Russell McIntyre
@russellmcintyre.bsky.social
US Climate & Housing Policy
Senior Policy Analyst at Cotality
(views are my own)
Carolina sports, star wars, marvel, and memes
WNC / UNC '13 / GWU GSPM '16 / 📍DC
#greensky #climatesky #housing #urbanism
Senior Policy Analyst at Cotality
(views are my own)
Carolina sports, star wars, marvel, and memes
WNC / UNC '13 / GWU GSPM '16 / 📍DC
#greensky #climatesky #housing #urbanism
"One reason we don’t build enough affordable housing is we’ve made affordable housing unaffordable to build."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
November 24, 2025 at 1:58 PM
"One reason we don’t build enough affordable housing is we’ve made affordable housing unaffordable to build."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
Climate 👏 Science 👏 Saves 👏 Lives
When you show people how climate change will affect them (and their finances), they tend to make the right decisions.
www.redfin.com/news/climate...
When you show people how climate change will affect them (and their finances), they tend to make the right decisions.
www.redfin.com/news/climate...
Flood-Prone America Is Seeing More People Move Out Than In for the First Time Since 2019
High-flood-risk counties lost nearly 30,000 more residents than they gained last year—the first net outflow since 2019.
www.redfin.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Climate 👏 Science 👏 Saves 👏 Lives
When you show people how climate change will affect them (and their finances), they tend to make the right decisions.
www.redfin.com/news/climate...
When you show people how climate change will affect them (and their finances), they tend to make the right decisions.
www.redfin.com/news/climate...
The next housing crisis in a nutshell:
💸 16% increase in monthly property taxes
⛈️ 146% increase in homeowners insurance costs
🏘️ historic undersupply of affordable housing
📈 high mortgage rates creating lock-in effect
🏚️ high costs of labor & materials preventing repair
www.urban.org/research/pub...
💸 16% increase in monthly property taxes
⛈️ 146% increase in homeowners insurance costs
🏘️ historic undersupply of affordable housing
📈 high mortgage rates creating lock-in effect
🏚️ high costs of labor & materials preventing repair
www.urban.org/research/pub...
A Perfect Storm of Rising Costs Threatens America’s Housing Market
This brief provides a case study of one housing market that many markets across the country can examine. The pressures on households, real estate and insuran…
www.urban.org
October 14, 2025 at 2:34 PM
The next housing crisis in a nutshell:
💸 16% increase in monthly property taxes
⛈️ 146% increase in homeowners insurance costs
🏘️ historic undersupply of affordable housing
📈 high mortgage rates creating lock-in effect
🏚️ high costs of labor & materials preventing repair
www.urban.org/research/pub...
💸 16% increase in monthly property taxes
⛈️ 146% increase in homeowners insurance costs
🏘️ historic undersupply of affordable housing
📈 high mortgage rates creating lock-in effect
🏚️ high costs of labor & materials preventing repair
www.urban.org/research/pub...
Just another straw on the housing market's overly strained back.
We really need to consider federal limits on the amount of single-family homes that investors can purchase, especially in LMI areas (though it'll be at least another 3.5 years before that happens).
www.housingwire.com/articles/inv...
We really need to consider federal limits on the amount of single-family homes that investors can purchase, especially in LMI areas (though it'll be at least another 3.5 years before that happens).
www.housingwire.com/articles/inv...
Investors drive up home prices, challenging first-time buyers
Real estate investors are outbidding first-time buyers, paying up to 4.3% over market value. Discover the impact on home prices.
www.housingwire.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Just another straw on the housing market's overly strained back.
We really need to consider federal limits on the amount of single-family homes that investors can purchase, especially in LMI areas (though it'll be at least another 3.5 years before that happens).
www.housingwire.com/articles/inv...
We really need to consider federal limits on the amount of single-family homes that investors can purchase, especially in LMI areas (though it'll be at least another 3.5 years before that happens).
www.housingwire.com/articles/inv...
