In collaboration with our partners, the Institute pursues a robust agenda of applied housing research focused on informing policy, supporting investment, and advancing sustainable, inclusive urban development. Spanning US and global markets, our work addresses urgent housing challenges—from affordability to climate resilience—with practical, data-driven insights.

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Our applied research empowers public and private decision-makers through rigorous analysis, proprietary data tools, and technical guidance. We view housing as foundational to economic opportunity and the long-term stability and vitality of communities. As co-authors of the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Framework for Real Estate, we have helped shape the global conversation on affordability, resilience, and the private and public interface—an effort that continues in our current portfolio.

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Core Research Areas

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Housing Affordability

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We analyze structural drivers of affordability across ownership and rental markets, including land use, construction costs, and capital access, among others. By comparing affordability across jurisdictions, we help identify market and policy levers for improving outcomes—from basic shelter to workforce housing to complementary infrastructure.

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Housing Finance

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Our work spans household mortgage access to institutional capital in rental housing, with attention to emerging asset classes such as built-to-rent and manufactured housing. We focus on how finance systems enable mobility and affordability, and examine regulatory frameworks and financial innovation in mature economies and emerging settings.

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Sustainability and Decarbonization

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At the intersection of real estate and climate, we study how capital markets support building decarbonization and investments in resilience. Our research addresses retrofit financing, climate risk pricing, property insurance markets, and investor alignment around environmental performance—particularly in multifamily and commercial assets.

 

Emerging Focus Areas

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Housing and Health

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We explore how residential and commercial real estate conditions—including quality, location, amenities—affect public health. By linking spatial data to health outcomes, our work informs place-based interventions addressing the design of the built environment and disease exposure and incidence.

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Climate Migration

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We explore the resilience of housing systems to climate-induced population shifts. This includes designing financeable, adaptive strategies for cities facing long-term demographic change related to climate migration, particularly in emerging economy settings.

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Housing Insecurity and Homelessness

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We assess the drivers of housing exclusion and the effectiveness of interventions—from supportive housing to low-cost scalable models. Our research clarifies the roles of public, private, and nonprofit actors in addressing homelessness in both high-income and emerging economies, where the root causes and appropriate interventions may vary widely.

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Policy Impact and Methods

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Our research is grounded in real-world application and policy relevance. We support decision-making by offering:

 

• Rigorous data-driven applied research;

• Data platforms and tools for governments and market participants, including the Decarbonization Compass;

• Technical frameworks for solving challenges related to affordability, sustainability, financing, and risk mitigation;

• Industry and policy conferences, including the National Apartment Investment and Finance Summit;

• Student case competitions and other learning opportunities.

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Our overarching policy objectives are to improve housing affordability, enhance access to opportunity, and foster economically and socially vibrant communities. Recognizing the limits of direct public delivery, the Institute focuses on shaping the conditions that mobilize private capital in alignment with our shared public goals.