On Wednesday, September 17th, the Federal Reserve voted to cut rates for the first time in 2025, and signaled that more cuts are on the way. This move was in response to growing concerns over the slowing labor market, and the hope is that by making borrowing cheaper, economic growth will follow and help turn the tide on employment. 

by Ian Cahoon, Director of Innovations, Ivory Innovations Students from Harvard, University of Utah and Willamette University propose solutions to improve lending to first time buyers, increase access to affordable housing and develop cost-reducing construction methods to increase homeownership  SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 1, 2025  - Ivory Innovations ,  both an operating foundation and a nonprofit academic center based at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business, toda

The decade-plus undersupply of housing along with COVID-era inflation in housing prices and higher interest rates mean that the same construction methods, materials, and policy and regulatory frameworks that worked for earlier generations will not work for Gen Z. Instead, the majority of Gen Z are likely to struggle to afford rent, let alone reach the American Dream of homeownership, unless we think differently.

Fieldworks accelerates the adoption of promising housing innovations by integrating them into Ivory Innovations’ own developments, creating real-world applications that demonstrate their value and impact.

Fieldworks accelerates the adoption of promising housing innovations by integrating them into Ivory Innovations’ own developments, creating real-world applications that demonstrate their value and impact.

Looking to understand the housing crisis – and what we can do about it? These books – written by or featuring Ivory Prize finalists or experts – offer fresh insights, bold proposals, and important context to help us imagine and build better housing and better cities.

Drawing on insights from a wide array of industry leaders—including policymakers, developers, technologists, and nonprofit experts—Ivory Innovations synthesized their input into seven actionable recommendations for HUD. These focus on modernizing outdated housing regulations, expanding financing options, and boosting efficiency across the housing sector.

In a year marked by gridlock and turmoil in Washington, one bill represents a potentially huge step forward for housing innovation. Introduced by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), the ROAD to Housing Act proposes a deceptively simple reform: eliminating the federal requirement that all HUD Code manufactured homes include a permanent steel chassis. At first glance, this might seem like a small technical fix. But in practice, it could reshape the landscape for factory-built housing in

As the new Presidential Administration settles into Washington, DC, many are asking: what comes next? A critical topic is examining and improving the landscape of “small-dollar mortgages.” A recent opinion piece in The New York Times explains that small-dollar mortgages—generally loans under $100,000—make up a significant portion of the housing market but remain underserved by traditional mortgage lenders. In fact, a substantial percentage of homes in certain areas fall with

Introduction to Social Housing in the United States In the last few years, a new term has emerged in housing circles in the United States – “social housing.” As a new political administration enters the White House and traditional funding streams for affordable housing – such as the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and Community Revitalization Act spending – are potentially re-thought, it is important to examine other housing models that might provide new ways of financing affor