Apparently we learned nothing from 2008...🤦♂️
Got a feeling that our next housing collapse is gonna look a lot like the last one.
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/08/b...
Got a feeling that our next housing collapse is gonna look a lot like the last one.
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/08/b...
Borrowers head back to riskier mortgages, looking for any potential savings
Mortgage demand weakened again but for those in the market, adjustable-rate loans are getting more popular, as they offer lower interest rates.
www.cnbc.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Apparently we learned nothing from 2008...🤦♂️
Got a feeling that our next housing collapse is gonna look a lot like the last one.
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/08/b...
Got a feeling that our next housing collapse is gonna look a lot like the last one.
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/08/b...
The shutdown is bringing our housing market to a standstill and this is what HUD chooses to post on their front page today... 🤦♂️😒
October 1, 2025 at 2:50 PM
The shutdown is bringing our housing market to a standstill and this is what HUD chooses to post on their front page today... 🤦♂️😒
Fear of diversity.
I'm from rural NC - almost everyone was white & religious and many hated 'the big city' because you were more likely to see non-white, non-straight, non-middle class, non-religious folk (that Fox News has taught them to be afraid of)
Mind you the 'big city' was Spartanburg, SC 🙄
I'm from rural NC - almost everyone was white & religious and many hated 'the big city' because you were more likely to see non-white, non-straight, non-middle class, non-religious folk (that Fox News has taught them to be afraid of)
Mind you the 'big city' was Spartanburg, SC 🙄
the amount of raw, unadulterated fear that many Americans have of even small cities is never going to stop being darkly hilarious to me
September 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Fear of diversity.
I'm from rural NC - almost everyone was white & religious and many hated 'the big city' because you were more likely to see non-white, non-straight, non-middle class, non-religious folk (that Fox News has taught them to be afraid of)
Mind you the 'big city' was Spartanburg, SC 🙄
I'm from rural NC - almost everyone was white & religious and many hated 'the big city' because you were more likely to see non-white, non-straight, non-middle class, non-religious folk (that Fox News has taught them to be afraid of)
Mind you the 'big city' was Spartanburg, SC 🙄
Had a chance to sit down for a conversation on the current homeowners insurance crisis and the need to increase public funding for resiliency measures, at both the individual property and community level. 🏘️⛈️🌪
www.cotality.com/insights/art...
www.cotality.com/insights/art...
Prevention isn't popular- but it's good policy
There is a fault line straining the insurance industry which could trigger a housing shock with echoes of the last financial crisis. | Cotality
www.cotality.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Had a chance to sit down for a conversation on the current homeowners insurance crisis and the need to increase public funding for resiliency measures, at both the individual property and community level. 🏘️⛈️🌪
www.cotality.com/insights/art...
www.cotality.com/insights/art...
Been meaning to share this phenomenal research piece from Matt Posner and @el-xav.bsky.social over at @brookings.edu.
Doesn't just outline the current problems we have financing resiliency investments, but actually provides a roadmap for potential solutions. 🏡🏘️
www.brookings.edu/articles/ret...
Doesn't just outline the current problems we have financing resiliency investments, but actually provides a roadmap for potential solutions. 🏡🏘️
www.brookings.edu/articles/ret...
Rethinking our assumptions and financing tools for community resilience in the face of growing climate loss and risk | Brookings
This report explains that it is key to reorient public finance toward principles of shared risk, shared value, and new pricing.
www.brookings.edu
September 25, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Been meaning to share this phenomenal research piece from Matt Posner and @el-xav.bsky.social over at @brookings.edu.
Doesn't just outline the current problems we have financing resiliency investments, but actually provides a roadmap for potential solutions. 🏡🏘️
www.brookings.edu/articles/ret...
Doesn't just outline the current problems we have financing resiliency investments, but actually provides a roadmap for potential solutions. 🏡🏘️
www.brookings.edu/articles/ret...
the next housing crisis isn't just around the corner... it's already here.
