Housing Insiders

Author, Washington Examiner Senior Political Columnist, and American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Senior Fellow Tim Carney joins Jonathan & Jeremy on this episode of Housing Insiders to chat the ties between the baby bust & housing crisis in the US. Tim's latest book is Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be. Hear whether the baby bust is a housing issue at its core, the perception that parenting is so hard & miserable, the ideal housing setup for families, the practicality of creative housing solutions like shared equity, and how the future of housing can improve the loneliness crisis. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform

Gilbert Family Foundation & Rocket Community Fund Executive Director Laura Grannemann joins Jonathan & Jeremy on this episode of Housing Insiders to discuss housing lessons for the US based on their work in Detroit. The Gilbert Family Foundation (GFF) exists to accelerate a cure for NF1 and grow opportunity and equity in Detroit and our home cities, and the Rocket Community Fund aims to simplify complex and inequitable systems to ensure that every American has access to stable, healthy housing. Hear her clouds & dirt strategy when it comes to housing in Detroit, why Detroit is such an indicator for the health of the national housing industry, how they're reinvigorating Detroit from a residential standpoint, what often holds back cities in the Midwest, and what needs to happen next for the sake of Detroit, Cleveland, and other cities of the Next Belt. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform.

Homa CEO & Co-Founder Arman Javaherian - a former Senior Director at Zillow - joins Jonathan & Jeremy on this episode of Housing Insiders to discuss disrupting the real estate agent segment with AI. Homa replaces the traditional buyer's agent, combining AI with expert support while returning up to 2% of the purchase price back. They allow you to buy a home without a realtor. Hear why there historically hasn't been much disruption when it comes to real estate agents, how to create more awareness for your solution as a housing startup, whether we'll ever get to the point of AI agents working out deals with AI agents, how to create a better experience for homebuyers, and what else needs to change in the housing industry. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

And just like that, we're back with a Bonus Episode covering more breaking news in housing! In this episode of Housing Insiders, returning guest Jeb Mason of public policy consultancy Mindset joins Jonathan & Jeremy to break down Trump's 2 executive orders related to housing affordability & mortgage credit. Hear what inspired these 2 executive orders in the first place, the impact they'll have on housing supply & home prices, who has the potential to be the major players in the mortgage industry going forward, a look at regulation & deregulation in the housing industry, and whether you can truly impact the future of housing as a startup in the space. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform.  This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Baker Donelson Shareholder Kara Ward joins Jonathan & Jeremy on this episode of Housing Insiders to discuss the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which the Senate recently passed. Hear the most impactful provisions in the bill, why it's being portrayed as anti-investor, the areas where it could actually hurt housing supply, the potential big wins for modular housing, and what the bill means for zoning & building codes. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform.  This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Congrats on surviving the AI crisis. In this episode of Housing Insiders, Jonathan & Jeremy take a stab at AI doomsday from a housing lens, inspired by The 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis by Alap Shah & Citrini Research. Hear whether AI will make housing tech & human intelligence worthless, what tasks AI will help us finally get done in housing finance, why we're in one of the most protectionist industries, how many white-collar jobs will truly get replaced by AI in the housing industry, and the most thought-provoking use cases for AI in housing. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform.  This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

In this Bonus Episode of Housing Insiders, Jeremy Potter continues the conversation with Prosperity Now's Chrissi Johnson and Nestment's Niles Lichtenstein about the fate of the starter home. The trio's new report, The Starter Home Is Dead. Now What?, is a eulogy to a bygone era of traditional homeownership, but it also offers hope to buyers still trying to get into the market. Whether it's shared equity or rent-vesting, you'll want to hear about some of these alternative pathways and the workarounds real customers are using right now to make homebuying a reality.   Download the white paper here: https://www.prosperitynow.org/news-and-insights/homeownership-in-america-the-starter-home-is-dead-now-what Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform.  This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

