Preliminary Agenda Topics

High interest rates and persistent inflation have fundamentally altered how buyers approach the market. Builders are now contending with tighter mortgage accessibility, changing affordability thresholds, and more cautious buyer behavior. The question isn’t just how to price homes but how to structure deals that resonate with today’s financially constrained consumer. Builders need creative tools to bridge affordability gaps while protecting margins, and staying attuned to the macro landscape is now a competitive necessity.

• How have rate hikes changed buyer demand and financing access?

• Are price points being reevaluated or product offerings altered?

• What creative financing or incentive strategies are being used?

• How are builders communicating affordability in marketing?

• Where are builders seeing the most rate sensitivity?

• Is refinancing flexibility a differentiator for new homes?

Even as pandemic-era disruptions fade, material pricing remains volatile. Lumber, concrete, electrical, and HVAC components all present planning challenges for builders. Global instability, domestic production slowdowns, and freight costs continue to affect prices. Builders are rethinking supplier relationships, contingency strategies, and even product design to better manage material risk and maintain predictable project margins in a still-unstable supply environment.

• Which material categories remain most volatile?

• How are builders locking in prices or creating buffers?

• Is vertical integration a viable hedge?

• Are alternative materials gaining ground?

• What long-term supply chain shifts are being observed?

• How is materials risk factored into bid pricing?

With land and labor costs rising, not all geographic markets are created equal. Builders are applying a more analytical lens to expansion: evaluating economic resilience, permitting friction, labor availability, and demographic trends to determine which regions offer the best opportunities for profitable and sustainable growth. Choosing the right market has become just as important as executing well within it.

• What are today’s best performing submarkets for entry?

• How do you analyze local economic resilience?

• Are partnerships with local GCs or developers best?

• What’s the capital cost of geographic expansion?

• How does permitting time factor into selection?

• What regional trends are most favorable to SFH?

Financing ground-up construction is more complex than ever. Between cautious lenders, new underwriting criteria, and the rise of alternative financing, builders must navigate a capital landscape that demands creativity and discipline. Understanding capital stack flexibility, interest reserve structuring, and risk mitigation can mean the difference between a funded deal and a dead deal. Knowing who is lending, on what terms, and how to position projects for success is more critical than ever.

• Are community banks or private lenders stepping up?

• How are terms evolving—advance rates, interest reserves, etc.?

• What equity partners are active in this space?

• Are builders prefunding more work with internal capital?

• What’s the appetite for spec versus pre-sold product?

• How do you de-risk projects to appeal to capital?

Financing ground-up residential construction involves navigating a layered capital stack, from traditional debt and equity to mezzanine and preferred equity options. For small and mid-sized builders, choosing the right mix—and the right partners—can be the difference between getting a deal off the ground or not. This session will unpack common capital structures, current lender sentiment, risk tolerance, and how investor priorities are shifting in today’s market.

• How are builders structuring the capital stack in 2025, and what’s changed recently?

• What are lenders and equity investors looking for in a partner or project?

• How do capital terms vary between BTR vs. for-sale?

• When does preferred equity make sense, and what are the risks?

• What role are family offices and private credit funds playing today?

• How do smaller operators compete for institutional capital?

Acquisition & development (A&D) loans and construction financing are the lifeblood of ground-up residential building—but securing and managing these loans has become more complex. This session gives operators a practical framework for navigating the lending landscape, understanding bank requirements, and evaluating financing terms. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls, improve approval odds, and negotiate from a stronger position.

• What’s the current appetite among banks and private lenders for A&D loans?

• How are lenders underwriting risk in today’s market, and what’s changed post-2023?

• What makes a borrower or project more attractive to a lender right now?

• How can builders reduce risk exposure in the draw process or loan covenants?

• What role does project scale and geography play in pricing and access?

• How do community banks, regional lenders, and private debt funds differ?

Lenders and capital providers are reassessing risk, pricing, and priorities in the face of market volatility and tighter regulations. This session features debt and equity capital sources sharing what they’re underwriting, where they're pulling back, and what types of projects and builders still get a "yes." Hear directly from lenders and credit officers about due diligence best practices, red flags, and strategies for building long-term capital relationships.

• What’s the current state of lending for single-family residential development?

• Which underwriting criteria are non-negotiable in today’s environment?

• How can borrowers stand out in a crowded pipeline?

• How do lenders evaluate experience, track record, and project feasibility?

• What do capital partners want to see during due diligence?

• How are lenders pricing risk in suburban vs. urban vs. rural deals?

• How are new financing products (like bridge-to-perm or hybrid models) being used?

Investors are rethinking where and how they deploy capital into residential development. This session explores how private equity, real estate funds, family offices, and institutional players are underwriting new deals, what segments are attracting the most attention, and how builders can position themselves to access capital in today’s cautious but opportunity-rich environment.

