Opinion
Columnists, guest columns, op-eds and editorials published in Banker & Tradesman and its special sections.
Guest Columns and Op-Eds
From high officials to lone operators, read a diverse cross section of perspectives on the issues facing the Massachusetts real estate and banking industries today.
Pitches for op-eds and special section guest columns should be directed to managing editor James Sanna at jsanna@thewarrengroup.com.
Massachusetts’ ADU Revolution Won’t Be Complete Without More Reforms
Nine months into the statewide legalization of accessory dwelling units, construction activity has certainly risen. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) documented 550 ADU approvals in the first half of 2025 as state preemptions were...
Boston’s Next Wave of Buyers: From Global Investors to Local Tech Founders
International capital is flowing back into Boston’s high-end real estate while local entrepreneurs are competing for the same premium properties.
Greater Boston’s Life Science Market Is Recalibrating for Growth
Vacancy reached a new all-time high of 36.1 percent and asking rents continued to decline. But green shoots give reason for hope.
Through the Fog, Boston’s Lodging Market Should Find Its Bearings
Economic and political headwinds have dampened travel spending and kept hotel operators focused on managing rising costs. Next year could be better.
Bane of Landlords Threatens to Reappear on Ballot
To landlords in Massachusetts, rent control is like Freddy Krueger – a relentless villain that terrorizes victims in an endless series of sequels and remakes.
I’ve Fallen in Love with the South Coast. You Should, Too
Imagine a community that offers coastal beauty, easy accessibility to major metropolitan areas, a relaxed lifestyle and a growing economy.
Three Overlooked Levers We Can Pull to Build More Housing
Palatable updates to building codes will unlock tens of thousands of new housing units by enabling more housing in the same volumes.
Change to Condo Conversion Law Doubles Number of Protected Rental Homes
The requirement to compensate tenants displaced by a condo conversion creates a softer landing for households facing the challenges of an unexpected move.
Massport Deserves Our Praise and Increased Support
Greater Boston’s economy is still struggling to regain its footing across many post-pandemic indicators but one success story is quietly driving the recovery: Massport.
ADUs Are Not a Panacea for Massachusetts’ Housing Crisis
ADUs do hold some promise. But they can’t be built at the scale and affordability levels needed, nor in the right places, to be a load-bearing part of our strategy.
A Commitment to Relationships Will Set You Apart in Property Management
What makes for a good client relationship? At the heart is trust and likability. To get there, you need the right people, and you need to retain them.
Massachusetts’ Newest Eviction Law Will Scare Away New Housing
Massachusetts’ housing shortage and soaring rents are being exacerbated by the commonwealth’s extreme eviction-sealing law, by scaring away new housing.
Scott Van Voorhis
Commercial Interests
Columnist Scott Van Voorhis analyzes the commercial real estate market, state politics, housing and more with the perspective of a journalist with 40 years’ experience covering businesses in Massachusetts.
Voters Face a Choice: Build Our Future, or Blow It Up?
Voters are boiling over with frustration as costs escalate in almost every segment of their lives. Will they go for rent control, or new construction as the solution to housing costs?
What Comes Next After MBTA Communities?
We all agree Massachusetts needs more housing. To get there, do we need a shinier, more tempting carrot, a bigger stick or something in between?
Why Is America a Nation of ‘No’?
America has become NIMBY Nation, and Massachusetts, where even plans for a two-bit apartment building will draw warnings of environmental doom, is its spiritual heartland.
It’s Round Two in the Boston Real Estate Tax Battle
The latest idea from a city pol to head off spending cuts: pile more taxes on the backs of apartment owners. But even a mayoral ally worries it’s a bad idea.
Lew Sichelman
The Housing Scene
Syndicated residential real estate columnist Lew Sichelman has been covering real estate for more than 50 years. He is a regular contributor to numerous shelter magazines and housing and housing-finance industry publications.
Many Homebuilders Are Overextended
Signs suggest many large homebuilders, and even their smaller brethren, have gotten too far out over their skis.
Real Estate Agents Balk at Negotiating Fees
Homebuyers looking to pay their agents directly have found little success, according to a new consumer group study. That’s not what was supposed to happen.
Few Changes in Real Estate Agent Fees
The supposedly “earthshaking” legal settlement that was supposed to drive down real estate commissions wasn’t so tumultuous after all.
An Untimely Death Changes Everything
What happens when the person buying your house dies before the closing date? Or when your tenant passes away mid-lease?