It's a Housing Insiders month unlike any other. This month, we're sharing a 2-part series on shared equity, featuring models that allow consumers to do something besides just renting or owning a home, but sharing. In Part 2, you'll hear Jonathan & Jeremy interview Homium CEO Marcus Martin and Crib Equity Co-Founder & CEO Skye Laudari. Homium partners with state and local HFAs, municipalities, and nonprofits to offer shared appreciation mortgage down payment support built for homeowners to succeed, and Crib Equity matches your down payment, helping you afford a better home and reduce your monthly mortgage payments. Hear how the financial side works for these shared equity solutions, how they're thinking through the tax implications, the potential for using blockchain when it comes to shared home equity, how co-investing works when it comes to shared equity, and what happens when it's time to resell your home. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

It's a Housing Insiders month unlike any other. This month, we're sharing a 2-part series on shared equity, featuring models that allow consumers to do something besides just renting or owning a home, but sharing. In Part 1, you'll hear Jonathan & Jeremy introduce the concept & key terminology of shared home equity, followed by interviews with Ownify Founder & CEO Frank Rohde and Cedar Co-Founder & CEO Stuart Allan. Ownify's fractional ownership platform partners savvy investors with qualified first-time homebuyers, and Cedar's lease model allows consumers to finally afford the home they want. Hear how fractional ownership works, the perks of seeing the real-time value of your home, what happens when you add the benefits of renters into homeownership, the nature of land leases, and investor considerations for shared equity. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform.  This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Former Coldwell Banker CEO and now btcRE Founder Ryan Gorman spends his time turning stubborn buildings into productive, community‑anchored assets. In this episode of Housing Insiders, Ryan joins Jonathan and Jeremy to talk candidly about what it really takes to make a redevelopment pencil out today: juggling design and finance, deciding whether becoming a developer is still worth it, why it's so hard to build anything new, the biggest obstacles that stall projects, and how far building codes constrain what's possible. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards  

Jeremy Potter picks up the solo hosting duties in this Bonus Episode of Housing Insiders live from the 2025 Prosperity Summit. He was on a panel with Niles Lichtenstein, the Co-Founder & CEO of Nestment - the team of first-time homebuying experts. In this session, they tackle the death of the starter home and what first-time homebuyers can actually do to get in the home equity game. Hear the history of the starter home, the various shared equity options to help first-time homebuyers, shocking stats on homeownership, how we can create more confidence among first-time homebuyers, and whether first-time homebuying tools could ever be offered by employers. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Another crazy year, another crazy year in the housing industry. In this special episode of Housing Insiders, Jonathan & Jeremy look back at how their 2025 housing predictions fared and reveal their housing predictions for 2026. Hear what excites them about innovation in the housing industry, how AI will impact lending this year, the housing policy changes that may or may not finally happen, a lightning round of housing takes on real estate & offsite construction, and an impressive amount of Scarlett Johansson shoutouts. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

It's the most wonderful time of the year, so we naturally had to get something off our chest. In this special episode of Housing Insiders, Jeremy plays solo host and Jonathan plays guest, bringing his Christmas Wish List for FHFA Director Bill Pulte and the GSEs. It's an extra passion-filled episode that reveals Jonathan's biggest wish for 2026, the creation of a GSE-backed construction loan. The Build My Home Mortgage could turn a niche, confusing "construction-to-perm" corner of the market into a mainstream path where realtors, lenders, and small builders can confidently tell families, "Can't find the home you want? We'll build it with you." It's an interesting solution to the supply crisis, especially when you consider the number of abandoned homes, empty lots, and land for sale while the housing crisis rages on. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Dennis Shea is the Executive Vice President and Chair of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC). His past work with the Bipartisan Center includes serving as a consultant to the BPC's blue-ribbon Housing Commission and its Senior Health and Housing Task Force. Hear what the government should be focusing on to make housing more affordable, what's holding up zoning reform, the most game-changing (or not) pieces of housing legislation in the works, what's next for GSEs, and why we're truly in a moment where anything can happen in housing. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for tuning into Housing Insiders and for making this show so special.  In this Thanksgiving Special episode, Jonathan & Jeremy serve up their favorite Thanksgiving meal traditions - from those cheese ball appetizers to the air-fried bird - along with sides of their favorite products & trends they're liking in the industry. After a boozy Friendsgiving, Jonathan usually needs to take his pecan pie to go, and he thinks a mortgage should be portable too. Hear what else they have on their housing menu. And for Giving Tuesday, please consider a donation to DBG-Detroit at DBGDetroit.org Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. 