• Where is institutional and private equity capital flowing in 2025?

• Which product types—BTR, infill, scattered site—are most attractive to investors now?

• What is driving capital away from or toward residential construction?

• How are deal structures changing in response to market risk?

• How do smaller builders make themselves investable to larger capital sources?

• What kind of reporting and controls are expected by institutional investors?

Build-to-rent is reshaping how homes are financed, built, and managed. Institutional and private capital are playing a major role in funding these communities, and their expectations are changing everything from site planning to materials selection. This session breaks down the investment models powering BTR and what they mean for builders looking to enter or expand in the space.

• What makes a build-to-rent deal attractive to institutional investors?

• How are BTR underwriting models different from for-sale financing?

• What role do operating partners play in long-term BTR success?

• How are lenders and equity partners approaching rent growth and absorption?

• What construction types (horizontal vs. vertical) are capital groups favoring now?

• How do exit strategies vary between merchant-build and long-term hold models?

Lenders have become more selective, requiring builders to present tighter pro formas, deeper experience, and de-risked deals. Meanwhile, private and non-bank lenders are becoming more prominent. Builders must know what today’s capital providers want—and what red flags to avoid—to secure funding in a tighter, more competitive environment. A more nuanced understanding of leverage, collateral, and timing is key to getting deals approved and underway.

• What are the top red flags underwriters look for now?

• How are private lending terms different from traditional banks?

• Are lenders more focused on borrower experience or project feasibility?

• How does pre-sale strategy affect financing?

• What leverage levels are realistic in 2025?

• What financing risks are underappreciated by small builders?

Regulatory delays and fees are now among the biggest cost drivers in ground-up construction. Builders must become savvy in dealing with zoning boards, city planners, and local politics. Success increasingly hinges on knowing how to engage early, negotiate fees, and build productive working relationships with city staff and elected officials. Navigating bureaucracy has become a strategic skill.

• What municipalities are the most challenging or cooperative?

• How are builders preparing for zoning reform efforts?

• What local fees and processes are most disruptive?

• How do builders maintain project momentum amid permitting delays?

• Are off-record relationships with local staff still key?

• How are builders advocating for policy change?

Liability costs and litigation risk are rising. Whether it’s construction defect claims, subcontractor disputes, or escalating insurance premiums, builders need proactive risk management strategies. Tight documentation, smart legal structures, and clear communication across stakeholders are becoming essential to protect profits and reputation. Builders who ignore legal exposure risk financial setbacks they may not recover from.

• How are builders managing rising general liability premiums?

• What legal risks are increasing in the post-COVID environment?

• Are wrap policies becoming more popular?

• How should subcontractor agreements be structured to limit exposure?

• What triggers most defect claims?

• What’s the role of technology in managing risk?

More jurisdictions and insurers are tightening requirements for homes built in high-risk zones. From wildfires to flooding, builders must consider physical durability and long-term insurability in the early phases of site selection, design, and construction. Resilience is no longer optional; it’s a business necessity to protect assets and remain insurable.

• What features are most effective in reducing disaster risk?

• Are insurers requiring new building standards?

• How are buyers responding to resilience marketing?

• What role does FEMA zoning play in planning?

• Are municipalities enforcing stricter resilience codes?

• How do you assess ROI on resilience investments?

As local governments push for greener housing, builders must respond to changing energy codes, electrification mandates, and rising consumer expectations. Balancing compliance with cost control is key. Builders are now navigating an evolving landscape of building science, utility infrastructure, and climate-driven regulation, all of which influence design and operational decisions.

• What are the most impactful new code changes?

• Are buyers willing to pay for energy efficiency?

• How is electrification affecting HVAC, appliances, and solar?

• What subsidies or incentives are available?

• How do builders train subs for these systems?

• What unintended costs or delays are being seen?

Zoning reform and housing affordability concerns are opening the door to new lot configurations and unit types. Builders are exploring small-lot development, accessory dwelling units, and missing middle housing formats to meet demand and unlock value in existing neighborhoods. These formats require creative design, political strategy, and new financing tools.

• What markets are opening up to increased density?

• Are duplexes, ADUs, or townhomes viable for small builders?

• How are neighborhoods reacting to infill development?

• What does design need to look like to avoid opposition?

• Are lenders and appraisers comfortable with non-traditional formats?

• How do lot yield and return profiles compare?

Builders are under pressure to deliver faster, but speed can’t come at the expense of quality. Construction timelines are being reevaluated with an eye toward smarter sequencing, proactive trade coordination, and leveraging technology. Winning teams are focusing on the hidden inefficiencies that drag out schedules and eat into profit.

• What scheduling tools are improving speed and accuracy?

• How are builders managing just-in-time materials delivery?

• Are prefab or panelized systems delivering time savings?

• How can inspections be smoothed or accelerated?

