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.
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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.
New Housing Languishes While Frank Baker Sulks
Are petty City Council politics stalling plans for Mayor Michelle Wu’s ambitious overhaul of the one board that holds sway over most development projects in Boston?
Carve Up These Turkeys
Better bring your appetite, because columnist Scott Van Voorhis is serving up his annual Turkey Awards: a roundup of 2022’s biggest screw-ups, worst ideas and most mockable memories.
The High Price of High-Cost Housing
High housing costs helped force tens of thousands more Bay Staters to move away last year than immigrants who picked us as their new home for the first time in many years, experts say, ringing alarm bells about the state’s ability to sustain itself.
Baker Finally Puts His Foot Down – But in the Right Place?
In response to some local officials’ blatantly NIMBY reactions to the MBTA Communities zoning reform, the state is cutting the budgets of their communities’ public housing authorities.
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.
Slow Going for Federal Real Estate Sales
A federal watchdog agency is raising flags about how a consolidation of government agencies offices could boost local economies as work-from-home reduces office requirements.
Cons and How to Spot Them
Confidence games come and go. But some seem to go on forever. And some real estate cons are worth remembering, if only because how successful they were.
How to Exit a Sales Contract
There are a bunch of ways to get out of your contract if you get cold feet. But failing to show up at the scheduled closing is not one of them. It’s wrong, and you could open yourself up to lawsuits.
Will FHFA Let Lenders Take Bite Out of Jumbo Market?
The mortgage market is in for another big shift in a few months. That’s when a sizable increase – roughly 12 percent or 13 percent – in the conforming loan limit appears likely to be announced.