Inspectify Co-Founder & CEO Josh Jensen is fed up with the state of property & home inspections. That's why he started his company - a vertically integrated property inspection & underwriting platform. He joins Jonathan Lawless & Jeremy Potter in this fiery episode of Housing Insiders - not Psychology Insiders - to talk the past, present, and future of property & home inspections. Hear who gets home inspections & why, The Taylor Swift Problem in the world of inspections, what needs to change to improve home inspections, how AI could help home inspectors, and the most common things inspections uncover. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform.  This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Vellum Mortgage Principal Patrick Gardner and Ardley Founder & CEO Nate Den Herder join their buddies Jonathan Lawless and Jeremy Potter for a special in-person, Horse Soldier Bourbon-fueled edition of Housing Insiders. Gardner founded Vellum Mortgage to provide transparency and speed to borrowers. After working alongside Gardner for more than two years, Den Herder split off from Vellum to found Ardley, an enterprise-level mortgage intelligence and automation platform for lenders. The Fantastic Four attempt to break the mortgage model as we know it, revealing what needs to change to make mortgages better for all. Hear the biggest threat to new technologies in the housing industry, how mortgage companies actually win customers, why nobody can build a digital mortgage, how to crack the decades of systems built around the current mortgage model, and whether you should trust an AI appraiser. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. 

Villa CEO Sean Roberts joins Housing Insiders to share the latest & greatest from the world of offsite construction as it relates to ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units). From design to doorbell, Villa's ADUs offer a turnkey solution for primary homes, multifamily developments, and neighborhoods. Hear the most common use cases for ADUs, the pros & cons of offsite construction & industrialized construction, whether panelized construction or volumetric construction has the most potential in housing, what the U.S. home construction industry can learn from the auto industry and homebuilding in other countries, and why we might be giving homebuyers too much choice with home designs. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform.  This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards  

Jeremy Potter picks up the solo hosting duties in this Bonus Episode of Housing Insiders live from Up For Growth's Michigan Regional Pro-Housing Policy Forum in downtown Detroit. The conference convenes leaders from government, business, finance, and advocacy to cut through political gridlock, harness bipartisan federal momentum, and deliver bold, practical solutions that match homes to the needs of Michigan's people, unlocking housing abundance and economic vitality statewide. How can we take lessons learned from Michigan to create more attainable & affordable housing across the country? Learn how we can get everyone well-housed from Mike Wilkerson, David Williams, Jared Fleisher, Shannon Morgan, Deputy Mayor Khalfani Stephens, Mark Vanderpool, Mayor Andy Schor, Hunter Kurtz, and John LoPorto. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform.  This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Author & Nonprofit Executive Diana Lind joins Housing Insiders to talk about her journey from architecture and design writer to housing policy expert. Diana is the Philadelphia Program Officer of the Asset Funders Network and the founder and author of The New Urban Order Substack. Her most recent book is Brave New Home: Our Future in Smarter, Simpler, Happier Housing (2020). On the show, Diana unpacks how our housing ideals shifted from communal and multi-generational living to today's obsession with single-family homes—and why walkable neighborhoods and flexible options remain so scarce despite high demand. Take a listen to Diana's sharp insights into what's broken, what's evolving, and what the next era of American housing might look like. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