September 9, 2025 at 1:10 PM
the next housing crisis isn't just around the corner... it's already here.
omg, it's like if we actually taxed the rich we could pay for things, who knew 🤷♂️
www.housingwire.com/articles/los...
www.housingwire.com/articles/los...
Los Angeles 'mansion tax' fuels record affordable housing funding
Most of the money — $316 million — comes from Measure ULA, a transfer tax on property sales above $5 million that voters approved in 2022.
www.housingwire.com
September 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM
omg, it's like if we actually taxed the rich we could pay for things, who knew 🤷♂️
www.housingwire.com/articles/los...
www.housingwire.com/articles/los...
How... how did this take three weeks? Shoulda been day one. 🤦♂
September 4, 2025 at 3:47 PM
How... how did this take three weeks? Shoulda been day one. 🤦♂
"the median board is composed of 97 percent homeowners"
"all but 4 of the 66 organizations surveyed had a higher share of homeowners on their boards than living in their regions"
www.urban.org/urban-wire/m...
"all but 4 of the 66 organizations surveyed had a higher share of homeowners on their boards than living in their regions"
www.urban.org/urban-wire/m...
In Most Regions, Metropolitan Planning Boards Overrepresent Homeowners and Drivers
The appointed and elected officials who sit on the boards of a large share of regional planning organizations rarely reflect the people they serve.,Regional planning organizations help coordinate deci...
www.urban.org
August 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM
"the median board is composed of 97 percent homeowners"
"all but 4 of the 66 organizations surveyed had a higher share of homeowners on their boards than living in their regions"
www.urban.org/urban-wire/m...
"all but 4 of the 66 organizations surveyed had a higher share of homeowners on their boards than living in their regions"
www.urban.org/urban-wire/m...
As a proud alum of @gspmgwu.bsky.social please - for the love of god - fight this.
They're trying to outlaw civil protests.
This attack on higher ed is peak authoritarianism.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
They're trying to outlaw civil protests.
This attack on higher ed is peak authoritarianism.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Trump administration says George Washington University violated law over Jewish students, faculty
The Trump administration said on Tuesday it found George Washington University had violated federal civil rights law regarding Jewish, American Israeli, and Israeli students and faculty and will seek "immediate remediation" from the school.
www.reuters.com
August 12, 2025 at 4:55 PM
As a proud alum of @gspmgwu.bsky.social please - for the love of god - fight this.
They're trying to outlaw civil protests.
This attack on higher ed is peak authoritarianism.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
They're trying to outlaw civil protests.
This attack on higher ed is peak authoritarianism.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Good thing we still have the BRIC progra- oh wait...
But what about the the Green & Resilient Retrof- hmm...
At least they're still funding the HOME and CDBG prog- no?
... well shit
www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/home-re...
But what about the the Green & Resilient Retrof- hmm...
At least they're still funding the HOME and CDBG prog- no?
... well shit
www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/home-re...
Home Repairs Are Out of Reach for Many Lower-Income Homeowners
The housing stock requires continuous reinvestment to maintain decent conditions. Yet many homeowners lack the resources to invest in basic maintenanc
www.jchs.harvard.edu
July 31, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Good thing we still have the BRIC progra- oh wait...
But what about the the Green & Resilient Retrof- hmm...
At least they're still funding the HOME and CDBG prog- no?
... well shit
www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/home-re...
But what about the the Green & Resilient Retrof- hmm...
At least they're still funding the HOME and CDBG prog- no?
... well shit
www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/home-re...
