After spending time in Europe, Ian came back with a renewed perspective on something we often take for granted: how the built environment shapes not only how we live, but how we invest.

In this episode, we break down the real lessons behind great European cities and how those insights directly translate into stronger, more resilient real estate investments.

This isn’t just a conversation about urban design. It’s about how regulatory frameworks, like form-based zoning, can protect capital, reduce entitlement risk, and create more predictable, durable outcomes for investors.

We explore:
🔷 Why walkable, mixed-use environments consistently outperform over time
🔷 How form-based zoning removes friction and accelerates development timelines
🔷 What this shift means for the future of housing, affordability, and market demand
🔷And how BETTER uses these principles to safeguard and strengthen investments in evolving U.S. markets

If you’re an LP or investor looking to better understand how zoning, planning, and market design influence risk and returns, this episode will give you a clearer lens into how we evaluate opportunities and how we think about protecting your investment in an uncertain environment.

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BETTER is a real estate investment company that offers passive investors access to curated development opportunities without the stress of daily management.

Our projects focus on the missing middle: right-sized, attainable homes in high-demand areas that offer the livability buyers want and the performance investors expect.

Our signature Pocket Neighborhoods are thoughtfully planned communities that deliver precision, scale, and value. They’re targeted developments engineered for long-term stability and strong investor returns that are backed by experience, not speculation.

Real estate investing, reimagined: grounded, intentional, and high-performing.

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Learn more about BETTER’s by-right development philosophy:
👉 https://www.betterpropertiesllc.com/

Explore active and completed projects via BETTER Case Studies:
👉 https://www.betterpropertiesllc.com/case-studies

Connect with BETTER on LinkedIn for investor insights and market analysis:
👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-properties-construction-realty

Follow BETTER on Facebook and Instagram for project updates and local events:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/BetterP.LLC
👉 https://www.instagram.com/betterrealtyllc

In real estate, uncertainty compounds fast.

Every rezoning hearing, variance request, infrastructure unknown, or discretionary approval introduces friction that can slow timelines, impact returns, and increase investor exposure. So where does capital find protection in today’s market?

In this episode, Devin and Ian break down why by-right development is one of the most effective strategies for reducing execution risk while creating repeatable, high-confidence investment opportunities across the Triangle.


In this video we unpack:
🔷 what risk means in both finance and real estate development
🔷 how entitlement uncertainty affects timelines and returns
🔷 why zoning certainty directly protects investor capital
🔷 how BETTER mitigates development risk in active projects
🔷 real examples from 601 W Markham and 100 E Delafield
🔷 why by-right development remains central to BETTER’s long-term infill strategy

This is more than a zoning conversation. It’s a framework for how disciplined operators reduce downside, preserve capital, and create more predictable pathways to returns.

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BETTER is a real estate investment company that offers passive investors access to curated development opportunities without the stress of daily management.

Our projects focus on the missing middle: right-sized, attainable homes in high-demand areas that offer the livability buyers want and the performance investors expect.

Our signature Pocket Neighborhoods are thoughtfully planned communities that deliver precision, scale, and value. They’re targeted developments engineered for long-term stability and strong investor returns that are backed by experience, not speculation.

Real estate investing, reimagined: grounded, intentional, and high-performing.

____________________________________

Learn more about BETTER’s by-right development philosophy:
👉 https://www.betterpropertiesllc.com/

Explore active and completed projects via BETTER Case Studies:
👉 https://www.betterpropertiesllc.com/case-studies

Connect with BETTER on LinkedIn for investor insights and market analysis:
👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-properties-construction-realty

Follow BETTER on Facebook and Instagram for project updates and local events:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/BetterP.LLC
👉 https://www.instagram.com/betterrealtyllc

Durham’s development landscape is shifting. In this video Devin Solow (CEO) and Ian Lipman (COO) break down what’s actually changing inside this large, complex document and what it means on the ground for developers, investors, and the broader community.

In “The Future of Durham: What’s Changing and What It Means for Investors”, we unpack:
🔷 The new R-D residential framework
🔷 Density tradeoffs and flag lot limitations
🔷 Townhouse regulation changes
🔷 Updated affordable housing incentives
🔷 And what may still evolve before final adoption

This isn’t just a zoning update. It’s a structural shift in how housing gets delivered across Durham, North Carolina.

Read the full UDO here: https://www.engagedurham.com/DocumentCenter/View/786/Full-UDO-Draft
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____________________________________

BETTER is a real estate investment company that offers passive investors access to curated development opportunities without the stress of daily management.

Our projects focus on the missing middle: right-sized, attainable homes in high-demand areas that offer the livability buyers want and the performance investors expect.

Our signature Pocket Neighborhoods are thoughtfully planned communities that deliver precision, scale, and value. They’re targeted developments engineered for long-term stability and strong investor returns that are backed by experience, not speculation.

Real estate investing, reimagined: grounded, intentional, and high-performing.

____________________________________

Learn more about BETTER’s by-right development philosophy:
👉 https://www.betterpropertiesllc.com/

Explore active and completed projects via BETTER Case Studies:
👉 https://www.betterpropertiesllc.com/case-studies

Connect with BETTER on LinkedIn for investor insights and market analysis:
👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-properties-construction-realty

Follow BETTER on Facebook and Instagram for project updates and local events:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/BetterP.LLC
👉 https://www.instagram.com/betterrealtyllc