John Duncan, a principal and co-founder of Meridian Research, provides a rare, dispassionate analysis of Washington, D.C.’s political ecosystem and its impact on real estate. Drawing from his experience in the Newt Gingrich era and the Bush administration, he explains the “holistic nature of policy making” and how a sober view is necessary to predict outcomes rather than getting lost in the emotion of the issues. John points out that the current political volatility is driven by two main factors: economic dislocations caused by technology displacing labor and a proliferation of fragmented information channels that make it harder for people to have a shared point of view. This has shifted power away from centralized institutions like Congress and into the hands of outside groups and social media.
We also do a detailed breakdown of federal efforts to address the housing supply crisis. John contrasts the approaches of the Biden and Trump administrations, noting that while Democrats focused on price controls and getting investors out of the market, both sides are now exploring solutions such as tax credits for developers, streamlining zoning laws, and utilizing federal land for housing. He highlights a significant bipartisan effort in the Senate Banking Committee, which passed a bill with unanimous support to address the supply issue, proving that policymakers on both sides of the aisle recognize the problem. However, he cautions that these federal actions are limited and that the most impactful solutions lie at the state and local levels.
John also addresses other pressing issues, including the rising cost of homeowners insurance and a potential bipartisan solution to reform manufactured housing financing, which could unlock a new wave of affordable homeownership. In the financial sector, he explains a policy change that allows for the use of “alternative data” in credit reports, a move that could help more people become first-time homebuyers. In his final advice, he urges real estate professionals to be “informed and active,” arguing that being engaged in advocacy is an important business practice that can influence policy and prevent a regulatory “heavy hand” from impacting the industry.
Connect with John on – LinkedIn.
Learn more about Meridian Research Group at meridianresearchdc.com.
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