In this year-end industry news episode of The Land Development Podcast, Ryan and Charles close out the year by laying out their top three predictions for the housing and development landscape in 2026. This episode skips the usual industry news and dives deep into what they believe 2026 will bring.
Ryan kicks off the conversation by exploring the long-standing debate around home sizes. While some expect homes to shrink for affordability, Ryan argues they won’t change meaningfully by 2026. Charles offers a different take, pointing to growing demand among lower-income buyers pushing builders toward smaller, denser products like cluster homes.
The conversation shifts to pricing trends, where both hosts discuss inflation, rising labor and insurance costs, and how these forces will continue to impact home prices. Ryan believes prices will keep rising in desirable markets, while Charles expects stable inflation data due to how housing is reflected in CPI reporting.
Next, the two tackle the role of interest rates and investment. Charles predicts a major shift once new leadership takes over at the Federal Reserve, with interest rate cuts likely spurring growth across business and housing. That optimism leads into Ryan’s final prediction: a rise in multifamily and build-to-rent opportunities, as affordability pushes more Americans to rent.
No specific articles discussed during this special 2026 predictions episode.
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.