FirstHome IQ Co-Founder & Executive Director Kristin Messerli joins Housing Insiders to reveal the surprising stats & trends from the 2025 NextGen Homebuyer Report. The report covers Millennial and Gen Z homebuying trends, tying to Kristin's mission of delivering homeowner education before the age of 25. Hear why Millennials and Gen Zers are less trusting of professionals in the housing industry, how we can reduce "overwhelm" for the next generation of homebuyers, why homebuying is actually more emotional than financial, and whether people are still saving up to buy their first home.  Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Housing Innovation Alliance President Dennis Steigerwalt joins Housing Insiders to talk about the work of his "crowd-accelerated innovation platform" to identify success stories in the market and bring together financiers and builders to scale innovation. From the Picket Fence Concept Home in Pittsburgh, PA to localized microfactories, Steigerwalt talks about the green shoots of innovation springing up across the housing landscape. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Welcome to Season 2 of Housing Insiders, where we'll be bringing you more of the conversations you won't hear anywhere else – about how to make housing more innovative, affordable and accessible. Kicking us off this season is Jason Riveiro, Senior Advisor to the CEO of NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals). We talk about the critical role Hispanic households play in driving homeownership growth in the United States, the challenges faced by Latino buyers, builders, and entrepreneurs, and how to reach potential homeowners in the Hispanic community. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

 On this "Value Meal" episode of Housing Insiders, Jonathan & Jeremy take a bite out of all the latest housing headlines. On the menu: the latest Bilt funding round and how it skyrocketed the platform's valuation, what the proposed ADU bill on Capitol Hill could mean for homeowners & real estate professionals, the latest tweetstorm from FHFA Director Bill Pulte, whether VantageScore will actually work in the housing industry, and the outlook for crypto in housing. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers the smart, candid conversations you won't hear anywhere else - plus practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards  

Kenon Chen, Clear Capital's EVP of Strategy and Growth, joins the show for a round-robin discussion of the housing headlines, including FHFA Director Bill Pulte's surprise announcement that Fannie and Freddie would now accept VantageScore for mortgage underwriting. It's a big swing for the fences, but will it help more people qualify to be homeowners? Jonathan remains dubious, stating, "We won't see any big swings be successful until we break the monopoly of the Fannie and Freddie world." The trio discuss other ways the status quo is being disrupted, including Clear Capital's use of AI for appraisals - and appraisal waivers - to make the home-closing process cheaper and faster. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers the smart, candid conversations you won't hear anywhere else - plus practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This episode is brought to you by Saul Ewing. Consumer financial services companies face a constant onslaught of litigation and risk arising from a multitude of federal and state consumer protection laws. They also contend with enforcement actions from federal and state regulators and agencies. Navigating these obstacles while managing legal costs in today's crowded and shifting market presents unique challenges for these institutions. Attorneys in Saul Ewing's Consumer Financial Services Litigation Practice are sensitive to these challenges  and provide their clients with practical, industry-specific advice and counsel. To learn more, go to Saul.com/Capabilities

Saul Ewing Partners Trip Riley & Jason McElroy are the perfect guests to shed light on the current regulatory ambiguity in the housing and mortgage market. Their expertise spans mortgage origination and servicing, regulatory counseling, compliance auditing, and litigation defense. On this episode, Riley and McElroy emphasize the challenges posed by the federal government stepping back, with states filling the void and creating a patchwork of rules that may complicate compliance for national lenders and servicers. Tune in for a nuanced look at the complex, shifting terrain of mortgage regulation, with practical advice for industry participants: focus on compliance with current rules, engage proactively with state regulators, and advocate for clear, consistent federal standards.  Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers the smart, candid conversations you won't hear anywhere else - plus practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This episode is brought to you by Saul Ewing. Consumer financial services companies face a constant onslaught of litigation and risk arising from a multitude of federal and state consumer protection laws. They also contend with enforcement actions from federal and state regulators and agencies. Navigating these obstacles while managing legal costs in today's crowded and shifting market presents unique challenges for these institutions. Attorneys in Saul Ewing's Consumer Financial Services Litigation Practice are sensitive to these challenges  and provide their clients with practical, industry-specific advice and counsel. To learn more, go to Saul.com/Capabilities

Former Rocket Mortgage CEO Bob Walters spent 28 years transforming the company from a small regional brokerage into the country's largest mortgage lender. Walters joins Housing Insiders to share what he learned along the way from Rocket Founder Dan Gilbert and how their work simplifying and democratizing complex lending processes made Rocket a leader in digital mortgage solutions. On this episode, Walters talks about the next frontier in digital lending, sharing why he believes the mortgage industry is an ideal candidate for AI disruption, and warning that companies not using it "at scale and deeply" will be "smoked by those who do." Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers the smart, candid conversations you won't hear anywhere else - plus practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This episode is brought to you by Saul Ewing

