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.
This Summer Will Define Greater Boston’s Future. But We’re Not Ready
If we stumble hosting the World Cup and other mega-events, it will likely be a result of our own choices related to transportation, infrastructure and entertainment rules.
Massachusetts Is Demolishing Its Way Out of Workforce Housing
Many Greater Boston towns require huge lot sizes to build a single house. It’s helping destroy existing, modest homes, and stopping the construction of new ones.
Why the Eastern Mass. Spring Luxury Market is Moving at Two Speeds
The Greater Boston luxury market’s fundamentals remain strong, while a looming supply cliff downtown and changing demographics in the suburbs open new opportunities.
The Good, Bad and Ugly of the Mass. Spring 2026 Housing Market
The Massachusetts housing market is starting to wake up after a long, chilly stretch. Here’s what could make – or break – the spring selling season.
Massachusetts Is Pricing Out Its Own Residents
Despite its strengths, people are leaving Massachusetts, driven out by the high cost of housing and taxes. State and local leaders must do their part to address this.
Designing Affordable Housing Projects That Pencil
Affordable housing projects are becoming difficult to deliver. Each city rule may be well-intentioned, but together they push projects beyond what the economics will support.
Three Credit Card Bills on Beacon Hill Could Hurt Consumers, Small Biz
Large national retailers are lobbying the state Legislature to fundamentally alter credit card payments, with large impacts on consumers and small businesses.
Did Mortgages with Locked-in Low Rates Lead to Rising House Prices?
A recent study backs up the conventional wisdom that rising mortgage rates locked existing homeowners into their current homes, and reveals important new details.
An Affordable Home in the Hand Is Worth Preserving
While we are investing billions of vital dollars in affordable housing production we must also ensure we are not allowing existing affordable units to be lost.
Starter Home Question Could Catalyze Construction
Two recent zoning reforms may not fix the housing shortage in Massachusetts. But a potential game-changer is on the horizon in the form of an initiative petition.
Title Searches Won’t Always Protect Your Homebuyer from Environmental Hazards
In Massachusetts, the burden rests with the buyer, not seller, to ferret out environmental conditions and assess liability.
These Profit Holes Can Sink Your Business
Most Realtors and investors focus primarily on profits. What typically gets put on the back burner is how expenses and what they’re choosing not to do can cost them way more.
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.
Is Boston Headed for Embarrassment Thanks to Warren’s Housing Bill?
Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act would single out cities, like Boston, that aren’t pulling their weight in building housing.
An April Fool’s Joke Says a Lot About Our Housing Struggles
As Wellesley residents fight to stop a local parking lot from being developed into badly needed housing, more than a few people see another sad display of NIMBY nuttiness.
New Data Shows Mass. Is Driving Its Residents Out
Massachusetts is starting to see a growing number of people head for the exits, from young professionals and families just starting out to wealthy couples nearing retirement.
The Most Interesting Maps of Massachusetts You’ve Ever Seen
A new project from a Suffolk University team shows just how little residential land in Massachusetts is legally primed for multifamily development: just 4 percent.
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.
Get Your Buyers to Boost Their Credit Scores Before All Else
Is it worth focusing on credit improvement before buying a house? Borrowers should consider three questions.
Homebuyers Tripped Up by Taxes, Insurance
Sixty-eight percent of all homeowners saw their mortgage payment rise over the past two years because of higher taxes and insurance
Closing Delays Are Common
Once a sales contract is signed, it takes more than four weeks, on average, for the deal to finally close. But a lot can go wrong during that time period – and often does. Here’s what new agents should know.
Hidden Referral Fees Could Be Costly
Because buying a referral cuts deeply into agents’ earnings those who pay them are far less likely to bargain over their commissions with consumers, a new report argues.