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.
Matthews Arena’s Replacement Goes Vertical
Northeastern University is carrying the Matthews Arena legacy forward with a new multipurpose athletic facility unlike anything else in the country.
Court Favors South Shore Town in Property Dispute
For decades Massachusetts courts followed an ancient rule regarding ownership of land underlying roads and streams. An exception played a key role in a recent court case.
For Better Value Engineering, Get an Outside Review
The margin between a project that pencils and one that stalls often comes down to how effectively an owner controls hard costs. That’s where fresh eyes can help.
Massachusetts Has a Second Chance on Opportunity Zones. Let’s Not Blow It
Regardless whether you believe that this represents sound federal policy, large amounts of capital flowed from Massachusetts investors to high-growth states after 2018.
Building More Housing Means Making Hard Choices. Momentum Zones Are a Start
Massachusetts permits some of the fewest numbers of homes in the nation, in part because we ask projects to do too much. Limited relief would get construction moving again.
It’s High Time Mass. Reforms Site Plan Review
Site plan reviews don’t have state guardrails in Massachusetts. Gov. Maura Healey’s reforms would fix that, and protect good housing developments.
How to Handle Sellers Who Want Too Much for Their Home
Overpricing a listing is the kiss of death these days. How prepared are you to meet these common seller mistakes that will leave their home languishing unsold?
It’s Time for Mass. to Act on E-Bikes
E-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices are here to stay, so Massachusetts law must evolve to regulate them effectively.
Why Rent Control Will Hammer Local Property Tax Revenue in Mass.
A proposed ballot question would cost homeowners around $300 billion in the form of hits to local budgets if it passes, as rental real estate values crater.
The MBTA’s Long-Range Plan Is a Real Estate Decision
Greater Boston doesn’t have a land shortage or a capital shortage. It has a shortage of sites where development actually pencils. And that’s fundamentally a transit problem.
Tight Supply Stabilizes Boston Retail Market
Boston’s retail market is entering 2026 as one of the tightest in the country, but growth is becoming more selective.
Why Exclusivity Clauses Are Important in Retail Properties
For commercial landlords and their retail tenants, shopping centers operate like ecosystems. A Massachusetts federal court case is instructive as to why.
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.
Boston’s Top Taxman Is Out, But Big Questions Linger
Boston’s Assessing Department is the target of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit by building owners claiming the city jacked up their tax bills in retaliation for seeking abatements.
Fixing ADU Failings Could Pave Way for More Homebuilding
By standardizing rules for things like septic systems and setbacks, state legislators could also help revive our anemic single-family construction industry.
This Essay Has Boston’s Real Estate Scene Talking About Texas
Boston and Austin cities could not be more different in how they have dealt with the crushing cost of housing, and the seriousness with which local pols take the issue.
For Fort Point Artists, It’s Now or Never to Land a ‘Signature’ Venue
But the jury’s out on whether the Wu administration is ready to go to the mat for an arts, culture and civic palace of the size and scale some artists have set their sights on.
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.
Mortgages ‘Increasingly Out of Reach’ for Hourly, Gig Workers
It’s always been tougher for hourly employees to qualify for a mortgage. But new research shows that people in all kinds of occupations are having a more difficult go of it.
How to Fix a Stale Listing
It can be costly to let a listing linger longer than 60 days. But delisting and price cuts both leave money on the table. Before you do that, try these tips for reviving your listing.
Deed Theft a Rising Problem
Deed theft has become a big business for crooks: They slap their names on unsuspecting homeowners’ titles, then proceed to milk the properties dry.
Insurance, HOA Fees on the Rise
For too many homebuyers, these charges can come back to put a severe crimp in their budgets. And it looks like it’s getting worse.