Up for Growth is a national, cross-sector member network committed to solving the housing shortage and affordability crisis through data-driven research and evidence-based policy.  Founder & CEO Mike Kingsella joins Housing Insiders to talk why some cities grow and others struggle, whether the NIMBYs or YIMBYs have it right, and what he wants Congress to do to solve the housing shortage. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers the smart, candid conversations you won't hear anywhere else - plus practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This episode is brought to you by Saul Ewing. Further reading: Missed Opportunities: Assessing and Leveraging Requirements, Incentives & Tradeoffs in Affordable Housing Development  

Ivan Rupnik is Associate Professor of Architecture at Northeastern University and Founding Partner of MOD X, a research-based advisory he started along with Ryan E. Smith and Tyler Schmetterer that supports the global offsite construction industry. He joins Housing Insiders to talk about building codes: how they work (and in the case of the US, could work a lot better), and how a nationalized approach could make factory-built housing more scalable and affordable. The US holds the dubious distinction of having some of the most fragmented building codes in the world. Fifty years ago, HUD Secretary George Romney launched Operation Breakthrough, recognizing that America's fragmented building codes were strangling housing innovation and affordability. Despite proving the massive costs of regulatory complexity, Romney's vision was shelved – while other countries adopted his blueprint and revolutionized their own housing industries. Ivan talks about what countries like Sweden and Japan are doing to build housing quickly and affordably, offering a roadmap forward that's been hiding in plain sight. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers the smart, candid conversations you won't hear anywhere else - plus practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards. Further reading: How an American Dream of Housing Became a Reality in Sweden Modularization Precedes Digitalization in Offsite Housing Delivery A YIMBY Theory of Power  

Bob Pinnegar is the President and CEO of the National Apartment Association (NAA), a trade association representing 95,000 members with over 12 million rental units nationwide. Bob joins Housing Insiders to talk about the state of multifamily housing and the complicated factors - from interest rates to tariffs - making the future of the rental market harder to predict than usual. Bob unpacks the challenges of balancing national trends with local market realities, the evolving rental landscape, and the critical need for 4.3 million new rental units by 2035. While those finding office-to-rental conversions may be "a needle in a haystack," Bob talks about other innovations that will appeal to both multifamily owners and Gen Z renters. Whether you're a housing professional or simply care about the future of where we live, Housing Insiders delivers the smart, candid conversations you won't hear anywhere else - plus practical ideas for shaping a more accessible, resilient housing ecosystem. Don't miss this episode, and subscribe for more expert insights and actionable solutions. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Drumroll, please! Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer Jenna Louie of Ivory Innovations joins Housing Insiders to announce the Top 10 finalists for its prestigious Ivory Prize, a national award designed to recognize and support innovative and scalable solutions addressing the housing affordability crisis. Competing across the categories of Construction & Design, Finance, and Policy & Regulatory Reform, the 10 finalists will ultimately be whittled down to 3 winners, who will share a $300,000 prize, and gain access to pro bono research and a robust network of industry experts. Jenna walks us through who these finalists are, including one organization using hempcrete to build homes on the Lower Sioux Indian Community reservation in Milton, Minnesota:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A15X3-FFEXw Three winners will be announced at the end of May, and we'll keep you posted. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

In this episode of Housing Insiders, Jonathan & Jeremy are joined by Mike Yu to talk the past, present, and future of technology in mortgage lending - and the huge role AI will play in mortgage digitization. Mike is the Co-Founder & CEO of Vesta, a provider of next generation mortgage loan origination software, allowing financial institutions to improve their lending processes with customizable workflows and intuitive, easy-to-use experiences. Hear how the mortgage industry is using tech to get up to speed, how Vesta's LOS works, the tension among providers in the mortgage industry, the impressive use cases for AI in the mortgage world, and what to do if you were starting a mortgage shop today. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards  

