The Promise and Limits of California’s Housing Reform
Lusk Perspectives
California’s recent wave of pro-housing legislation has opened the door for more development on single-family lots and urban infill sites, but how much progress have we really made? Shane Phillips (UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to trace California’s evolving policy landscape, from accessory dwelling units to long-overdue CEQA reform. The conversation moves from the success of recent ADU regulations to the barriers slowing smaller-scale infill and condo development. Cost structures, ownership models, and...
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From Clicks to Bricks: The Everyday Decisions Rebuilding Retail
Lusk Perspectives
How are retailers adapting to a changing consumer base and evolving real estate needs? Rachel Elias Wein (WeinPlus) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to explore what’s next for retail. From data centers to neighborhood shopping centers, consumer behavior is driving change. The conversation spotlights how ownership models, store management, and customer habits are reshaping commercial property strategy. Highlights include: Why some retailers sell off their real estate while others buy it back. How energy access impacts location strategy. What restaurants bring to...
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Measuring the Shortfall: Benchmarking LA’s Housing Crisis
Lusk Perspectives
What do supply numbers tell us about LA County’s housing crisis, and how can research guide next steps? Jorge De la Roca (USC Price) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to discuss the findings of the 2025 State of Los Angeles County Housing (SOLACHAN) Report At the center of their conversation is the modern city dilemma: while cities drive economic vitality, they also create steep costs of living. In LA County, permitting delays, demographic shifts, and a mismatch between incomes and supply add up to a housing market that’s falling short. Highlights include: Why...
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Building Through Cycles: It’s All Related in California Housing
Lusk Perspectives
What shaped Related California’s approach to housing, and how has it adapted across market shifts? William A. Witte and Gino A. Canori (Related California) join Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to reflect on more than three decades of development, from pioneering uses of tax-exempt bonds to navigating today’s capital markets. The conversation begins with policy and finance, including tax credits, bond cap programs, and the long-term value of rehab versus new construction, before moving to operations, the shifting geography of multifamily demand, and today’s market...
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From Risk to Resilience: Practical Sustainability for Communities
Lusk Perspectives
How can cities adapt to rising climate risks and shifting infrastructure needs? Christopher Boone (Dean, USC Price School of Public Policy) joins Richard K. Green (Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to discuss how sustainability and resilience are reshaping housing, cities, and policy. From rebuilding after California wildfires to lessons from London’s limited social housing, the wide-ranging conversation highlights the tradeoffs between affordability, risk, and durability facing communities across the US. Highlights include: Why mentors are crucial to career development. The gap...
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2025 Housing Market: Local Trends in a National Slowdown
Lusk Perspectives
Selma Hepp (Cotality) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to unpack the third year of low home sales as affordability and insurance reshape demand across the US. From Florida’s downturn to California’s inventory bump, the conversation explores local shifts and their contributions to national trends. Hepp also shares how new climate risk tools could change pricing and property insurance in the future. Highlights include: - Why home sales today look worse than in the aftermath of the Great Recession - What makes Austin’s home value decline so unique - Why the...
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From Florida’s Downturn To The Winner’s Curse: How Economics Affects The Markets And Our Lives
Lusk Perspectives
What’s driving today’s housing market shifts? How can economic principles help us navigate life and career choices? Daryl Fairweather (Redfin) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) and offers a glimpse at US housing markets before diving into insights from her new book *Hate the Game*. The conversation starts with Florida’s drop in home price appreciation, California’s middle-of-the-pack performance, and the Midwest’s rise before turning to Fairweather’s career journey from academia to tech. Highlights include: - Key factors in the Midwest and Rust Belt’s...
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Tariffs, Taxes, Trepidation: Real Estate Capital Markets
Lusk Perspectives
With fewer transactions to measure, what’s happening in real estate capital markets, and what’s next? Kev Zoryan (Arselle Investments) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to explore the state of capital markets and how today’s environment is reshaping investment strategy. Zoryan shares his path from private equity to launching his own firm addressing the succession gap he sees in real estate organizations. Highlights include: - Why matching capital to strategy is more critical than ever - How return metrics have evolved and what to prioritize - Where the US...
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US Foreign Policy
Lusk Perspectives
Jerrold D. Green (Research Professor, USC Annenberg and President & CEO, Pacific Council on International Policy) joins Richard K. Green (Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to discuss a short list of global hotspots from a United States perspective. Green delivers insights and offers detailed context on Israel-Gaza, China, Mexico, Ukraine-Russia, and the unique position the US holds within the global economy and international relations. More:
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2024 Or Bust: The Economy, The Fed, And Fiscal Policy
Lusk Perspectives
How will the US economy perform in 2024? Claudia Sahm (Founder, Sahm Consulting) joins Richard K. Green (Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to discuss the US economy’s recovery from COVID along with additional shocks and infer the implications of the Federal Reserve’s playbook for 2024. Sahm’s key points: - The US economy undeniably turned a corner in 2023 - The US recovery remains stronger than its peer countries - The Federal Reserve will continue their conservative approach to rate cuts - The greatest risk to the market in the near future is the Federal Reserve’s...
info_outlineCalifornia’s recent wave of pro-housing legislation has opened the door for more development on single-family lots and urban infill sites, but how much progress have we really made?
Shane Phillips (UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to trace California’s evolving policy landscape, from accessory dwelling units to long-overdue CEQA reform.
The conversation moves from the success of recent ADU regulations to the barriers slowing smaller-scale infill and condo development. Cost structures, ownership models, and building standards all shape housing supply. Phillips and Green discuss how policy could better balance affordability, density, and quality of life across Southern California.
Highlights include:
- Why recent ADU laws succeeded where earlier reforms fell short.
- Potential condo liability reforms to encourage smaller-scale housing ownership.
- How construction costs constrain “missing middle” infill.
- The trade-offs of eliminating single-room occupancy housing in US cities.
- How ownership models shape neighborhood attitudes and investment.