BuzzHouse: A Baker Tilly Podcast

The BuzzHouse team introduces a new segment, Housing Happenings, with Baker Tilly’s Larissa Fogarty sharing the latest developments in affordable housing policy. She breaks down the Road to Housing Act, updates to the RAD program and HUD’s decision to wind down the Restore and Rebuild initiative, explaining what these changes could mean for public housing authorities and future housing development...

In this episode of BuzzHouse , Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson break down the most important legislation, policy updates and research shaping the affordable housing industry in early 2026. They walk through HUD updates, including 2026 OCAF adjustments and new funding timelines for RAD for PRAC conversions, highlighting what owners and developers need to act on now. They also dig into new research...

Developing housing is already a complex equation, and tapping EB-5 capital adds a whole other layer of strategy.  In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson are joined by their Baker Tilly colleagues @Warren Oakes and @Jillian O’Brien, two professionals with deep experience in EB-5 project structuring, compliance and advisory services. The team explains what EB-5 is, how it appl...

In this special year-end episode of BuzzHouse , Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson reflect on the most memorable conversations of 2025 and look ahead at what’s on the horizon in 2026.  From innovative financing tools to workforce development and public housing repositioning, Don and Garrick revisit the guests and insights that shaped the year. They also explore what’s happening legislatively, from HU...

In this episode of BuzzHouse , Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson are joined by Stockton Williams, executive director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA). The group discusses key housing legislation such as  Road to Housing Act, the evolution of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and how HFAs are pushing forward with new programs to meet middle-income and single-family housing n...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Philip Porter, senior vice president and head of acquisitions at Enterprise Housing Credit Investments, to make sense of the shifting landscape in low-income housing tax credit equity. Philip breaks down what developers should know about lower credit pricing, the impact of recent legislation like the One Big Beautiful Bill...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson talk with Orlando Valdes, vice president of business development at Ion Water, about how invisible water waste is draining operating budgets in affordable housing and what developers, investors and property managers can do about it. From catching invisible leaks to delivering underwriting support, Orlando explains how water data is beco...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Kristina Tatroe, director of online training at HAI Group, to explore how innovative education is reshaping the affordable housing industry. From bite-sized “infotainment” modules and gamification to VR-driven compliance training, Kristina shares how HAI equips housing professionals to navigate regulatory changes, st...

Amid budget negotiations, shifting tax credit allocations and evolving funding programs, LIHTC developers are facing a dramatically changing landscape. The recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill” is already reshaping how housing projects will be financed, structured, and planned in 2026 and beyond. In this episode of BuzzHouse , Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson walk through the biggest updates tha...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Aron Thompson, executive director of R.E.D. Academy, a developer training program in Nashville backed by the Urban League and Amazon. From filling the "if-but-for" gaps to building a pipeline of local leaders, Aron unpacks what it really takes to grow a developer and why proximity, trust and support systems make the differ...

How do state building codes influence housing development, cost and safety? In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson are joined by Daniel Hereth, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, to outline the department’s role in maintaining public safety while examining how modernizing building codes can increase flexibility for developers and...

In this episode of BuzzHouse , Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Thom Amdur, Senior Vice President of Policy and Impact at Lincoln Avenue Communities. Thom shares what he's tracking on Capitol Hill and what could be coming next for affordable housing, tax reform and federal regulation. From the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to changes in NEPA and Davis-Bacon, he breaks down...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, host Garrick Gibson welcomes Jolena Presti, managing director in Baker Tilly’s development and community advisory practice, to break down what’s really working in the fight to fix our housing crisis. With state and local governments shifting policies and communities leaning into strategic land reuse and streamlined permitting, Jolena shares insights from the American...

In this episode of BuzzHouse , hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson talk with Kathryn Grosscup, housing tax credit manager for the Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), about Colorado’s innovative approach to addressing the middle-income housing gap. Listen in as Kathryn breaks down the newly launched Middle Income Housing Tax Credit (MIHTC) and how it aims to address Colorado’s affordable h...

In this episode of BuzzHouse , hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Peter Sherman, director of development for the Housing Authority of the City of Charleston, to discuss an innovative approach to financing affordable housing. With tax credits becoming increasingly competitive, Peter shares how his team navigated the challenges of financing the renovation of Kiawah Homes by leveragi...

In this episode of BuzzHouse , hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson are joined by Baker Tilly colleagues Michelle Isenhouer-Hanlin and Joe Marchese to explore the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). The discussion dives into how this funding supports low-income and disadvantaged communities through green banks and community le...

In this episode of BuzzHouse , Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson reflect on 2024 and the key moments in multifamily housing. From updates on affordable housing funding to the latest on bond financing and solar initiatives, they break down the year’s highlights. They also look ahead to 2025, discussing exciting opportunities such as the Green Communities Investment Accelerator and the Affordable Hous...

On this special episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards sits down with David Gasson , executive director of the Housing Advisory Group , a national advocacy organization that works on behalf of the LIHTC, as well as broader housing issues. David provides insight on the implications of the 2024 election on the world of affordable housing – including leadership in housing policy-related Congressional com...

On this episode of BuzzHouse , Don and Garrick sit down with Erica Mackie , CEO and co-founder of GRID Alternatives , the nation’s largest not-for-profit solar installer. Over the course of the episode, Don and Garrick talk with Erica about the $7 billion Solar For All program, launched as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The conversation delves into challenges in reaching underserved communit...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson dive into the complexities of the LIHTC market, welcoming Lindsay Soyka and Jason Gershwin from R4 Capital . The group discusses the current state of LIHTC deals in a post-COVID-19 world, such as rising construction and insurance costs, creative financing solutions to help developers navigate the turbulent market and the current l...

On this episode of BuzzHouse, Don and Garrick sit down with Nate Helbach , founder and CEO of Neutral , a regenerative development company that crafts financially responsible, sustainable living spaces. Over the course of the episode, Don and Garrick talk with Nate about the thesis he utilizes for Neutral’s strategy, the philosophy and benefits of using sustainable materials like mass timber, Neut...

On this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson discuss trends and insights on the multifamily housing industry’s second quarter of 2024. Don and Garrick discuss the general economic overview, an update on construction costs, new real estate updates, as well as trends and takeaways from the multifamily housing market. Listen in on what we can learn from recent events as we cont...

On this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson give an update on the multifamily housing development space as of Summer 2024. Don and Garrick explore subjects such as DOT loan programs like TIFIA and RRIF, 501(c)(3) bonds, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and more. Listen in to hear all the latest topics in multifamily development. Follow Us: Twitter @BakerTillyUS Facebook @B...

On this episode of BuzzHouse, Don and Garrick sit down with Brian Swanton, President and CEO of Gorman & Company, a fully integrated developer of affordable and workforce housing. Over the course of the episode, Don and Garrick catch up with Brian on trends and opportunities he has seen since the COVID-19 pandemic and what’s next in the current environment. Brian was the guest on the first webinar...

On this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson discuss trends and insights on the multifamily housing industry’s first quarter of 2024. Don and Garrick explore topics such as changes in construction pricing, the overall economy, real estate at large and key takeaways related to the multifamily sector. Listen in on what we can learn from recent events as we continue through 202...