In episode 099 of The Land Development Podcast, Ryan and Charles kick things off with Goldman Sachs’ latest analysis predicting an 8% year-over-year decline in residential investment for the second half of 2025. They discuss affordability challenges, slowing immigration, and how multi-generational households are changing the path to homeownership. With housing making up roughly 20% of GDP, they consider whether interest rate cuts could prevent a recession, and what rate levels actually trigger buyer activity.
The conversation then shifts to land banking, a strategy public builders are leaning on heavily. By securing rights to future lots without immediate ownership, builders can keep projects in the pipeline while managing cash flow. Charles explains why this approach is essential for large national builders but harder for smaller regional developers to pull off. They also discuss how some builders are walking away from near-term deals while still locking in land for 3–5 years out, ensuring they aren’t left behind when demand rebounds.
In their third segment, Ryan and Charles review the “Genius Act,” signed into law by Donald Trump, which permits cryptocurrency, private equity, and real estate investments inside 401(k) accounts. They explore what this could mean for alternative assets, the risk of scams, and whether crypto belongs in retirement planning given its volatility. Charles points out that real estate has long been accessible through self-directed retirement accounts, but the bill’s tokenization provisions could make fractional property investment more common.
The episode wraps with a candid discussion on tokenized real estate funds, something Charles says has yet to connect with investors despite its potential. They weigh how these new rules might change funding options for developers, the likelihood of stability in crypto markets, and how both large and small builders can prepare for the uncertain road ahead.
Ryan sits down with Peter Murphy Lewis to talk about how storytelling can help developers and builders attract better talent and build stronger teams. They break down simple, practical ways to use video and real stories to stand out in today’s labor market.
Keith Miller joins the show to talk about his focus on building attainably priced homes at scale in Montana, why he’s using factory-built housing, and what it really takes to bring new supply to fast-growing markets.
Ryan and Charles break down falling homebuyer demand, a heated TikTok debate on millennial housing choices, a proposed property tax hike in New York City, and what a shrinking U.S. population could mean for developers.