Housing Insiders

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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com 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 Podcast@TheHousingInsiders.com with any questions or comments, and subscribe to Housing Insiders on your favorite podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by Bilt Rewards