings. @WalexandraM reports on what can be done to make this destructive business model less profitable. bit.ly/3PwEYGb

Are we paying close enough attention to the Federal Reserve's policy interventions? After all, they've had profound effects on housing prices. Nico Calavita explains how these policies drive housing inequality: bit.ly/3zY4U7I

@npquarterly

When a large corporate investor is your landlord, or an investment vehicle forecloses on a home in your neighborhood, it’s difficult to know who owns the property. This week in Homes or Cash Cows, we zero in on hidden ownership. bit.ly/HomesorCashCows

First: Corporate landlords and investors tend to structure their business as LLCs. This type of hidden ownership is linked to deteriorating housing and a lack of accountability. bit.ly/3TcpIBa

Next: Publicly accessible records of ownership are the key to being able to develop effective policies and programs. But it’s not easy. @EnterpriseNow's Andrew Jakabovics explains: bit.ly/3R2p1bI

We've explored what “financialization of housing" means, examined patterns and policies behind housing speculation, and looked into how we can unmask corporate landlords. This week as our series comes to an end, we dig into solutions. myemail.constantcontact.com/Hands-Off-the-…

Most of us know someone who has a landlord who dismisses their requests for maintenance, even when safety is a concern, and allows their property to fall into disrepair. Why should these owners be able to buy more rentals? @MilesPerHoward reports: bit.ly/3Q5UqJv

You could also listen to author read the article here: bit.ly/3CJ57yu

There are many ways in which the #HousingMarket is tilted toward financial firms, but there are efforts underway from local, state, and federal governments (and even tenants and homeowners) that aim to level out the playing field. @cwmcdonald_
reports: bit.ly/3cCdZvh

Moving away from financialized housing will take developers who are willing to operate differently. @alexschafran chats with Charmaine Curtis, a developer who's walking the talk when it comes to developing housing. bit.ly/3Ay1oBn

"It’s not about taking a vow of poverty, it’s about deploying more development talent and capital for the greater good and making a good living but not making a killing," says Curtis. Read the full interview here: bit.ly/3Ay1oBn

Public policy is not the only thing that affects housing construction and housing cost. Changes in culture, power, technology, and “private policy” are also needed. @alexschafran explains more and closes out our series: bit.ly/3Tz9zGm

We hope you enjoyed our latest Under the Lens series. Did you know you could listen to all the articles on Soundcloud? 🎧 Check it out: bit.ly/3QqZlFf

@UnrollHelper