In this episode of Housing Insiders, Jonathan & Jeremy are joined by Jim Parrott to talk about the latest shakeups at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, including the removal of 14 board members and the firing of the CEO of Freddie Mac. With Bill Pulte as the new, self-appointed chairman of the board of both organizations, speculation is rampant about the extent of the further "DOGE treatment" the agencies will face. Parrott, co-founder of Parrott Ryan Advisors and a nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute, believes the moves indicate privatizing the GSEs is off the table in the near term. "If you're having to go out and raise private capital to pull the GSEs out, there's nobody that's going to invest a dollar in institutions that have the regulator as the chair of their board," Parrott tells Jonathan & Jeremy. What does this all mean for mortgage rates and housing supply? Well, give it a listen. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

 On this episode of Housing Insiders, Jonathan & Jeremy discuss the latest housing news from Washington, starting with the DOGE staffers at HUD (Housing and Urban Development) and whether or not fears about their access to valuable data are overblown. Next, will the return to office further exacerbate the baby bust? And feedback on the confirmation hearings of Bill Pulte for FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Agency) & Jonathan McKernan for CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). After that, Jonathan & Jeremy recap their trip to the HousingWire Housing Economic Summit in Dallas. Do we have an answer to what will really happen with rates & home prices? Finally, Jonathan offers his trusted recommendations on how to remedy the housing supply shortage. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

In this episode of Housing Insiders, Jonathan & Jeremy talk GSEs and the potential impact on mortgage rates should the Trump administration pull Fannie and Freddie out of conservatorship. Next, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) may be on ice, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) has not gone away. Saul Ewing Partner Trip Riley joins the show to talk about why RESPA exists, what its future could be in the new administration, and what that could mean for the mortgage industry and consumers. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

On this episode of Housing Insiders, Jonathan & Jeremy discuss the confusion that reigned in Washington, DC last week, after the White House memo ordering a freeze on all federal grants and loans seemed to put a myriad of housing programs in jeopardy. According to Jonathan, "If you want to stop federal grants, you have to be a little more thoughtful than just cutting them all immediately." HUD has since clarified FHA, USDA, and VA lending programs will continue, and the entire order has been blocked by a federal judge. Amidst all the breaking news, you'll be forgiven if you missed Scott Turner's confirmation hearing to be HUD Secretary. Jonathan & Jeremy provide their key takeaways and are encouraged by Turner's plans to boost opportunity zones and reform building codes. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Scott Turner tangle about housing costs here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov_tlpGC28g Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

In this episode of Housing Insiders, Jonathan & Jeremy discuss what the wildfires mean for homeowners insurance nationwide and the long-term impact the wildfires will have on the homebuilding process, including the prognosis for factory-built homes. Next, Steve Royster, Head of Community Banking & Marketing at MoCaFi (Mobility Capital Finance), joins the show to talk about his work reaching and helping unbanked Americans. "There are credit-worthy people in black and brown communities, underbanked communities, that deserve access to capital," says Steve. Steve says MoCaFi's fintech solutions and financial education programs will help close the racial wealth gap, and their work will continue regardless of changing views about DEI in some corporate boardrooms. MoCaFi has previously partnered with Los Angeles to help disburse COVID relief funds to the unbanked via Angeleno Connect cards, a program that could be utilized again to provide disaster relief funds. Donate to the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.  Impacted by the wildfires? Fannie Mae's Here to Help program can connect you at no cost with a housing counselor to help you through the process.  Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards.

