The Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate (FIRE) at the University of Notre Dame recently hosted its Conference on Housing Markets and Housing Affordability on October 14-15, 2024, bringing together top university researchers from across the country, policymakers, and industry leaders. The event highlighted the latest research and innovative strategies to address the growing housing affordability crisis, with a strong focus on bridging the gap between academia and the real estate industry.

Edward L. Glaeser, a renowned economist from Harvard University and Senior Research Fellow for the Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate at Notre Dame, delivered the keynote address. Glaeser focused on the critical need for innovation in reducing housing costs, emphasizing the potential of pre-manufactured housing as a game-changing solution. His address underscored the need for a combination of technological advancements and policy innovation to tackle the housing crisis effectively.

The event also featured presentations from leading academics, including FIRE’s Evan Mast, who shared research on constructing new neighborhood geographies using migration data—an innovative approach to understanding how people move and how that affects housing demand. This talk, along with others focused on low-income housing assistance, rental markets, and policy strategies, demonstrated the depth and breadth of current research aimed at addressing housing affordability.

An industry panel moderated by Paul Odland, Founder and Managing Partner of Belveron Partners and FIRE Advisory Board member, brought together leaders from a variety of organizations, including Hudson Valley Property Group, Berkadia, Newmark, Nixon Peabody, and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, to discuss challenges and opportunities related to housing affordability and related policies.

This impactful event, made possible by the generous support of Paul Odland, highlighted Notre Dame’s commitment to sponsoring and applying academic research to shape real-world solutions for housing affordability. It was a testament to the university’s leadership in creating platforms where scholars and industry experts can collaborate to drive positive change.

Originally published by Eugenio Acosta at realestate.nd.edu on November 07, 2024.