​It has been generally established that the United States has an affordable housing problem. According to the Center for American Progress, about half of Americans pay over 30 percent of their income on rent or other housing costs. Also, as of 2023, owning a home in the United States costs a median of about $3000. Further, the center noted that the cost of rent has increased by approximately 100 percentage points compared to inflation since 1984, with a 500 percent increase in home prices within the same period.

Since 1987, the federal, state, and local governments have all given billions of dollars yearly to developers to provide affordable housing to people who earn less than 60 percent of the median income. However, the deficit in affordable housing has persisted. Several economic studies have demonstrated that the solution is inefficient and suggest that rent vouchers will be more instrumental in addressing housing deficits. The argument has been that instead of low-income tenants, developers often benefit from affordable housing subsidies.

So, some studies have demonstrated that a more viable policy for affordable housing might involve abolishing urban growth boundaries and several land use restrictions that render acquiring homes expensive. This approach requires the government to ease the regulatory and administrative rules in acquiring and developing property. After this has been done, the government can provide rent vouchers and not subsidies for people who cannot afford housing.

The government can expand funding for the Housing Choice Voucher program. This program is important because it provides vouchers to low-income families or vulnerable groups through public housing agencies. Expanding the program would mean more Americans have better access to affordable housing that matches their budgets.

Some policymakers also believe governments should consider proactive solutions like expanding housing availability. This might require the federal government to fund state and local governments to construct more homes and rental units. Availability is important because it helps to equalize prices even when the private sector raises housing prices. The mass provision of government-funded accommodation creates an incentive to ensure the market is more affordable.

Incentives and collaborations are key in promoting affordable housing. Programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) attract private investors by offering tax breaks, lowering the financial risks tied to such projects. Additionally, public-private partnerships (PPPs) combine resources and expertise from both the government and private developers. Governments can contribute land or financing, while developers handle construction and management, creating mutually beneficial arrangements to address housing needs effectively. Together, these strategies pave the way for more innovative and sustainable housing solutions.

For the most part, the cost of housing can be attributed to the production cost of housing units. Using prefabricated or modular construction techniques can change housing affordability by cutting costs and speeding up the building process. This might involve creating housing components off-site in controlled environments, ensuring higher quality, and significantly reducing construction time.

After they have been manufactured, these parts are transported and assembled on-site. This offers a scalable solution for tackling housing shortages. Similarly, repurposing unused buildings, such as old warehouses, commercial spaces, or hotels, into residential units provides a creative and economical way to increase the housing supply. This approach makes the most of existing urban structures while saving on raw materials and reducing environmental impact.

​When it comes to real estate construction or any other form of construction, various stages are involved and must be well carried out to ensure that the project is available at the right time and meets all quality standards required, as well as ensuring that the project's budget is not exceeded. Although there are various stages in a construction project, the three main stages are the pre-construction, construction, and post-construction stages. All these stages are important for a construction project to be a success.

The first stage in a construction project is the initiation phase. This is one of the most important stages when it comes to real estate projection. It has to do with all the steps that are embarked upon before a project is approved by the relevant people and the planning process starts. There are various activities involved in the initiation phase, like contract documentation, schematic design, and programming and feasibility.

Under contract documentation, all documents that contain all details and final drawings are drafted and proposed. During the schematic design process, the team presents a sketch that shows the materials, textures, and colors that will be used, as well as the available space. Under the programming and feasibility phase, the project's aims and objectives are defined by the team using a feasibility study.

The next phase is the pre-construction stage. After the bidding process concludes and a contractor is selected to carry out the work, the construction project moves into its next phase. This phase involves developing a project strategy, designing the structure, obtaining necessary approvals or permissions, and assembling the workforce and materials needed to build. This phase also shows a structured method for establishing the budget, defining the project scope, creating a timeline, and ensuring the construction process remains on schedule and well-managed.

The procurement phase is the next. Under this stage, all materials needed to complete the project are acquired by the construction team. The ups and downs in this phase of the construction process vary based on the project's size, the accessibility of resources, and the timing of its commencement. The procurement stage improves productivity and reduces wastage if it is properly executed. But when it isn't done the right way, there could be delays which could impede the project's progress.

