Tag: construction
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Is the “Taylor Swift Tax” Heading for Maine—and What It Means for My Newry Build
Rhode Island lawmakers just dusted off their so-called “Taylor Swift Tax,” a surcharge aimed at luxury second homes valued above $1 million. At $2.50 per $500 of assessed value beyond that threshold, the proposal could tack six figures onto an annual tax bill for the likes of Swift and other high-end owners. Make no mistake:…
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The Great Migration: Why Multifamily Developers Are Betting Big on Low-Density America
By Daniel Kaufman Forget the skyscrapers—for the first time in a long time, the real action in multifamily construction is happening far from the urban core. Developers are planting their flags in places most of us weren’t watching a few years ago: suburban fringes, micro counties, and even rural regions. The numbers aren’t subtle—they’re loud.…
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When Properties Go Dark: What ‘Zombie’ Foreclosures Reveal About the Housing Market’s Fault Lines
Every real estate cycle has its ghosts—and right now, a quiet uptick in “zombie” foreclosures is haunting select pockets of the country. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill distressed properties. They’re vacant, abandoned, and stuck in limbo: neither reclaimed by lenders nor occupied by owners. In markets like Wichita, Peoria, and rural North Carolina, they’re starting to…
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Florida’s Price Correction: What Real Estate Pros Should Really Take Away
Contrary to the headlines, there’s no reason to panic. Yes, Q1 data from the National Association of Realtors® shows that home prices fell in nearly 17% of U.S. markets—with Florida accounting for more than a quarter of those declines. But let’s be clear: this is not 2008, and this is not a sign of systemic…
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Portland’s Moment: A 30-Story Tower Aims to Redefine the Skyline and the Market
There’s a bold new vision coming to life in the heart of Portland, Maine—and it’s not subtle. East Brown Cow, one of the city’s most active and ambitious developers, has unveiled plans for a landmark 30-story tower at 45 Union Street in the historic Old Port district. If completed, this 380-foot structure—designed by the globally…
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Is 3D Printing the Future of Construction? Starbucks Thinks So
The future of construction might be arriving faster than most of us expected—and it’s being printed, not built. Starbucks recently opened a 3D-printed, drive-through-only store in Brownsville, Texas, marking one of the most visible uses of additive manufacturing in the commercial retail sector to date. At 1,400 square feet, the structure was constructed using a…
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Why I Think CRE Will Be a Safe Harbor Amid Tariff Turmoil
But I’m watching two caveats that could shake that thesis. When the Trump administration announced sweeping tariffs on April 2, the immediate reaction across markets was predictable: volatility surged, equity indices swung wildly, and conversations in capital circles turned toward downside protection. As someone who spends every day in the world of commercial real estate,…
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Will Developing Federal Land Solve the US Housing Shortage? What Real Estate Developers & Investors Need to Know
The US housing crisis is one of the most pressing issues facing real estate developers and investors. With limited supply, high land costs, and restrictive zoning laws, many metro areas are struggling to meet housing demand. Recently, President Donald Trump proposed unlocking federal land for housing development as a way to ease the shortage. On…
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Ski Town Housing Crisis: A Real Estate Developer’s Perspective & Why Skiers Should Be Concerned
By Daniel Kaufman, Real Estate Developer & Investor – www.danielkaufman.info The housing crisis in ski towns is no longer just a problem for seasonal workers—it’s a looming issue that threatens the very sustainability of the ski industry itself. As real estate investors and developers, we need to recognize the deep impact of this crisis—not just…
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Florida’s Property Tax Gamble: What It Means for Real Estate Investors and Developers
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is making waves with his bold proposal to eliminate property taxes in the state—a move that, if successful, could fundamentally reshape the real estate market. With property taxes generating more than $40 billion annually for Florida’s local governments, the question remains: Who will cover the shortfall, and what does this mean…