It's a time unlike any other in the housing industry. In this special episode of Housing Insiders, Jonathan & Jeremy review the highlight reel of some of their favorite guests from 2024, discussing insights learned and revealing their big bets for 2025. Hear their positive & negative takes on the housing industry heading into 2025, including what rising insurance and property taxes will mean for homeowners, predictions on where builders will turn their attention in the new year, and what home financing and lending could look like in the future.   Background reading: WSJ (subscription required):  Insurance and Property Taxes Now Cost more Than Mortgage For Many Homeowners Steve Randy Waldman's blog on Microcities CFPB sues Rocket for alleged RESPA violations Email [email protected] with any questions or comments, and subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Jared Stasik, Partner at Detroit Venture Partners (DVP), joins Housing Insiders to chat a day in the life of funding early-stage tech companies, including housing startups. DVP was founded in 2010 by Dan Gilbert, Quicken Loans/Rocket Mortgage Founder & Chairman and owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, with a vision to grow Detroit's entrepreneurial community. Hear how Jared decides what types of housing companies to invest in, the typical timeline for housing companies to reach a return, how to navigate the heavy regulation in the housing industry, the role of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in housing startups, and whether housing startups can tackle the housing affordability crisis. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Hugh Frater, the former CEO of Fannie Mae (and Jonathan's old boss) joins Housing Insiders to offer his blunt take on solving the housing crisis. According to Frater, "I don't think we should be promoting homeownership per se. I think we should just be finding ways to deliver more housing without regard to whether it's rental or for sale." As Chairman of Vessel Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of panelized multifamily apartment buildings that are "Class A housing at a Class B rent," Frater is trying to do just that. Vessel has 500-600 units of workforce housing in various stages of development across Connecticut, with expansion plans in Florida and New Jersey in the new year. While Frater admits "the road to hell has been paved with failed modular companies," he believes Vessel's elegant design and simple assembly process, combined with the rising demand for "attainable" housing, makes Vessel a promising player. Frater also shares his thoughts on the future of the GSEs and his "magic wand" wish for zoning in the US. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

Ivy Zelman is the CEO of Zelman & Associates. When it comes to housing trends, Ivy has developed a reputation for "seeing around corners,'' and her accurate forecasts – including predicting the 2008 housing crash - make her one of the most influential people we know. In this episode, Ivy takes out her crystal ball once again and has some harsh warnings for the industry about the headwinds she sees coming from climate change, and how that will impact migration trends across the US. Plus, Ivy shares her outlook for Millennial and Gen Z homeownership over the next few decades, and the business she would start today if she had the chance. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

The down payment on a home continues to be unrealistic for many Americans. How can we change that? Landy Liu is the Founder of Foyer, a savings platform for first-time homebuyers. Think of it as the "401(k) for homeownership." Hear him reveal how their savings platform works, the key things to keep in mind as a first-time homebuyer, what the government can do to help first-time homebuyers, how Foyer makes money, and what he wishes existed in the housing market. Following the interview, you'll meet Foyer customer Gui de Araujo, who shares his homeownership journey. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

With traditional homeownership more unattainable than ever, aspirational homeowners are exploring 'rent-to-own' options. K.C. Cleary is the Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Pathway Homes, a real estate company that provides new construction rentals to tenants, with the option to purchase them over time. Cleary explains that renting gives tenants time to build their credit score and save for a down payment, while 'test driving' a home and neighborhood to make sure it's a good fit. In this conversation, Jonathan and Jeremy ask Cleary about who his customers are, how models like this can scale, and whether this is a viable pathway to home equity for millions of Americans currently locked out of the American Dream. To kick things off, Jonathan and Jeremy discuss whether a 40-year mortgage is a good idea, plus Jeremy's takeaways from the HousingWire IMB Summit. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards

The 2024 presidential election is only weeks away, and housing is front and center as a campaign issue like never before, with each candidate promising they have a plan to make housing more plentiful and affordable. To break down what Trump and Harris' campaign promises are all about, we talk to Jeb Mason, a partner at public policy consultancy Mindset, and a housing wonk like us. There are promises of down payment assistance and new homes across federal lands, but as Jeb points out, "Neither candidate is really talking about a deliberate reversal of the monetary and fiscal stimulus that got us into and exacerbated this housing affordability crisis." And since you all are Housing Insiders, you'll want to hear Jeb's thoughts on the prospects for GSE reform. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform

