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.
To Combat Holiday Scams, Banks Must Give the Gift of Education
Online scams are especially prevalent this time of year. Trying to head them off by educating customers can help a bank’s balance sheet as well as earn it goodwill in the community.
Return-to-Office Plans Confront a Paradigm Shift
Corporate managers who make real estate and facility decisions are facing the new reality of altered employee expectations. And there is no “one size fits all” solution to a company’s real estate needs.
Be Thankful for Equity Trailblazers
Three trailblazers this year showed what’s possible to increase access to capital for underrepresented consumers and entrepreneurs – not out of some sense of charity, but because it’s good for business and our community.
Other States Offer Lessons in Encouraging ADUs
Other states’ experiences show increasing the production of ADUs requires the passage of statewide legislation, but that policymakers must pick between producing more units and producing less controversy.
Climate Change Hits Indebted Businesses Hardest, New Research Suggests
Climate change delivers a one-two punch to highly leveraged firms by intensifying the costs that stakeholders impose on them, and it’s harder for a company that’s deep in debt to adapt.
Brokerages, Agents Face Own ‘Bombshell’ Decisions in Lawsuit’s Wake
What can agents and brokerages who are worried about pay cuts, job loss or running up against the law do to protect themselves?
What Might Happen After the ‘Bombshell’ Verdict?
The most important step that the industry can take across the board is to make buyer-broker agreements mandatory in every transaction. But more may need to be done depending on the case’s final disposition.
Additional Items Can Boost Massachusetts’s Climate Plan
The state’s new plan to reduce its carbon emissions is missing two key and common-sense items: commuter rail electrification and a regional approach to flooding from storms and extreme heat.
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.
Homebuying Report Raises Troubling Questions, but Offers Bad Remedies
MAPC’s latest research has uncovered astounding statistics about the role investors are playing in pushing Boston home prices up. But it falls wide of the mark in recommending rent control as a solution to the problem.
Progressives Blinded by Their Own Purity Test on Housing
Yes, we can solve the housing crisis, they say, but only if we stick with the morally pure solution – affordable housing.
The Roast of the Real Estate Turkeys
As the name suggests, this is one award you don’t want to get. A “Turkey” signifies that something has either gone terribly wrong or simply defies common sense.
Not All Smooth Sailing as Housing Zoning Deadline Looms
Gov. Maura Healey has an ambitious plan to tackle the state’s housing crisis. But some recent developments in Boston’s suburbs and exurbs should raise concerns about the willingness on part of some local communities to embrace the governor’s call to action.
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.
When Your Buyer’s Homebuilder Shuts Down
It’s not an everyday occurrence. But once in a while, a homebuilder abruptly shuts down, leaving customers holding the proverbial bag.
How to Buy a House in Other Countries
It happens every election cycle: “If that guy wins,” one side or the other vows, “we’re moving to Canada.” It turns out that’s a lot harder than you might think in practice.
A Mechanic’s Lien Could Stop a Future Sale
Every homeowner who is considering hiring a contractor to do some work in or around their house should become familiar with the mechanic’s lien laws in their home state.
An Ode to Faded Design Trends
Features that were once sought-after can now leave a house feeling woefully out-of-date. But some still pine for sunken living rooms, 2-story foyers and 8-foot ceilings.