An audience of nearly 300 real estate executives and practitioners, industry stakeholders, economists, and policymakers gathered this month in Los Angeles for the inaugural Real Estate Summit: Partnering for Change in California, which featured a keynote speech from U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro. Convened by C.A.R., Secretary Castro, along with other industry thought leaders, exchanged ideas and solutions about housing affordability, California’s infrastructure, consumer trends, and foreign investment challenges.
Notably, Secretary Castro’s speech signaled a shift in tone at HUD about opening the doors of homeownership to every American who’s responsible and ready to buy following a period of constrained access in response to the financial crisis. Castro and other speakers at the invitation-only event directly addressed a variety of pressing issues related to real estate, homeownership, and the state’s economy.
In four separate panel discussions, top real estate leaders and economists also addressed four key subjects, including housing financing and homeownership; the impact of foreign investment on the state’s economy; changing demographics; and the state’s aging infrastructure.
Visit the Real Estate Summit website to view video of Castro’s full remarks as well as each of the day’s four panels.