The Housing Policy Forum is now full, and we are not accepting additional attendees at this time. 

Each year, the Housing Opportunity Conference commences with a general session titled “The State of the U.S. Housing Market.” Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist of BrightMLS, will provide this year’s keynote remarks. Dr. Sturtevant will present key national economic forecasts, and residential industry trends including analyses on employment and job growth, migration and population trends, construction costs, single and multifamily starts. This interactive keynote will not only be informative but set the stage for the conference program.  

This session reviews a range of creative approaches for financing affordable housing, including low-cost revolving loans that take a property from construction to stabilization, reducing the need for costly equity, and a non-contiguous tax increment financing district in Baltimore that provides funding for redeveloping vacant properties for residential use. The session will also discuss ideas for improving the yield on Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. 

During this session, panelists will explore how to leverage waterfront and recreational assets through innovative mixed-use developments, projects that combine residential, commercial, retail, and public amenities to create year-round destinations. Guests will hear how developers and public agencies are approaching the balance between maximizing the value of some of the region’s most sought-after real estate and maintaining public access, walkability, and open space.

In addition, the discussion will cover how these projects can remain both livable and financially viable, including strategies for integrating affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, and community benefits into long-term development plans. By showcasing examples from Baltimore, Washington DC and San Francisco, the panel will offer insights into how cities can shape inclusive waterfronts that drive growth without sacrificing equity or public use. 

Addressing the nation’s housing challenges requires cross-sector collaboration and creative alignment between the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. This session explores how partnerships are accelerating housing solutions—from funding and technical assistance to local implementation. Panelists will share how their organizations are leveraging resources, expertise, and networks to increase and preserve affordable housing supply.

As the housing affordability and supply challenge grows ever more urgent, artificial intelligence is emerging not just as a buzzword but as a transformative force in how we plan, build, and operate communities. This panel brings together three cutting-edge practitioners to explore how AI is reshaping different stages of the housing development lifecycle. But, as the panel will explore, technology alone is not enough — success depends on operational discipline, quality data, cross-organizational alignment, and a clear understanding of where AI adds the greatest value.

Offsite construction has the potential to produce high-quality homes that sell or rent at prices affordable to moderate-income households without a subsidy. Hear from two nonprofit practitioners and a state government official about how they are using offsite construction to achieve this goal and working to scale-up their efforts to expand their impact. The session will discuss a range of production methods but focus in particular on single-family manufactured homes (i.e., conform to the HUD Code) with added site-built features, including a pitched roof and a site-built garage and porch, that make them look and feel very similar to site-built homes. These include homes that meet the CrossMod and Next Step standards.

The “Silver Tsunami” is here: Baby Boomers are entering their senior years with different expectations, lifestyles, and needs than previous generations. This session explores how demographic shifts over the next decade will reshape demand for housing and services for older adults. Panelists will discuss evolving models—from aging in place to senior-focused communities—that balance independence with health and daily living support. Topics include state-level approaches, affordable care alternatives, and emerging tools such as AI-enabled health support and community-based connections. Learn how markets, policies, and providers are adapting to ensure sustainable, affordable housing for an aging population.

Real estate developers and owners have long faced rising costs—from regulatory hurdles to materials, labor, and land. More recently, sustainability requirements and increasing insurance premiums have made already challenging projects even harder to make financially viable. In this panel, speakers will dispel common myths by examining whether sustainability and resilience measures truly add cost. They will highlight available resources and incentives and explain how these measures affect a project’s return on investment. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how to finance sustainable and resilient developments—and the benefits these strategies bring to residents, communities, and project stakeholders alike. 

Last year, the ULI Homeless to Housed Initiative released the publication, 10 Principles for Addressing Homelessness: A Guide for Commercial Real Estate and Finance. Developed by ULI members, the publication is intended to help professionals across the real estate industry understand their role—and take action—in addressing the homelessness crisis in the United States.

This panel will provide a brief overview of the 10 principles, with a particular focus on the tenth principle: Building operations and supportive services must be financially sustainable. Achieving sustainability is especially challenging, as operating costs and supportive services are expensive, yet they can have a profound and lasting impact on residents who rely on them, as well as on the property’s broader community.

Panelists will discuss what has and has not worked, the financial tools and partnerships they use, and how systems and processes can evolve to improve efficiency for existing owners while encouraging more developers and property owners to open housing opportunities to people experiencing homelessness.

Baltimore’s housing history is marked by significant events, challenges and opportunities that have shaped the urban landscape. Social, economic and political factors have played a role over time, as have strong community leaders and local development partners. Like many cities, we have struggled greatly with housing discrimination and declining population; yet we have worked passionately to address these challenges.

