Industry Voices

Daniel-Wennogle-Womble-Bond-Dickinson
DevelopmentIndustry Voices

Developers Need to Avoid the ‘Johnny Cash Contract’  

by Lynn Peisner

Multifamily housing developers and property owners invest significant time and money into site selection, entitlements and financing, but they often give construction contracts far less attention and time than they deserve. Despite the high stakes, it’s not uncommon for developers to hand over a “Frankenstein-ed” AIA contract (a legal agreement covering areas such as costs, timelines and responsibilities) that is stitched together from old deals, then ask their legal counsel for a “quick review” with minimal edits that won’t “kill the deal.” As a construction litigator, I’ve seen how this …

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Pamela-Wilkes-Northmarq
Affordable HousingFinanceIndustry Voices

Affordable Housing Tax Changes: Understanding LIHTC, Bonds and Opportunity Zones

by Lynn Peisner

With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) on July 4, 2025, Congress enacted the most significant expansion of housing incentives in more than two decades. For developers, investors and capital providers, this means new tools, more flexibility and a broader opportunity set.  At the heart of the legislation are updates to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, alongside permanent extensions to the Opportunity Zone (OZ) and New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) incentives. Analysts estimate these changes could support the creation of up to 1.2 million additional …

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austin-walker
Affordable HousingIndustry Voices

Pathways Through the Clutter: There are More Opportunities to Create Affordable Housing Than Local Leaders Realize

by Lynn Peisner

By Austin Walker Headlines involving affordable housing are often demoralizing, and for good reason. Keeping a roof over one’s head can be a complex problem with no easy answers, especially if your earnings are not at the upper end of the median. Most policymakers I meet genuinely want to help their constituents, but finding the right political and economic resources to do so can be challenging because the tools to create or preserve affordable housing can depend on a variety of policies, which typically are designed to meet the goals …

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Kyle-Nelson
Industry VoicesOperationsTechnology

TikTok is Fueling a New Era of Real Estate Fraud — Here’s What Operators Can Do About It

by Lynn Peisner

By Kyle Nelson Fraud is no longer hiding in the shadows. It’s being taught and sold in plain sight — sometimes with hashtags and tutorial videos. Across the multifamily housing industry, operators are seeing the effects firsthand: Fake documents are slipping through and unqualified tenants are being approved, resulting in rising eviction rates.  On TikTok, an unexpected market has emerged where users trade tips and tools for falsifying income, employment and identity to gain access to rental housing. This trend is not limited to individual bad actors offering a forged …

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Kim-Young
Industry VoicesOperationsTechnology

To Click or to Connect: Nailing the Balance Between Leasing Tech and Human Touch

by Lynn Peisner

By Kim Young In multifamily leasing, striking the right balance between automation and human connection isn’t just a technological decision. It’s the difference between signing a lease and losing a prospect forever.  ​According to the 2024 NMHC/Grace Hill Renter Preferences Survey Report, 73 percent of renters expect digital leasing options, yet 67 percent say personal interaction influences their decisions. These numbers tell a compelling story that every operator should heed.  ​As managers, we aren’t merely optimizing workflows. We’re orchestrating living experiences that transform curious browsers into committed residents. Then we …

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Fiederlein-William
Affordable HousingDevelopmentFinanceIndustry VoicesVirginia

What Developers Need to Know About State Tax Credits

by Lynn Peisner

By William Fiederlein The need for affordable housing has never been greater. The United States is currently experiencing a shortage of millions of affordable housing units for low-income renters. This shortage disrupts family stability and creates a negative economic ripple effect within already vulnerable communities. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s 2025 report, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, there is a national shortage of 7.1 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters. It nets out to just 35 affordable and available homes for …

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Max-Grossman
Affordable HousingFinanceIllinoisIndustry VoicesInvestment SalesMidwestMinnesota

How Affordable Housing Investors Can Benefit From Property Tax Programs

by Lynn Peisner

By Max Grossman Many cities across the U.S. are grappling with two persistent challenges: a lack of affordable housing and high property taxes. While these issues may seem separate, some policymakers have implemented programs that can address both at the same time. Chicago’s affordable housing supply is short by approximately 120,000 homes and 240,000 rental units, according to the Illinois Policy Institute. Additionally, nearly one-third of Illinois residents commit more than 30 percent of their income toward housing, the most of any state in the Midwest. The city is also …

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Steve-Wright
Active AdultDevelopmentIndustry VoicesLeasing & Marketing

Is Active Adult The Antidote to Market-Rate Malaise?

by Lynn Peisner

By Stephen Wright While it was a great InterFace Seattle Multifamily conference in mid-March, I left shaking my head at all the headwinds developers and operators face in that market sector. Why is it taking so long to realize the answer lies in the active adult market sector? Wait, you say. I don’t want to get involved in healthcare and all the amenities an aging population needs. You don’t have to. This market niche is the answer to many of the problems you face and will face for years to …

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Brandi-Campbell-Wood
Affordable HousingArchitecture & DesignCaliforniaDevelopmentIndustry Voices

ADUs in Multifamily Development Are an Old Idea with New Potential

by Lynn Peisner

By Brandi Campbell Wood Forward-thinking multifamily developers are rediscovering a housing type that predates modern zoning: accessory dwelling units (ADUs). An ADU is defined as a smaller, independent residential unit located on the same lot as a detached single-family home, according to the American Planning Association, a nonprofit organization that supports the field of urban and regional planning. What was once commonplace in early 20th-century developments — garden cottages, cluster housing and secondary units within larger properties — is experiencing a renaissance driven by new policy opportunities and compelling financial …

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Mark-English
Affordable HousingDevelopmentIndustry VoicesOperations

How Accessibility Compliance Gives Affordable Housing Investors a Competitive Advantage

by Lynn Peisner

By Mark English In the affordable housing industry, compliance has often been treated as an obligatory cost of doing business — a box to check, a hurdle to clear. Yet in today’s environment, marked by heightened regulatory scrutiny, increased tenant awareness of their rights and a fiercely competitive landscape for funding and partnerships, this mindset is dangerously outdated. For developers, owners and managers of affordable housing, denial of compliance’s strategic value can carry enormous costs: legal liability, reputation damage, financial penalties and missed opportunities to distinguish one’s organization as a …

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