• What are the common time-wasting bottlenecks?

• How is cycle time affecting margins?

Skilled labor shortages are now a long-term reality. Builders are recruiting, training, and retaining crews in new ways while facing increased wage pressure and unpredictable subcontractor availability. The ability to attract reliable trades is quickly becoming a competitive differentiator in both scheduling and quality.

• How are builders successfully attracting and retaining skilled labor?

• Which trades are most in shortage, and why?

• What partnerships or in-house training are proving effective?

• How are wages and benefits changing?

• How is technology (prefab, robotics, etc.) helping address the gap?

• Are younger workers being brought into the trades?

COVID taught builders painful lessons about just-in-time inventory and fragile supplier networks. While the worst may be over, volatility remains. Builders are using more diversified vendor strategies, building buffer capacity, and improving forecasting to better manage costs and timelines.

• What changes from COVID-era supply strategy are here to stay?

• Are builders still stockpiling key materials?

• How are logistics costs being managed on tight margins?

• Are alternative or second-tier suppliers more common?

• What causes the biggest surprise delays today?

• How do builders communicate changes with clients mid-project?

Fluctuating costs, interest rate changes, and shifting buyer demand are challenging traditional pro forma models. Builders are refining their approach to contingency budgeting, escalation risk, and how they model profitability over time. A sharp, realistic pro forma is now table stakes for capital and project planning.

• What’s the right buffer for inflation or escalation risk?

• How do you model subcontractor risk or delays?

• Are more builders adding contingency in GMP contracts?

• What tools help forecast cost with more accuracy?

• How do you balance competitive bidding with cost coverage?

• How is contingency communicated with clients?

Builders are taking a scalpel, not a chainsaw, to budgets—picking out opportunities for savings without harming the quality or appeal of the finished product. Strategic value engineering demands collaboration across design, procurement, and construction teams, all while maintaining a home’s marketability and perceived value.

• What materials or systems offer the best cost savings with minimal buyer impact?

• How can design teams collaborate early to VE effectively?

• What are common pitfalls when cutting specs?

• Are buyers becoming more accepting of value-driven designs?

• How are appraisals affected by VE choices?

• Can preconstruction modeling tools help flag unnecessary costs?

Institutional capital is fueling demand for build-to-rent (BTR) communities, and some small builders are seizing the chance to diversify. Others are skeptical. BTR success requires new capabilities, different design sensibilities, and partnerships with long-term operators. Understanding the tradeoffs is essential before jumping in.

• What does the ROI profile look like for BTR?

• What are the major operational and financing differences?

• Is capital accessible to smaller builders for BTR?

• What makes a good BTR design or layout?

• How are builder/developer/operator relationships structured?

• Is there risk of BTR oversaturation?

With land scarce in desirable areas, builders are revisiting small lots, teardown redevelopment, and urban-edge projects. Infill brings its own challenges—from irregular parcels to neighborhood opposition—but also strong margins and less infrastructure risk. Successful builders are learning to navigate the politics and the plans.

• What makes an infill lot worth the challenge?

• How do you navigate NIMBYism and neighborhood resistance?

• What design constraints come with tight lots?

• Are there time savings in urban approvals or delays?

• What profit margins are typical for these sites?

• How does the buyer profile change?

Offsite construction is gaining ground, particularly as a solution to labor shortages and cycle-time concerns. But barriers remain—logistics, design flexibility, and capital cost. Builders are learning how and where these systems work, and how to integrate them without giving up control or profit.

• What prefab models are seeing the most adoption?

• Is the quality perception gap with buyers narrowing?

• How do logistics and site prep impact feasibility?

• Are financing and appraisals catching up?

• Can small builders compete with large-scale modular providers?

• How is prefab affecting trade relationships?

Builders have seen tech overpromises before. But some tools—like scheduling software, mobile project management, and digital inspections—are making a real impact. The key is knowing which tools deliver ROI and which ones just add noise to an already complicated job site.

• Which digital tools have proven most valuable on-site?

• How are builders integrating software with field operations?

• What’s the real-world ROI on project management platforms?

• Are AI tools emerging for estimating or scheduling?

• How are teams trained to adopt new tools?

• What tech trends are overhyped?

AI isn’t just a buzzword anymore. Builders are starting to use data to forecast costs, select sites, and even refine floorplans. Practical applications—not flashy ones—are what matter. The right data strategy can unlock margins and reduce surprises.

• What AI tools are builders actually using today?

• How accurate are AI-driven cost estimators or project schedulers?

• Can AI help identify profitable lots or underserved markets?

• How are builders using data to optimize floor plans or finishes?

• What privacy or data ownership issues should be considered?

• Are tech vendors offering realistic support for small builders?

The post-pandemic buyer has different expectations—more space, functional home offices, indoor-outdoor living, and sustainability. Builders need to respond without overshooting price points. Understanding these shifting preferences is critical to aligning design, features, and finishes with what today’s buyers are willing to pay for.

