Skip Hulsey, founder of Lagom Development, joins Host Carol Morgan on the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss his company’s unique approach to homebuilding, centered on the philosophy of Lagom—a Swedish word meaning “just the right amount.”

For Hulsey, it’s not just about building smaller houses; it’s a mission to restore affordability, promote energy efficiency and revitalize community connections through thoughtful, human-scaled design.

He witnessed firsthand how the COVID-era surge in valuations (up to 60% in the Atlanta market) combined with tripling interest rates pushed homeownership out of reach for countless individuals and created Lagom Development to bridge the gap. A fundamental part of the problem is that traditional builders construct houses that are often “way too big,” frequently offering 2,500 square foot homes as “starter homes.” What sets Lagom apart? It returns to what is truly essential: smaller, more efficient floor plans, usually 1,000 to 1,500 square feet, with no wasted space.

Lagom Development embraced the “Tesla of Housing” moniker due to its revolutionary vertically integrated approach, which controls every step of the process to drive down costs and accelerate delivery. To generate necessary investor returns while delivering truly affordable homes, Lagom Development manages the entire chain. This process starts with manufacturing its own structural panels and extends through end-to-end neighborhood development, including land acquisition, securing entitlements and installing infrastructure. This holistic control allows it to go vertical with construction rapidly.

Ultimately, Hulsey plans to integrate this system into a flashy consumer app where buyers can tour neighborhoods, design their dream homes and explore financing options, with the home going vertical during the 30-day mortgage qualification window.

Hulsey said, “By controlling every facet of that [homebuilding process] and the ‘Tesla’ approach to it, we’re able to provide investor returns and deliver typology to the market that folks can afford.”

A key component of Lagom Development’s vertical strategy is the use of structural insulated panels (SIPs), a technology that has existed since the 1930s. The panelized, prefabricated construction method ultimately delivers a beautiful site-built home without the stigma of manufactured housing. SIPs create a large, insulated structure that offers 75% better performance than traditional stick-built homes. Hulsey describes it as a “giant Yeti cooler” due to its unique energy efficiency.

Hulsey said, “Anything we can do to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment will be huge as we go forward.”

This insulation method allows Lagom Development to downsize the HVAC system by two-thirds and mechanically ventilate with an AI-embedded Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV). The result: homeowners save so much on utilities that it equates to getting an entire mortgage payment back every year. This significantly boosts the overall affordability of the home.

Lagom Development is intentionally building for the core members of the community who are often priced out, including teachers, first responders and service industry workers. The company analyzes the median rent in a given market, then reverse-engineers the build to ensure the total monthly housing payment comes in below that rental threshold. For example, a 1,000 to 1,500 square-foot-home delivers under $250,000, with smaller models potentially closer to $200,000.

Hulsey said, “We need more people to realize that if we work together, we can make not only companies, but communities that are designed better for communication and working together with our neighbors and just having a better quality of life.”

The company’s first Atlanta area project, Bluebird Lane in Greene County, will feature 248 units including condos, cottages and townhomes. To ensure a quick path to market and further reduce costs, Lagom Development is accelerating the timeline by working with municipalities upfront to get a catalog of plans pre-approved. With a substantial pipeline of 4,800 units and plans to scale into 20 markets nationwide, the company is tackling the 5-million-unit housing shortage with a focused and human-centered strategy aimed at bringing back the American dream of homeownership.

Tune into the full episode to learn more about Lagom Development’s “just right” approach to residential construction. For more information about Lagom Development, visit www.LagomDevelopment.com.

Founded by veteran builder Skip Hulsey, Lagom Development creates walkable, sustainable communities to solve the “missing middle” housing crisis. The company focuses on delivering thoughtfully designed, energy-efficient cottages, townhomes and condos that are within reach for working families. Lagom’s mission is to restore homeownership and community pride across the Southeast through right-sized housing and intentional design.

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