Kim Clark, Executive Vice President of the Baltimore Development Corporation, and Dan Henson, III, President of Henson Development Corporation and former director of one of the Nation’s largest public housing authorities, will share highlights of our history, accomplishments and lessons learned related to the ongoing work that continues to shape and improve our communities.

Homeownership remains one of the most powerful pathways to building wealth and stability—yet for many families, it feels out of reach. This dynamic panel brings together experts who are transforming that reality through community-driven approaches that revitalize neighborhoods while preventing displacement, expand access, and create inclusive opportunities. From restoring abandoned homes to developing mixed-income communities and advancing models that make homeownership affordable, these leaders will share practical solutions and inspiring stories that unlock the dream of homeownership for all.

This panel will discuss the most recent changes in economic policy that affect real estate operations. The panel will share how the current environment is shaping their businesses, what they are planning for the near-term future, and where they see challenges or opportunities in the coming year.  For example: How are interest rates, materials costs, labor, and tariffs impacting development and construction? How is AI reshaping business operations? What do they anticipate will change in federal housing policy?

This session showcases three innovative housing projects that advance both sustainability and affordability, creating resilient homes for the future. Featured examples include net-zero single-family homes in Northeast Baltimore, the world’s largest affordable residential Passive House building, serving 700+ families in East Harlem, and a compelling New York model that merges affordable senior housing, Passive House standards, and modular construction. Each case study demonstrates how design, mission-driven partnerships, and sustainability intersect to deliver lasting impact. Hear from project leads about the challenges they overcame and the opportunities ahead for achieving dual goals of affordability and sustainability.

Single-family housing and suburban development remain central drivers of the U.S. housing market—even as affordability pressures, demographic shifts, and evolving consumer preferences reshape demand. This panel will explore how market-rate trends are unfolding in suburban contexts, with a focus on master planned communities as bellwethers for buyer behavior, investor confidence, and lifestyle priorities. Panelists will discuss strategies for balancing affordability with amenities, the rise of build-to-rent and multigenerational options, and the outlook for both luxury and attainable segments. Attendees will gain insights into how suburban development models are adapting to new market realities and what these shifts signal for the future of housing.

To close the conference, join this panel of industry experts who will discuss the Abundance movement, and what’s next. The panelists will discuss the exciting momentum that’s picked up across the country; from states to small towns, how is the YIMBY movement growing, where is it finding success, how are we creating bipartisan bridges, and what more can be done to address housing supply. Moderated by ULI’s Chief Impact Officer, Aimee Witteman, the panelists will discuss policy, partnerships, innovation and messaging for an inspiring and fun conversation that should leave all attendees inspired as they return home!

Exploring Baltimore’s waterfront, its past, present and future. Guests will view and learn about new and future mixed-use retail and housing developments along the shoreline in addition to gaining an understanding of its historical and industrial past, waterfront neighborhoods, transportation infrastructure, and the role it plays as a significant port along the eastern seaboard. Stops include: Harbor Point, Harbor East, Harbor Place, Baltimore Peninsula, and the new Under Armour Campus. 

Note: This tour will take place on a Water Taxi in the Baltimore Harbor and a waiver will be required for participation. 

Join us for an exclusive bus tour of Baltimore’s West Impact Investment Area (IIA), led by one of Baltimore City's Housing Commissioners, Alice Kennedy. With over a decade of experience in Baltimore City government, Kennedy has led innovative planning, development, and real estate initiatives, including the Mayor Scotts Vacancy Reduction Initiative, to streamline property disposition and expand vacant property acquisition.

Beginning at TouchPoint Baltimore at Mondawmin Mall, this guided tour will showcase transformative redevelopment efforts across neighborhoods including Penn North, Druid Heights, and Upton. Participants will visit key project sites such as the Parkview Recreation Center, Harriet Beecher Stowe School, and Upton Gateway, while hearing directly from community leaders and partners driving revitalization in these historic neighborhoods.

The tour offers a firsthand look at the City’s coordinated approach to addressing vacant properties, expanding affordable housing, and creating economic opportunity in West Baltimore. It also highlights the momentum behind Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s 15-year, $3 billion vacant housing strategy, developed in partnership with the State of Maryland, Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC), and BUILD.

Space is limited—register early to reserve your seat.

Exploring homeless to housed models in Baltimore—one model as a tax credit financed rental building that includes on-site supportive services and a second model that is privately funded for affordable home ownership. 

Exploring inclusive redevelopment models in Baltimore—revitalization without displacement, mixed-income housing, and community-driven planning. Stops include: Johnston Square, Somerset (Oldtown), and Perkins. 

Join us for a closing reception at The Bygone! 

400 International Drive, 29th Floor

Baltimore, MD 21202