🚨 FHFA is repealing the Equitable Housing Finance Plan 🚨
This plan requires FHFA to identify barriers to housing for "underserved communities"
The administration says that establishing requirements for underserved communities "conflicts with current policy"
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
This plan requires FHFA to identify barriers to housing for "underserved communities"
The administration says that establishing requirements for underserved communities "conflicts with current policy"
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Fair Lending, Fair Housing, and Equitable Housing Finance Plans
The Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA" or the "Agency") is requesting comment on the notice of proposed rulemaking repealing the Fair Lending, Fair Housing, and Equitable Housing Finance Plans reg...
www.federalregister.gov
July 28, 2025 at 6:07 PM
🚨 FHFA is repealing the Equitable Housing Finance Plan 🚨
This plan requires FHFA to identify barriers to housing for "underserved communities"
The administration says that establishing requirements for underserved communities "conflicts with current policy"
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
This plan requires FHFA to identify barriers to housing for "underserved communities"
The administration says that establishing requirements for underserved communities "conflicts with current policy"
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Allstate CEO compensation - $26.1M
Chubb CEO compensation - $30.1M
Travelers CEO compensation - $23.1M
Slide Insurance CEO compensation - $21M
US insurance firms' total investments in fossil fuels - $500M+
Shit like this is why it's so hard to fight climate change. 🤦♂️
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
Chubb CEO compensation - $30.1M
Travelers CEO compensation - $23.1M
Slide Insurance CEO compensation - $21M
US insurance firms' total investments in fossil fuels - $500M+
Shit like this is why it's so hard to fight climate change. 🤦♂️
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
Home Insurance Executives Are Raking It In—at Your Expense
Performance-based pay packages incentivize claim denials and other harmful practices.
prospect.org
July 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Allstate CEO compensation - $26.1M
Chubb CEO compensation - $30.1M
Travelers CEO compensation - $23.1M
Slide Insurance CEO compensation - $21M
US insurance firms' total investments in fossil fuels - $500M+
Shit like this is why it's so hard to fight climate change. 🤦♂️
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
Chubb CEO compensation - $30.1M
Travelers CEO compensation - $23.1M
Slide Insurance CEO compensation - $21M
US insurance firms' total investments in fossil fuels - $500M+
Shit like this is why it's so hard to fight climate change. 🤦♂️
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
GREAT new piece from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social detailing the difficulties that many states will have in responding to natural disasters, given the expected pullback from FEMA.
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
The Trump Administration Wants to Shrink the Federal Government’s Role in Disaster Management. Do States Have the Fiscal Capacity to Weather the Storm?
Taking on more disaster management responsibilities would be toughest for states at high risk of disasters with low fiscal capacity, such as Louisiana and North Carolina.
www.urban.org
July 15, 2025 at 5:38 PM
GREAT new piece from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social detailing the difficulties that many states will have in responding to natural disasters, given the expected pullback from FEMA.
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
www.urban.org/urban-wire/t...
ICYMI: Last week we published a new report showing the rise in mortgage delinquencies due to increases in taxes and insurance.
The American dream of homeownership is quickly turning into an American nightmare.
www.cotality.com/insights/art...
The American dream of homeownership is quickly turning into an American nightmare.
www.cotality.com/insights/art...
The rising cost of staying put
Rising property taxes and insurance payments are eroding the promise of long-term stability in homeownership.
www.cotality.com
July 15, 2025 at 1:51 PM
ICYMI: Last week we published a new report showing the rise in mortgage delinquencies due to increases in taxes and insurance.
The American dream of homeownership is quickly turning into an American nightmare.
www.cotality.com/insights/art...
The American dream of homeownership is quickly turning into an American nightmare.
www.cotality.com/insights/art...
... because politicians would rather provide tax cuts to rich people than invest in resiliency measures.
apnews.com/article/texa...
apnews.com/article/texa...
The US faces more frequent extreme weather events, but attitudes and actions aren't keeping up
Experts say climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and severe, but that our attitudes and actions haven't kept up.
apnews.com
July 9, 2025 at 6:05 PM
... because politicians would rather provide tax cuts to rich people than invest in resiliency measures.
apnews.com/article/texa...
apnews.com/article/texa...
"More than 8% of borrowers have financed homes with ARMs or temporary buydowns this year"
How are we back to adjustable rate mortgages already?!
Did we learn nothing from 2008???
