In the media

City street at sunset

Our research is regularly cited in national and local news outlets; below is some of our recent press coverage.

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Consumer Affairs

The coronavirus has delayed many home remodeling projects

“With the pandemic exacerbating localized slowdowns in house prices, existing-home sales, and homebuilding, many metros will see even more pronounced erosion of home renovation activity this year,” said Abbe Will, associate project director in the Remodeling Futures Program at JCHS.

The New Yorker

Cancel the Rent

From June of 2018 to July of 2019, Harvard researchers found that the median rent for an unfurnished apartment in a new building was $1,620, a 37% increase from the median rent in 2000. To state the obvious, that’s more than Trump’s one-off stimulus check.

Money Magazine

Where Home Prices Are Heading in the Age of Coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered large swaths of the U.S. economy. The real estate market — where just weeks ago sellers and agents had been counting on a brisk spring selling season — is no exception.

Marketplace

Indoor life is changing what people want in a home

While Abbe Will expects an uptick in smaller, DIY projects, “the bulk of remodeling spending really is major home improvements,” she said. “We think homeowners are dreaming about doing those projects but are not likely to undertake them anytime soon.”

The Wall Street Journal

Rent Strike Planned for May 1 as Pain of Coronavirus Deepens

About one-third of U.S. households are renters, and nearly half of them were paying more than 30% of their incomes on rent and utilities before the coronavirus pandemic struck, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Forbes

Renters In Crisis: Housing Experts Say Canceling Rent Isn’t The Best Answer

Considering that renters are a financially vulnerable demographic, there is no doubt that massive waves of evictions could be coming. A report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University (JCHS) found that 25% of all renters in 2018 spent more than half of their income on housing.