Friday's Fast Five: Week of 7.8

Believe It or Not, the Market Has Three Silver Linings (The Washington Post): This is an environment in which it is hard to argue for silver linings, especially when so many analysts are warning that additional losses may be ahead in both public and private markets. Yet three are already evident.

Housing Affordability Crisis Sparks Talk of 50-year Mortgages in the U.K. (Axios):  The notion of such a long loan term is not unheard of — Japan started doing 100-year mortgages decades ago, it's a way for parents to pass on wealth without burdening the next generation with higher inheritance taxes.

The Office Tower Has a New Job to Do (Bloomberg): As workers opt to stay home, developers are packing commercial buildings with amenities that mix private and public spaces.

Too Much Inflation Aid From States Could Prolong the Problem (Axios): Politicians are caught in a bind as to whether they should offer short-term inflation relief for struggling constituents — or help address the underlying causes by curtailing consumer demand.

The Hardest Part of Summer Vacation Is Finding Someone to Watch the Dog (The Wall Street Journal): More than 23 million American households got a pet during the pandemic, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of pet boarding facilities in the U.S. has remained relatively flat, meaning that higher demand and a lack of available staff has made finding a sitter hard.