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Investing in Maine’s Housing Future: Opportunities Across Five Dynamic Markets

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​ Maine is experiencing a housing affordability crisis that presents both a challenge and an opportunity for mission-driven developers. From the ski towns of the western mountains to the cultural hub of Portland, communities across the state are struggling to house their workforce, young families, and long-time residents. For developers willing to tackle this challenge, Maine offers compelling opportunities to build profitable projects while addressing a critical community need. I’m currently working on affordable housing developments across five distinct Maine markets—Newry, Bethel, Rumford, Waterville, and Portland—each offering unique advantages and serving different community needs. The Western Mountains: Newry and Bethel The western Maine ski region has become ground zero for Maine’s affordability crisis. Newry and Bethel, home to Sunday River and proximity to world-class outdoor recreation, have seen property values skyrocket as second-home buyers and short-term rental investors ...
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The Markets That Made Millionaires: My Take on America’s Biggest Home Value Winners

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​ As someone who’s spent decades analyzing real estate markets and deploying capital across the country, I pay close attention to where home values are moving—and why. The latest data from [Realtor.com](http://Realtor.com) reveals something I’ve been watching closely: ten cities have experienced extraordinary appreciation since 2019, with gains that have fundamentally reshaped local wealth dynamics. The Fundamentals Still Matter Let me start with what hasn’t changed: supply and demand drive everything in our business. When sales volume surges without corresponding construction activity to match it, values climb. It’s Economics 101, but the magnitude of recent gains in certain markets has been remarkable—even by historical standards. Ten cities stand out for exceptional appreciation across the top 100 U.S. metros. Interestingly, they split evenly between the South and Northeast, though for very different underlying reasons. This geographic distribution tells me we’re not looking at a si...
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Pittsburgh: The Sleeper Market Every Real Estate Investor Should Be Watching

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Look, I’ve been in this game long enough to know that when everyone’s chasing the same hot markets, the real opportunity is usually hiding in plain sight. And right now, that opportunity is Pittsburgh. While every other investor is dumping money into overheated coastal markets, Steel City is quietly building something sustainable. We’re talking a median list price of $250,000—that’s more than $150K below the national median. Let me put that in perspective: five years ago, the median was $234,900. That’s only 6% appreciation. In most markets, that would be a red flag. Here? It’s stability, and stability is what creates long-term wealth. The Numbers Don’t Lie Here’s what caught my attention: According to [Realtor.com](http://Realtor.com), Pittsburgh is the *only* major metro where buying beats renting for first-time homeowners. Think about what that means from an investment standpoint. You’ve got natural demand from buyers who actually have a financial incentive to purchase. That’s a sel...
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Is the Sunshine State Losing Its Shine? What the Latest Numbers Mean for Florida

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Hey everyone, I wanted to share something that’s been on my mind lately, and honestly, it’s probably on a lot of your minds if you’re living in Florida. So there’s this new study out of Florida Atlantic University that’s been making waves, and the numbers are pretty eye-opening. Turns out, almost half of Floridians are seriously thinking about packing up and leaving because of how expensive everything’s gotten. Yeah, you read that right—nearly 50% of Floridians are at least considering it. FAU’s researchers surveyed about 1,000 people across the state, asking them about their finances, their budgets, and whether the whole “American dream” thing still feels possible here. And what they found? Well, they’re calling it the “sunshine squeeze,” which is a clever name but represents a not-so-fun reality. The Cost of Living Is Really Hitting Home Here’s what really stood out to me: 80% of people are worried about housing costs. Not just “a little concerned”—nearly half said they’re ‘very’ con...
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🏗️ How I Help Struggling Developers Get Back on Track

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Finding the Right Site • Securing Zoning Approvals • Controlling Construction Costs by Daniel Kaufman, Real Estate Developer & Investor Building Smarter, Not Harder If you’re a developer, you know how fast momentum can fall apart. The site looks perfect until you realize the zoning isn’t there. The pro forma works until you see the real bids. The city “loves the vision” until you’re six hearings deep with no vote. I’ve lived that cycle — from rewiring historic houses, while getting my architecture degree, to walking ski-in/ski-out sites in mountain towns, to working through approvals on coastal infill projects. The lesson is always the same: Most projects don’t fail because the idea is bad. They fail because one part of the process is misaligned. That’s where I step in. I help at the three points where developers usually bleed time, money, and sanity. 1️⃣ Finding the Right Site The right site is not “whatever’s for sale in a hot market.” The right site is the one that supports: wha...
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Helping Real Estate Developers Turn Vision into Value – A Year in Review

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By Daniel Kaufman This year has been a full throttle ride — working with smart real-estate developers across land acquisition, zoning & entitlements, cost reduction, value engineering and subcontractor networks. I spend most days knee-deep in zoning maps, procurement spreadsheets, blueprint revisions and builder punch-lists… and though I’m busy, I’m always happy to help. Here’s a summary of how I’ve been delivering for developers this year — from raw land to realized margin. 1) Finding the Right Piece of Land for Townhomes & Apartments One of the first steps in any development is securing the right parcel. Early this year I worked with a developer focused on suburban infill townhomes. Together we: scouted several 10-acre sites in growth markets where rents and absorption looked strong modelled unit count, circulation, parking, storm-water constraints landed on a 9.8-acre site that allowed 72 townhomes with strong frontage and amenity potential negotiated the purchase with an LO...
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Rebuilding Cities: How My Early Work in Detroit Shaped My Path Into Real Estate Development

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When I look back at my early years in real estate and construction, the 1990s stand out as the decade that defined my professional foundation. Between 1992 and 2000, I was working as an electrician, earning my degree in architecture, and spending every free hour investing in and restoring old homes across Detroit and other post-industrial cities like Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh. These were cities with incredible bones—neighborhoods lined with early 20th-century architecture, built by craftsmen who believed in permanence. But decades of economic decline had left many of those homes vacant and forgotten. Where others saw blight, I saw opportunity and history worth saving. My construction background gave me the technical confidence to take on projects others avoided. I understood systems, structure, and wiring—but I was equally drawn to how buildings could be reimagined. My architectural studies helped me think beyond repair and toward design—toward how a building could serve both ...
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