"Zombie" mortgages come back to bite homeowners, a new low-carbon technique for cooling buildings, and more.
- In the suburbs of Phoenix, a 2023 moratorium on new groundwater-based housing halted the building of nearly half a million homes, exposing how the desert city’s thirst for growth finally outpaced its water supply. The result now is a "bridge to nowhere" effect, pitting affordability against sustainability in the Sun Belt. (High Country News)
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Debt collectors are resurrecting "zombie" mortgages from the 2008 era. These old, often-forgotten second loans are now coming back to haunt homeowners as property values rise. (Bloomberg)
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California renters just got a cool new law: starting in 2026, every rental unit must come with a working fridge and stove, which means no more scavenging on Facebook Marketplace for basic necessities. (The Los Angeles Times)
Tasked with reimagining a 1935 bungalow and adding an ADU in Austin’s historic Rosewood neighborhood, Side Angle Side used archival photos and salvaged materials to rebuild the original structure and weave in a contemporary addition.
Photo by Rob Gomez
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Hospitals, schools, hotels, and data centers are turning to "ice batteries" that freeze water overnight to cool buildings during the day, reducing energy use and costs. The technology offers a low-carbon way to keep temperatures comfortable without overtaxing the grid. (AP News)
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AIA Austin’s 39th annual homes tour spotlights 10 standout residences that capture the city’s evolving design DNA, from a concrete ADU tucked behind a preserved 1930s facade to a treetop retreat carved into a hillside. (Dwell)
Top photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images.
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