“My housemates are convinced our house is haunted. I don’t get it. I’ve lived here for 273 years and haven’t noticed anything strange.” Many people would be just fine with a haunted house. There are many building-related developments that would help the nation’s housing shortage, if only the Agencies or investors or local areas were more open to them. Tiny (“micro”) homes and lower-priced, smaller homes. 3-D printing. Manufactured housing. Conversions from retail or office have also helped. Over the past decade, the number of malls has decreased sharply, from 1,318 malls in the United States in 2014 to just 1,141 malls in the country as of this year. The mall enjoyed its dominance for the decades following the 1970s, serving as a major incubator of brands and a crucial meeting spot for teens. Now, some “dead” malls are getting a new life as housing or community spaces. (The make-up of “live” malls has shifted: over the decades apparel square footage has dropped, entertainment has increased, and food & beverage is flat.) (Today’s podcast can be found here and is sponsored by Gallus Insights, the go-to reporting and analytics platform for mortgage lenders and servicers. Gallus makes it easy to access real-time data, create custom reports, and uncover actionable insights, all with a user-friendly design. Simplify your reporting, streamline your decisions, and drive profitability with Gallus Insights. Hear an interview with Realfinity’s Luca Dalhausen on the latest changes and happenings from the NAR settlement.)