Late last week, Donald Trump posted a graphic comparing the familiar 30-year mortgage to a proposed 50-year term, implying that longer amortization might be the next landmark housing reform. Shortly thereafter, Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, confirmed via social media that “we are indeed working on The 50-year Mortgage, a complete game-changer.” (housingwire.com) The backdrop: soaring home prices, persistently elevated interest rates and sagging affordability have pu

Carlotta Cook was murdered on May 11, 1885. That day, she was being watched by her stepfather Achilles Onofri, who was often violent and cruel towards Carlotta and her siblings. Onofri was a circus performer and gave Carlotta daily lessons in tightrope walking. The lessons were grueling, and Carlotta was frequently punished when she failed to perform to his expectations. That day, he believed she wasn't walking the tightrope quickly enough, so he whipped her with a leather strap. When she still