What Paris, Vancouver, and London tell us about the proposal now moving through Albany. The Roebling Report · Issue No. 135 · April 29, 2026 · Corey Cohen On April 15, Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed the pied-à-terre tax: a recurring surcharge on luxury second homes valued above $5 million — a version of a proposal first introduced by then-State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal more than a decade ago and pronounced dead and revived across several budge

Housing affordability is back at the center of the conversation in Washington. The proposals vary—allowing retirement funds like 401(k)s to be tapped for down payments, directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase hundreds of billions in mortgage-backed securities to push rates lower, floating 40- and even 50-year mortgage terms, and restricting large investors from buying existing homes.

Two competing visions are shaping New York’s future. On one side, the business community - anchored by JPMorgan Chase, major law firms, global tech firms, and a surge of AI startups - is doubling down on Manhattan. On the other, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani proposes an aggressive affordability agenda: rent freezes, fare-free buses, and higher corporate and high-earner taxes. The tension between these forces will determine how the city grows, who it attracts, and how its real es

The One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law on July 4, brings several tax changes with meaningful implications for real estate. SALT Deduction - Big Impact in High-Tax Areas The cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction rises from $10,000 to $40,000 through 2029, reverting in 2030. This enhanced deduction is available to households earning under $500,000, and phases out entirely around $600,000. For property owners in high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, and Calif

Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s bold rent freeze proposal could reshape NYC’s housing landscape. From affordability relief for tenants to pressure on market-rate rents and real estate values, explore how this mayoral frontrunner’s housing-first vision may affect the city — and your next move.

The FARE Act just rewrote NYC’s rental playbook. Tenants no longer pay broker fees when the landlord hires the broker — a major shift that slashes upfront costs. But with rising rents and shifting strategies behind the scenes, the real impact is just starting to unfold. Here's what renters, landlords, and brokers need to know.

Picture this: a 29-unit rent-stabilized building in East Harlem, worth millions in 2016, just sold for 97% less. Yup, you read that right. Why? The 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) flipped the script—capped rent hikes, eliminated deregulation, and reduced Landlord cash flow. Rent-stabilized Landlords - different from their free-market counterparts - can’t keep up with 8% tax jumps or soaring insurance costs, so this building turned into a fire sale. It

It used to be the ultimate guarantee to have a lease with the federal government. These days in Washington, D.C., long centered around federal employment, there's upheaval as Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) slashes office leases and prepares to sell off government properties nationwide. Since February, DOGE has canceled hundreds of leases across major cities. NPR reported that more than $100 million in savings resulted from terminating leases, while DOGE ass

Navigate 2025’s real estate shifts: higher rates, SALT cap buzz, soaring costs, and new rules.

Discover how the City of Yes is transforming urban living. Learn about the City of Yes initiatives and their impact on communities.

Trump’s proposed SALT cap repeal could boost luxury real estate markets, benefiting affluent buyers with increased purchasing power.