The next stage is the construction phase. In this phase, the actual construction of the project occurs. All plans that were proposed by the construction team during the pre-construction stage are actualized at this stage. This stage includes various tasks, such as clearing the site, digging, laying the groundwork, and constructing the framework.

The construction phase is important because it shows the transition from project planning to actual implementation. When the construction stage is properly carried out and managed, the timely completion of the project, adherence to financial constraints, and fulfillment of specified quality requirements are guaranteed.

The last stage is the post-construction stage. This is the stage that starts once the completion of physical construction has taken place and continues until the project is handed over to the owner. During this phase, various activities and developments occur.

Some of these activities include clearing up the work area of the construction, returning all tools and equipment used during the construction process, and handing over all documents relating to the properties to the owner.

​Real estate philanthropy leverages the expertise, resources, and influence of the real estate sector to address critical social issues, including housing shortages, homelessness, and the deterioration of local economies. Affordability, inclusivity, and sustainability are common issues in the real estate sector, and philanthropy emerges as a viable option for vulnerable communities to access housing. Unlike traditional charitable giving, real estate philanthropy provides a long-term, infrastructure-based solution where donors provide properties and real estate assets, including mortgages and securities, to charities to improve communities’ well-being. 

Affordable housing, adaptive reuse, mixed-use developments, bargain sales, and charitable lead trusts are the popular ways donors can implement real estate philanthropy. Affordable houses combat homelessness and housing insecurity for vulnerable groups, including veterans and low-income earning households, by addressing the affordability, sustainability, and inclusivity issues in real estate. Donors partner with nonprofit organizations to achieve this objective. 

Adaptive reuse is a strategy where developers and property owners donate land and buildings for charitable purposes, mostly vacant and deteriorated assets. These properties are converted into shelters or community centers to serve community housing needs.

Mixed-use developments incorporate multi-purpose designs to support communities’ residential, commercial, and recreational needs. Combining these asset types often boosts the local economy and promotes a region’s self-sufficiency. 

Donors can also sell land or buildings to charities at prices significantly lower than the market rates. This bargain sale empowers charities to acquire assets and meet a local community’s housing needs while the donor receives a tax break for their charitable efforts during the transaction. 

In the charitable lead trust, real estate philanthropists transfer an asset to a trust and direct the dividends to a charity for a specific number of years. At the end of the specified trust term, donors can retain their assets or transfer them to the charity’s portfolio. 

Despite the benefits it offers to donors and charities, including tax breaks, revitalizing underutilized assets, and enhancing social change, real estate philanthropy faces several challenges in its implementation. One such hurdle is gentrification and displacement. Improving a community’s economy and housing sector can increase property values and living costs in the long term, affecting the well-being of the population that real estate philanthropy aims to enhance. This economic shift displaces vulnerable communities, and careful planning, community engagement, and policy alignment are necessary to mitigate the risk. 

Community resistance is another challenge in real estate philanthropy. Local communities can reject and jeopardize projects, especially those involving affordable housing since they fear they will disrupt the area’s security, harmony, and outlook. The not in my backyard (NIMBY) attitude is a popular attitude where various residents mobilize the neighbors to reject such projects by spreading misconceptions about homelessness and the unverified facts of how such projects can influence the area’s real estate sector. To avoid this, it is imperative to gain community support before project execution through effective communication, inclusive planning processes, and soliciting the help of important stakeholders, including homeowners associations, educators, and local authorities. 

Besides, legal issues can delay and jeopardize the objectives of real estate philanthropy. Real estate donations require various legal processes, including title transfers, filing taxes, and environmental assessments before receiving approval. Moreover, mortgages, liens, and insurance on the assets can hinder donations depending on the state and location. To tackle this, donors should hire attorneys to advise them and help them comply with the laws and regulations and avoid possible lawsuits.

Lastly, donors require in-depth and updated financial information about their property, including the current market value, capital gains taxes, and how estate taxes affect their donations. This information helps minimize tax liabilities and optimize tax benefits as they extend philanthropy to those in need. Donors, therefore, should consult with qualified and experienced financial advisors to get insights into their philanthropy.

​The Inland Empire in Southern California is currently undergoing significant changes in the multi-family housing market. Population growth, economic development, and shifting demographics are fueling demand for diverse housing solutions. Consequently, developers are meeting this demand with multi-family housing projects that balance affordability and modern amenities.

