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.
SJC Limits Landlords’ Use of Security Deposits
When one of its tenants vacated her apartment without using professional cleaning services, a landlord deducted $115 from her security deposit. It could face a class-action lawsuit.
Massachusetts Urban Conservancy Targets Unbuildable Land
If you’ve ever written a check to have grass mowed and said to yourself, “No one ever uses that grass,” we have an idea for you.
How to Talk to Building Owners About Embodied Carbon
Recent municipal regulations mean designers face an urgent need to translate these rules’ implications for building owners and developers.
Three Small Housing Reforms with Outsized Potential in Mass.
Potentially transformative ideas often face entrenched and widespread resistance How about looking for seemingly minor ideas that could unlock extra housing production?
Maine Leads the Way on Housing Reform in New England
Massachusetts could learn some lessons from Maine’s housing reform approach, particularly from a new law that removes barriers to housing while preserving some local control.
Why Fair Housing Matters So Much to Me
My street shows how the market, and a lack of new housing, accomplished what no upstanding Massachusetts politician would have openly condoned: legalized segregation in the suburbs.
Another Rent Control Ballot Initiative Rears Its Ugly Head
We’ll need industry-wide coordination to fight a proposed ballot question that aims to repeal Massachusetts’ ban on rent control. With your help, we’ll stop it again.
A Close Inspection of Home Inspections in Massachusetts
Through the advocacy of GBREB and our partners, state housing officials made key revisions to the original regulations in order to make this new policy less restrictive and more feasible.
A Little-Used Piece of Massachusetts Law Holds Great Potential
Massachusetts’ 40Y “starter home statute” offers towns and cities a high-impact tool to create reasonably priced homes for young and old, alike.
Not Just Florida: Extreme Weather Raising Mortgage Risk in Mass., Too
Massachusetts has seen seven, billion-dollar weather disasters in the past two years. It’s a fundamental shift lenders can’t ignore.
Invasive Weed Trips Up Builder in Pepperell
Young parents buying new homes have many concerns. Whether their builder may have knowingly spread an invasive weed and glass on their property should not be among them.
Mass. Needs More Senior Housing, But These Aren’t Like Most Multifamily Projects
There is an extremely high demand for senior housing in Massachusetts, but good senior housing projects aren’t just rebranded apartment buildings.
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.
State’s Top Taxman Dismisses Tower Tax Retaliation Claims
State Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder said he can’t “substantiate” claims that Boston raised taxes on tower owners who challenged their valuations. A lawsuit could be next.
The Next Step in Housing Reform Isn’t Coming from the Governor
The next big thing in housing affordability isn’t coming from Gov. Maura Healey or a leading legislator. Instead, a housing scholar is taking matters into his own hands.
Who’s Got an ‘Abundance’ Agenda in Massachusetts?
Some top Democrats on Beacon Hill say they’re big fans of the book roiling the party’s intellectual circles with its critique of why blue states build too little housing.
Let the Celtics Arena Games Begin!
Buried at the bottom of an otherwise routine column, a Celtics beat writer dropped a potential bombshell: The team’s new owner is looking to build a new home for Boston basketball.
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.
Good Buyers Look Beyond Home Staging
House hunters who visit homes that look like they belong in Architectural Digest need to take a closer look. Those places have been staged to hide their flaws.
Review Your Homeowners Insurance Yearly
The beginning of hurricane season should serve as a reminder to homeowners in affected areas to make sure their homeowners insurance is up to date.
Protection Against Condo Special Assessments
Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of condominium apartments are languishing on the market these days, and not just because of high interest rates and high prices.
Protect Your House from Break-Ins
Thefts from the houses of sports stars Ketel Marte, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and Rob Gronkowski should raise the hackles of every homeowner – celebrity or not.