What if the biggest housing crisis of our lifetime isn’t a policy problem… but a leadership problem?

And what if the next wave of community builders won’t come from corporate boardrooms, but from people who actually care about the places they live?

In this episode, Kristi and Raphael sit down with Evan Holladay, founder of Holladay Ventures, a developer who went from a curious college student to building affordable housing communities across the country. This conversation gets real about what it takes to build locally when the odds feel stacked against you: broken systems, slow approvals, tight margins, and the weight of knowing that every delay affects real families.

Evan breaks down how he found his way into development through service work and student housing, how early mentors shaped his mindset, and why he believes affordable housing is not just a business, it's a responsibility. His story is a reminder that you don’t need to start with experience, money, or a perfect roadmap. You just need a mission big enough to keep going when everything gets hard.

What We Cover:

✅ How a college campus project sparked Evan’s passion for real estate

✅ The mentorship that shaped his path into affordable housing

✅ Why the housing crisis needs developers who actually care

✅ How Holladay Ventures evaluates deals, partnerships, and communities

✅ The real challenges of affordable housing: timelines, approvals, and razor-thin margins

✅ How setbacks shaped Evan’s leadership and long-term vision

✅ His nationwide mission to expand affordable and attainable housing

Bold Truth:

Local developers aren’t just building properties. They’re building the future of their communities and the future belongs to the ones willing to take responsibility for the people who live in them.

🎧 Listen now to hear how Evan turned a spark of curiosity into a mission-driven development career and why the next person who transforms your community might be you.

Connect with Evan:

🌐 Website: http://www.holladayventures.com/

📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanholladay/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanholladay/

Listen + Subscribe:

Watch full episodes on YouTube or listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Want more from Kristi?

Hear how she’s helping locals become developers in their own communities without the gatekeeping.

🎧 Local Real Estate Developer Podcast Playlist →

👉 Ready to become a local developer in your town? Apply for the Mentorship:

https://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/dev-mentorship

🎧 Access all platforms, the Developer Vault, and more:

https://linktr.ee/localrealestatedeveloper

🎬 Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Local Real Estate Developer Podcast

01:06 Evan Holiday's Journey into Real Estate Development

04:14 The Importance of Apprenticeship in Real Estate

05:19 Transitioning to Nashville: A Strategic Move

08:19 Catalysts for Starting Holiday Ventures

13:42 First Independent Project: From House Hacking to Multifamily

18:52 Navigating Partnerships: Lessons Learned

23:31 Securing the First Affordable Housing Opportunity

24:19 Creative Solutions for Nonprofit Development

30:19 Building Community Through Affordable Housing

33:59 The Drive Behind Entrepreneurial Success

37:51 Collaborative Models for Nonprofit Partnerships

40:24 Empowering Future Developers Through Education

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