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.
Beacon Hill Makes Progress, but Mass. Downtowns Missing Key Supports
The Massachusetts Downtown Initiative is back, but a small additional investment could have a huge impact on communities’ ability to improve their Main Streets.
What We’ve Learned from Cambridge’s Citywide Zoning
Good zoning is only part of the equation. Housing production must strike a balance between affordability, density and urban character.
Why Changes to Mass. Zoning Variance Rules Are Such a Big Deal
More flexible standards and a new requirement to weigh the public benefits of new housing should be a benefit to developers working with difficult sites or towns with outdated zoning.
Solving the Commonwealth’s Housing Crisis Takes Ideas, Big and Small
The state’s 2027 budget included four important changes to how zoning works in Massachusetts – changes that should make permitting housing more straightforward.
The New Face of Flex Development
The definition of flex/R&D space in Massachusetts has fundamentally changed with the advent of climatetech, energy tech, advanced manufacturing and robotics.
Boston’s Class B Challenge Is a Design Opportunity
Buildings that cannot offer a meaningfully better experience than a well-equipped home office face growing competitive pressure. That shift is changing what tenants value.
YIGBY Zoning Changes Would Unlock Opportunity
Yes In God’s Backyard legislation would give faith groups and developers the tools to jointly create more homes in Massachusetts, with meaningful affordability.
Rent Control Proposal Should Be Wake-Up Call to Real Estate Industry
Real estate declared victory over rent control far too quickly. It’s time to get ahead of an expected 2028 fight with alternatives that speak to supporters’ motivations.
Taxing Home Sales Won’t Solve Massachusetts’ Housing Crisis
A transfer tax would make it harder to buy, sell and build housing while doing little to address the root cause of our housing affordability crisis.
Boston’s Greenway Stakeholders Are Stepping Up
The renewed energy, increased tourism and positive experiences from our World Cup visitors are happening because the public sector, nonprofits and the private sector worked together.
The Housing Crisis Is an Economic Crisis on the Cape and Islands. The Legislature Needs to Act
Combined, we have more than 60 years of real estate experience on Martha’s Vineyard. We strongly believe a modest regional transfer fee wouldn’t hurt the market.
The Fixed-Rate Mortgage Myth Agents Need to Stop Spreading
Soaring insurance rates and property tax increases due to appreciating prices not only stretch a borrower’s budget, but could even lead to foreclosure for more people than you’d think.
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.
Massachusetts Is Missing Out on Both Parts of the AI Boom
The AI revolution is increasingly happening everywhere but Massachusetts. Both data centers and the tech firms that need them are bypassing us, wholesale.
Reasonable Fix to Boston’s Property Tax Problem Passes Senate
A bipartisan measure passed the state Senate last week to finally give seniors in Boston a break on their property taxes, fixing a problem the city’s mayor can’t.
Beacon Hill Won’t Go Big on Housing. But That’s Not the End of the Story
Hoping Beacon Hill will demolish NIMBY zoning in one grand bill? Consider the saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results.
In Maine and Mass., Dems’ Economic Tightrope on Display
Amid the fallout from Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s campaign, an overlooked intra-party fight over data centers shows how big of a problem Democrats have across the country.
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.
Most Buyers Up for a Cash Payback
If you purchased a property that was listed on any multiple listing service and paid a commission to a real estate agent, you may be entitled to a cash payment – albeit a small one.
Most Mortgage Borrowers Pay Too Much
Even if you shopped for the lowest mortgage rate you could find, you may be paying more than necessary – simply because you didn’t know lower rates existed.
Luxury Market Outpaces the Field
The luxury housing market ain’t what it used to be, in more ways than one. Four different analyses show what’s happening.
How to Resolve Issues in a Homebuyer’s Credit Report
When you file a complaint with the CFPB disputing something on your credit record, you expect some relief. But you might not always get it.