The Role of Real Estate on Community Development

For better or worse, Houston is a city without zoning. At its best it fosters organic growth and opportunity for innovative design, at its worst it creates a “pay to play” mentality that leaves the fate of the city in the hands of developers with deep pockets. As a broker and agent with experience working in affordable housing in the Houston Housing and Community Development Department and an educational background in urban planning, I see tremendous opportunity for thoughtful design, public-private collaboration and policy.Business has been growing steadily but what I have found most rewarding has been the return on community service and development. From working with the Southeast Management District to volunteering with the NAACP on their Homes for Christmas initiative, I have seen firsthand the need for home buyer education, small development and the activation of community places. With the nation facing an affordability crisis, there is an opportunity to build duplexes, triplexes and single family with garage apartments at price points that not only allow working professionals to buy, but also simultaneously create an opportunity for wealth building.With literally billions of dollars in the pipeline for Houston from the federal government, there is also opportunity to collaborate with local government to create housing and economic opportunities that activate traditionally underserved communities and empower residents to revitalize in a manner that is reflective of the existing culture.