Housing

The Wisconsin Realtors Association reports home sales were up 3.5% in October compared to the same time last year. Still, tight supply means a sellers market and the state’s median home price grew to $310,000.

The city of Milwaukee owns hundreds of vacant, abandoned houses. More than 100 are set for restoration and homeownership under the Homes MKE program.

Milwaukee’s Section 8 housing voucher program will now be run by a private company.

Affordable housing was one of the issues identified as a top concern this election for voters in Superior.

Up to 200,000 Milwaukee houses contain toxic lead paint. Blood test results allow officials to start rehabbing them. But funding and non-compliant landlords are roadblocks in the way.

The Women’s Affordable Housing Network recently launched a chapter in Wisconsin. One of the group’s early goals is to mentor high school and college students.

The founder of UW-Milwaukee’s Center for Equity Practice and Planning Justice says most challenges that cities face — including education, health and development — are connected to segregation.

The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee is poised to outsource its troubled Section 8 voucher program to a Florida-based contractor.

Most of Wisconsin’s houses were built before 1980 and are now eligible for state-funded repair loans. Local lenders say the program is needed.

A Wisconsin banker and mortgage specialist said she expects the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates again this year, a move that will gradually build on economic momentum heading into 2025.