It's like we're priming ourselves for the next market crash
🤦♂️😞
newslink.mba.org/mba-newslink...
How are we back to adjustable rate mortgages already?!
Did we learn nothing from 2008???
It's like we're priming ourselves for the next market crash
🤦♂️😞
newslink.mba.org/mba-newslink...
ICE Mortgage Monitor Finds Some Early Signs of Stress for Homeowners - MBA Newslink
ICE Mortgage Technology, Atlanta, released its July 2025 Mortgage Monitor report, finding that there are early signs of financial stress emerging among subsets of homeowners.
newslink.mba.org
July 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
"More than 8% of borrowers have financed homes with ARMs or temporary buydowns this year"
How are we back to adjustable rate mortgages already?!
Did we learn nothing from 2008???
It's like we're priming ourselves for the next market crash
🤦♂️😞
newslink.mba.org/mba-newslink...
How are we back to adjustable rate mortgages already?!
Did we learn nothing from 2008???
It's like we're priming ourselves for the next market crash
🤦♂️😞
newslink.mba.org/mba-newslink...
- This spring was the slowest homebuying season since 1995
- Sharpest slowdown is for homes <$500K (aka LMI and first-time homebuyers)
- First-time homebuyers at roughly half the historical norm
The #housing market is fracturing - how long until this admin breaks it?
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
- Sharpest slowdown is for homes <$500K (aka LMI and first-time homebuyers)
- First-time homebuyers at roughly half the historical norm
The #housing market is fracturing - how long until this admin breaks it?
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
First-Time Home Buyers Are MIA. Landlords Are the Winners.
America’s renter population has hit a record because fewer people can afford to get on the housing ladder.
www.wsj.com
July 8, 2025 at 12:38 PM
- This spring was the slowest homebuying season since 1995
- Sharpest slowdown is for homes <$500K (aka LMI and first-time homebuyers)
- First-time homebuyers at roughly half the historical norm
The #housing market is fracturing - how long until this admin breaks it?
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
- Sharpest slowdown is for homes <$500K (aka LMI and first-time homebuyers)
- First-time homebuyers at roughly half the historical norm
The #housing market is fracturing - how long until this admin breaks it?
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
Shelterforce gets it; be more like @shelterforce.bsky.social.
"an expansion of LIHTC in the face of the wreckage [the overall bill] will cause would be like adding a second Band-Aid to a crushed skull."
shelterforce.org/2025/07/02/t...
"an expansion of LIHTC in the face of the wreckage [the overall bill] will cause would be like adding a second Band-Aid to a crushed skull."
shelterforce.org/2025/07/02/t...
July 7, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Shelterforce gets it; be more like @shelterforce.bsky.social.
"an expansion of LIHTC in the face of the wreckage [the overall bill] will cause would be like adding a second Band-Aid to a crushed skull."
shelterforce.org/2025/07/02/t...
"an expansion of LIHTC in the face of the wreckage [the overall bill] will cause would be like adding a second Band-Aid to a crushed skull."
shelterforce.org/2025/07/02/t...
Seen a lot of #housing professionals praising the OBBB passage b/c of the LIHTC and SALT provisions.
Y'all realize those provisions don't exist in a vacuum, right?
Like, the harm the Medicaid and SNAP cuts will do to low-income families will make housing even more unaffordable for millions.
Y'all realize those provisions don't exist in a vacuum, right?
Like, the harm the Medicaid and SNAP cuts will do to low-income families will make housing even more unaffordable for millions.
July 7, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Seen a lot of #housing professionals praising the OBBB passage b/c of the LIHTC and SALT provisions.
Y'all realize those provisions don't exist in a vacuum, right?
Like, the harm the Medicaid and SNAP cuts will do to low-income families will make housing even more unaffordable for millions.
Y'all realize those provisions don't exist in a vacuum, right?
Like, the harm the Medicaid and SNAP cuts will do to low-income families will make housing even more unaffordable for millions.