The homebuilding process is slow and expensive. Jonathan says it's driven by the Three L's: Lumber, Laws, and Labor. Aleks Gampel, Co-Founder of Cuby, is here to help that. Cuby deploys Mobile Micro-Factories (MMFs) globally to solve challenges within the home construction economy and beyond. Aleks, Jonathan, and Jeremy discuss navigating the issues with home construction today, how the MMFs work, Cuby's ideal customers, how housing supply will drive home costs down, and his thoughts on ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units). To kick things off, Jonathan and Jeremy touch on how stocks are rising across homebuilding companies, plus more and more loan buybacks from Freddie Mac. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform

If home ownership is still a key to wealth generation, how can more Americans get their piece of the pie? Marisa Calderon, the President & CEO of Prosperity Now, joins Jonathan and Jeremy to talk about new approaches to building prosperity, including fractional home ownership and other "on ramps to wealth" through collaborative ownership of different kinds of assets. From co-ownership platform Nestment to Atlanta-based real estate investment fund Roots, these three discuss the startup landscape, including Marisa's new Prosperity Next, an initiative for CDFIs to bridge the gap between lending and the capital markets, while enhancing financial inclusion for underserved communities.   Prior to her role as President and CEO of Prosperity Now, Calderon served as the Executive Director of the NCRC Community Development Fund and in leadership roles at NAHREP, the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform

The recent National Association of Realtors settlement comes at a critical time for the housing industry, as startups continue to try to shake up the status quo and housing affordability remains at crisis levels. In this episode, Jonathan & Jeremy break down the outcome of the settlement and discuss what it means for every person involved in a home sale – from lenders and appraisers, to buyers and sellers, and of course for the realtors whose livelihoods have long depended upon that 3% commission. Jeremy points out in many ways, the powerful realtors association brought this on itself - it had resisted innovations like flat-fee brokers for years. But, if you think the settlement will make it easier for discount brokers to break into the housing game, you'll want to hear what Jonathan has to say about "Lawless kickbacks" and more. For housing insiders who need to understand the implications of the settlement, this episode is for you. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform

After Jonathan and Jeremy dissect the housing headlines (spoiler alert: the NAR settlement may not actually bring down costs for buyers and sellers) they vent about the glacial pace at which much-needed reform is happening. "'Work harder and wait longer,' that's the message the housing industrial complex is sending," says Jeremy. Jonathan, himself a veteran of Fannie Mae, says many of the pilot projects the GSEs lead "feel like a way of just kicking the can." So, what would a "Lawless" pilot look like? "If somebody has paid their rent on time for the last 24 months and their mortgage payment is within 10% of that, give them a f***ing mortgage and let's see how it goes." Chrissi Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Alinement Initiative (a nonprofit housing accelerator) and VP of External Affairs at Prosperity Now, joins the discussion to talk about her work to convene multiple stakeholders to crack the housing industrial complex. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform

Welcome to Housing Insiders! In this pilot episode, your co-hosts Jonathan Lawless and Jeremy Potter welcome special guest Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist for First American Financial Corporation. Hear an overview of the state of housing affordability today, the cities Millennials and Gen Zers are migrating to, the impact of remote work on housing and office spaces, why the cities are (maybe) dying, and the true cost of home ownership. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments and Subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform

Welcome to Housing Insiders! Meet your co-hosts, Jonathan Lawless and Jeremy Potter. They're two housing wonks who know just about everyone in the housing industry, from founders and builders to lenders and regulators. The multi-trillion dollar housing market is complicated, and for all the great ideas and innovations, buying a home is not affordable, and everyone knows the rent is still too damn high. On Housing Insiders, Jonathan and Jeremy talk to those in the know, going beneath the headlines to find actionable ideas you won't hear anywhere else to solve today's housing crisis. Housing Insiders. Because everyone should be well-housed. Don't just take a listen. Subscribe and take action. Jonathan Lawless has spent his career promoting innovative solutions to expand access to credit and affordable housing, serving in leadership roles at Fannie Mae and Pathway Homes. He is currently the Head of Homeownership at Bilt Rewards, the first loyalty program that allows customers to earn points when paying their rent. Jeremy Potter is an attorney who led Quicken Loans' Capital Markets Strategy and Innovation team. He also served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Norcom Mortgage and currently is Chief Strategist for IncentiFind, connecting real estate developers with green energy incentives.