In this episode, Ryan talks with Brad Hunter, president of Hunter Housing Economics, about the challenges homebuilders are facing in 2026. They start by discussing Donald Trump’s announcement naming Kevin Warsh as his pick for the next Fed Chair. Brad shares why this choice could matter for mortgage rates and inflation, and how it might affect the housing market.
The conversation moves into how builders are thinking about land. Brad explains why many builders avoid holding land directly and instead work with developers or land bankers to reduce risk. He talks about why land prices are staying high even while home prices are softening, and how this is making it harder to deliver affordable homes. Builders are relying on rate buy-downs and incentives to attract buyers, but many first-time buyers are still priced out.
They also look at migration patterns, especially in Florida and Texas. Brad explains the “pull forward effect,” where many people who planned to move during the pandemic did so early, leading to a slowdown later. Despite that, Florida is still seeing strong population growth, driven by tax benefits and warmer weather.
To wrap up, they cover some of the housing ideas being talked about by policymakers, like 50-year mortgages and using 401(k) funds for down payments. Brad shares why these ideas may not have much impact and why most change will still come from market forces, not policy. He also gives his take on where the market might head in the second half of 2026 and beyond.
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.