BuzzHouse: A Baker Tilly Podcast

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson break down one of the most significant housing policy developments of the year: the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

Joined by colleague Larissa Fogarty for this episode's Housing Happenings segment, the team explores how the legislation could impact affordable housing development, financing, preservation and housing supply across the country. They discuss key provisions that may deliver near-term benefits, including expanded bank investment capacity for affordable housing, new opportunities for CDBG funding, reforms to housing preservation programs and efforts to streamline development barriers.

The conversation also covers the reauthorization of critical housing programs, potential implications of Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements, updates to manufactured housing policies and what stakeholders should expect as federal agencies begin implementing the law.

Whether you're a developer, lender, investor, housing authority, housing advocate or policy professional, this episode provides a practical overview of the provisions that could shape affordable housing in the years ahead.

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In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson welcome back Wade Norris, partner at Dinsmore, for an update on the tax-exempt bond market in 2026.

Wade breaks down how interest rates and investor demand are affecting affordable housing finance, the industry's transition from the 50% test to the 25% test, and the resulting impact on tax credit equity and project financing. He also shares insights on recycled bonds, cash-back bond structures, and emerging opportunities involving 501(c)(3) bonds, essential function bonds, and rated housing authority transactions.

Tune in for a practical look at the financing tools and market trends shaping affordable housing development today.

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The BuzzHouse team introduces a new segment, Housing Happenings, with Baker Tilly’s Larissa Fogarty sharing the latest developments in affordable housing policy. She breaks down the Road to Housing Act, updates to the RAD program and HUD’s decision to wind down the Restore and Rebuild initiative, explaining what these changes could mean for public housing authorities and future housing development efforts.

Building on those industry trends, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Mark Carlson, vice president of Carlson Construction, to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping construction projects today. Mark shares his perspective on labor shortages, regional pricing trends, value engineering and the importance of early planning and collaboration.

From policy updates to construction realities, this episode connects the issues shaping affordable housing and multifamily development today.

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Presented by Baker Tilly

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In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson break down the most important legislation, policy updates and research shaping the affordable housing industry in early 2026.

They walk through HUD updates, including 2026 OCAF adjustments and new funding timelines for RAD for PRAC conversions, highlighting what owners and developers need to act on now. They also dig into new research on resident services, financial outcomes and property performance, along with insights from Harvard’s latest rental housing report showing rising cost burdens and slowing development.

The episode wraps with a look at emerging QAP trends across states, including deeper income targeting, preservation priorities, sustainability requirements and tighter underwriting standards developers should be tracking closely.

Tune in to hear what these updates mean and how they could shape your next move in affordable housing.

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Presented by Baker Tilly

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Developing housing is already a complex equation, and tapping EB-5 capital adds a whole other layer of strategy. 

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson are joined by their Baker Tilly colleagues @Warren Oakes and @Jillian O’Brien, two professionals with deep experience in EB-5 project structuring, compliance and advisory services.

The team explains what EB-5 is, how it applies to multifamily housing, the steps developers need to take if they’re considering this type of capital and how to evaluate if EB-5 is a good fit for your housing project. 

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Presented by Baker Tilly

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In this special year-end episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson reflect on the most memorable conversations of 2025 and look ahead at what’s on the horizon in 2026. 

From innovative financing tools to workforce development and public housing repositioning, Don and Garrick revisit the guests and insights that shaped the year. They also explore what’s happening legislatively, from HUD updates to new proposals like the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act and the BOOM Act and how these policies could impact housing outcomes in the year ahead.

Tune in for practical takeaways, thoughtful reflections and an insider’s look at what to watch in the multifamily housing space this year.

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Presented by Baker Tilly

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In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson are joined by Stockton Williams, executive director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA).

The group discusses key housing legislation such as  Road to Housing Act, the evolution of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and how HFAs are pushing forward with new programs to meet middle-income and single-family housing needs.

Listen in for more insights on what is working and what is next for affordable housing across the country. 

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In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Philip Porter, senior vice president and head of acquisitions at Enterprise Housing Credit Investments, to make sense of the shifting landscape in low-income housing tax credit equity.

Philip breaks down what developers should know about lower credit pricing, the impact of recent legislation like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and what’s really driving changes in investor behavior. From construction timelines to CRA cycles, they unpack how demand, policy and capacity are colliding in today’s LIHTC market.

If you’ve been wondering what all this means for pricing, underwriting and syndication strategy, this episode covers it all.

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Presented by Baker Tilly

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In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson talk with Orlando Valdes, vice president of business development at Ion Water, about how invisible water waste is draining operating budgets in affordable housing and what developers, investors and property managers can do about it.

From catching invisible leaks to delivering underwriting support, Orlando explains how water data is becoming an operational tool for real savings, smarter investing and long-term asset preservation.

Learn more about water performance and the impact on affordable housing investment and lending.

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Presented by Baker Tilly

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In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Kristina Tatroe, director of online training at HAI Group, to explore how innovative education is reshaping the affordable housing industry.

From bite-sized “infotainment” modules and gamification to VR-driven compliance training, Kristina shares how HAI equips housing professionals to navigate regulatory changes, strengthen teams and drive impact in their communities. 

Access the Fundamentals of the LIHTC Program course here!

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Presented by Baker Tilly

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