As traffic congestion and environmental concerns are growing, there is a current focus on transit-oriented developments (TODs) in the Inland Empire. Multi-family housing projects near public transportation hubs are providing residents with convenient commuting options and contributing to walkable communities. TODs are being aligned with sustainable living principles, appealing to environmentally conscious residents.

With high housing prices in most of Southern California, the region's real estate market is appealing to those seeking more affordable living arrangements reasonably close to Los Angeles. Developers are currently concentrating on workforce housing initiatives, designing projects for essential workers and middle-income families, fostering a more inclusive and economically diverse housing market.

Residents are currently prioritizing community and an active lifestyle. Multi-family housing developers in the Inland Empire are responding by integrating communal spaces and amenities such as rooftop gardens, fitness centers, co-working spaces, and dog parks. These features are enhancing the overall living experience and fostering a sense of community among residents.

Moreover, these multi-family housing developments are now incorporating smart home technologies. This includes energy-efficient solutions and digital connectivity to meet residents' evolving needs.

​On November 14, 2023, Los Angeles lawmakers rejected calls to extend a rent freeze on stabilized apartments. They also voted 10-2 in favor of reducing rent increase caps on stabilized apartments starting in February 2024. The new rent increase cap is 4 percent, and 6 percent for landlords who pay tenants’ electricity and gas utilities. Before the vote, the rent increase cap was 7 percent, and 9 percent for landlords who pay tenants’ utilities.

February 2024 will be the first time in four years that Los Angeles landlords of stabilized apartments are free to raise rents. In March 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, city officials placed a rent freeze on apartments falling under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance. These were approximately 118,000 properties, or about 75 percent of multifamily rental properties in the city. The rent freeze stayed, even after the city ended the COVID-19 state of emergency in 2022, to the dismay of landlords.
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On November 14, ahead of the city vote, tenants’ associations urged lawmakers to extend the freeze arguing that rent increases would hurt people with low incomes. Landlord associations, however, argued that the rent freeze had cost them billions in revenue despite higher maintenance costs and inflation. This forced many of them, especially small business owners, to foreclose or sell their properties at a discount.

​As the head of the UCR Group in Redlands, California, Stephen Reeder manages a company that has built around 10,000 multi-family residential facilities. As part of his charitable giving, Stephen Reeder donates to Loma Linda Hospital, also located in California. The hospital is part of Loma Linda University, a faith-based institution with around 4,400 students, founded in 1905.

A recent research paper out of Loma Linda University confirmed earlier findings that eating walnuts reduces the chances of older adults contracting cardiovascular disease. Participants in this study experienced up to an 11.5 percent decrease in six out of 10 indicators for blood inflammation.

Sujartha Rajaram, a nutrition professor at the university, noted that walnuts are good both for preventing and controlling heart disease. Adding them to one’s daily diet is a simple change, whether they are consumed raw, mixed into smoothies, or placed in cereal or salads. Walnuts may also benefit the cardiovascular systems of younger people.

The project was sponsored by Loma Linda University’s School of Public Health and the Lipid Clinic at the University of Barcelona, Spain. Results were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

​ Stephen Reeder  is the chief executive officer of the UCR Group, which arranges real estate investments in Southern California. Also a philanthropist, Stephen Reeder has sponsored fundraisers to benefit the John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI) in Costa Mesa, California. Based in the St. John’s Medical Center, the institute is run by the family of the movie star, who died of stomach cancer in 1974.

The organization specializes in transnational research, which quickly moves innovations from the laboratory to the bedside. JWCI’s scientists delve into conditions such as melanoma (skin cancer) and sarcoma, as well as colon, prostate, and gastrointestinal cancer.

JWCI pioneered the sentinel node biopsy technique, now the preferred method for determining whether breast cancer (or melanoma) has spread to other parts of the body. Doctors use a small needle to remove sentinel nodes, areas where cancer cells gather before going into the lymphatic system. One advantage of the procedure is that it only removes one to five nodes, leaving plenty of others to remove waste fluids and perform other important tasks.

If the biopsy reveals malignant tissue, patients can wait or undergo surgery immediately. They are generally unconscious during the procedure, and can go home the same day if there is no surgery.