• What design elements are non-negotiable for buyers today?

• How has remote work changed floor plan priorities?

• Are buyers really willing to pay more for green features?

• What regional trends are emerging in preferences?

• What finishes or upgrades are delivering the best ROI?

• How do expectations differ across demographics?

With interest rates high and buyer sentiment shaky, pricing is more art than science. Builders must decide whether to hold firm, offer concessions, or adjust base prices—and communicate these strategies transparently to avoid undercutting trust or brand. It’s a delicate balancing act in today’s climate.

• What pricing levers are most effective right now?

• Are builders finding success with buy-downs or concessions?

• How can pricing strategy align with marketing?

• How do you protect margins while remaining competitive?

• How often should pricing be reviewed?

• What mistakes are builders making in today’s pricing?

Some builders are increasingly selling directly to institutional or small investor buyers, while others focus on end-user families. Each has very different needs, timelines, and expectations. Builders must decide what buyer strategy best suits their product and scale—and whether they can do both successfully.

• What makes a project attractive to institutional investors?

• How do investor-driven design choices differ from owner-occupied?

• Can you mix buyer types within the same project?

• How do investor timelines change your sales strategy?

• What are the risks of leaning too heavily into one audience?

• Are investor buyers still active in this rate environment?

As homebuyers get more sophisticated, a builder’s reputation matters. Brand isn’t just logos—it’s consistent quality, trust, and communication. Small and mid-sized builders must differentiate themselves through transparency, design sensibility, and community engagement to win the loyalty of both buyers and brokers.

• What makes a builder’s brand stand out today?

• How are builders using digital marketing and social proof?

• What role does warranty service play in brand perception?

• How do you balance customization with efficiency?

• Can a builder brand loyalty like a consumer product?

• How are builders marketing their values (e.g., sustainability, affordability)?

The homebuying experience doesn’t end at contract. Today’s buyers expect transparency during construction, clear communication, and a strong handoff into homeownership. Builders that manage expectations, communicate often, and follow through on post-close service earn repeat business and referrals.

• How can builders create smoother handoffs from sales to construction?

• What tools help keep buyers informed during the build?

• Where are most customer service issues arising?

• How do you structure warranty service and communication?

• How are builders turning buyers into brand ambassadors?

• What’s the long-term ROI of superior customer service?

As energy codes tighten and buyers demand sustainability, building high-performance homes is moving from niche to norm. But cost, training, and supply chain realities present hurdles. Builders must find cost-effective ways to meet standards while maintaining margins and educating buyers on value.

• Which performance measures are code-driven vs. market-driven?

• What’s the premium to build to Net Zero or Energy Star?

• How are appraisals and lenders treating energy-efficient homes?

• What trade knowledge gaps are causing problems?

• Are utility costs factoring into buyer decisions?

• Can high performance become a differentiator?

Labor scarcity is the #1 issue for many builders. Solving it requires new approaches—training programs, better site culture, trade partnerships, and smarter use of subs. Builders who treat labor as a long-term strategic asset will outlast those who treat it like a daily fire drill.

• What’s actually working to recruit new trades?

• How can smaller builders compete for talent?

• What’s the ROI of internal training vs. outsourcing?

• Are new project management models helping?

• How are builders reducing jobsite turnover?

• What non-wage benefits help retention?

Innovative building materials promise to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and boost durability. But hype doesn’t equal readiness. Builders need clarity on what materials—mass timber, 3D printed concrete, advanced insulation—are viable at scale and what’s still experimental or impractical.

• Which materials have crossed from experimental to proven?

• What are cost implications compared to traditional materials?

• How are inspectors and lenders responding?

• Are new materials solving labor or speed challenges?

• What supply chain risks exist?

• Where do these materials add the most value?

COVID and geopolitics exposed deep fragility in construction supply chains. Smart builders are diversifying suppliers, sourcing locally when possible, and building better forecasting systems. Understanding where the next disruption might hit—and how to prepare—is becoming a core competency, not a luxury.

• Which material categories are still most volatile?

• Are suppliers offering more transparency post-COVID?

• How are builders building flexibility into procurement?

• What backup strategies are actually feasible?

• Can local sourcing become a competitive advantage?

• What tech tools help anticipate supply risks?

Water rights, power reliability, and waste disposal are now core development concerns—especially in the West. Builders are having to think like utility managers as they plan communities and spec homes. Environmental constraints are creating risk, but also opportunities for innovation and leadership.

• How are power and water constraints shaping land strategy?

• What new requirements are jurisdictions implementing?

• How are builders designing for resilience?

• Are buyers demanding low-impact or off-grid solutions?

• How do water rights or energy capacity affect entitlement?

• Can sustainability reduce long-term operating risk?