Where real estate meets rhythm | Developer, investor, live music enthusiast, and mountain seeker.

By Daniel Kaufman | May 2026 People ask me constantly where I see the next wave of real estate opportunity. They expect me to say Texas. Maybe Florida again. Sometimes they’re hoping I’ll say something contrarian like Cleveland or Gary, Indiana, so they can nod and feel sophisticated. I’m going to say Michigan. Not the Michigan of the rust belt narrative. Not “Detroit comeback story #47.” I’m talking about three specific markets that most coastal developers haven’t touched — and that’s exactly the point. The Upper Peninsula. Traverse City. Grand Rapids. Three completely different stories with one connecting thread: fresh water. You want to talk about the most undervalued long-term infrastructure asset in the world? It’s not data centers. It’s not lithium. It’s clean, abundant, accessible freshwater. And Michigan sits on top of more of it than almost anywhere on earth. Let me break this down market by market. THE UPPER PENINSULA: AMERICA’S LAST FRONTIER DISCOUNT Here’s a number that sho...

As someone currently developing apartments and townhomes in Southern New Hampshire, I can tell you the headlines about a housing construction boom only tell part of the story. Yes, permitting is up. Yes, more units are coming. But the real question investors, developers, and policymakers should be asking is this: Is it enough? From what I see on the ground as both a real estate developer and long-term investor, the answer is still no. The Permitting Surge Is Real — But the Supply Gap Is Bigger New Hampshire issued permits for 5,822 housing units in 2024 — the most since 2005, reflecting a meaningful push to address supply shortages. Since 2020, housing stock has expanded by roughly 26,000 units, one of the strongest building cycles the state has seen in decades. But even with this progress, the state remains tens of thousands of units short of what’s needed for a balanced market. Estimates suggest New Hampshire still needs: Over 32,000 additional units just to stay o...