Have you ever pondered the fate of Utah's beloved Great Salt Lake? Join us as we chat with Candice Hasenyager, Director of the Utah Division of Water Resources. She'll reveal why acknowledging its importance is crucial for responsible growth planning and how Governor Cox’s proclamation will play a role in protecting it - all while providing insight on reducing urban water use! For anyone curious about what this means for our limited supply - listen up!

Accessory Dwelling Units, or mini homes, are becoming an increasingly popular solution to the affordable housing crisis. Troy Jensen is an expert in residential housing with New Residential Solutions. He specializes in developing and implementing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a viable solution to meet the affordable housing needs here in Utah. ADUs offer an alternative to traditional housing that typically come with much higher costs. By providing living spaces that are smaller than conventional homes yet still comfy and efficient, ADUs decrease the cost of ownership. They also make it easier to rent out extra space for supplemental income and provide more flexibility with homeownership.

Over the past few years, flipping a home has become a popular investing strategy as interest rates remain low, but is it still profitable with inflation and rising interest rates? To answer this question, Matt Strong with Sierra-West Funding. Matt is also the local president of the Salt Lake Real Estate Investors Association. Share his expert opinion on whether or not flipping homes can be viable during these tough economic times.

The market is shifting, and many are curious about what experienced real estate investors are doing now. Clay Rockwood, Co-Founder, and Partner of Soar Capital Group, share his insights on what he's investing in right now and why. This episode is a must-listen if you want to get into real estate or know where the market is headed!

Are you curious about the tiny house movement? What is all the hype about? From practical considerations to financial benefits, find out if a tiny home might be right for you! Join us as we chat with Tiny Home builder Adam Breen with Breen Homes to learn more about this growing trend in homeownership.

As the population of Utah continues to grow, it's essential to have individuals like Steve Newton who have experienced city planning firsthand. As a two-term City Councilmember and one-term Mayor of Sandy City in the 1980s, Steve was responsible for coordinating planning and helping ensure the city ran smoothly. Nowadays, Steve is a corporate and business lawyer. His firsthand experience with city planning makes him the perfect person to comment on the pros and cons of Utah's growth.

Hey Utah, welcome to another episode of the Utah Real Estate Podcast. We're excited to have Dallin Corbridge with Sego Homes here today to tell us about the Innovator, a unique three-story home featured in the Salt Lake Parade of Homes. The Innovator is located in Daybreak and features a third-floor entertainment space perfect for indoor/outdoor entertaining. With stunning views and open staircases, this home is sure to impress.

Manifest Development and Breen Homes present "The George" in the 2022 Salt Lake Parade of Homes. "The George" is a perfect example of why the Salt Lake Parade of Homes is for everyone. Adam Breen, the owner of Breen homes, describes the design of the four-plex. Adam has extensive knowledge of the home building industry, from land layout to framing to design and final touches. Over the past decade, Adam has built everything from track housing to high-end custom homes. Adam is also an integral partner of the Utah Cribs Development Company, where he works to fulfill his dream of building Utah's future one house at a time. He walks clients through the entire home-building process. As a result, Adam has been a considerable asset to professionals and clients seeking professional help in the industry. What Makes Salt Lake City a Great Place to Live Many people move to Salt Lake to work in the tech industry. However, the job scene isn't the only attraction for families moving to Salt Lake City and the surrounding area. "It's livability, attainability, for everyone. Adam says there's a range of livability in the Salt Lake Valley, which makes our location such an attractive place to live. You can see various homes, from a townhome to a custom home." Incorporating Ideas from the Parade of Homes Many times, people can't afford the large homes that are on display at the Parade of Homes. However, Adam suggests you don't go to the Parade of Homes to see the homes you can't afford. "Go there to take home new ideas such as what to do with your unfinished basement space, how to remodel your kitchen, or how you can landscape your backyard." Downtown you'll see old homes remodeled or rebuilt. When you head west, you get new development. Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas "have this unique variation of housing opportunity, so we say that the Salt Lake Parade of Homes is for everybody." Adam Breen, the owner of Breen homes, talks about The George in the Salt Lake Parade of Homes. Over the past decade, he's built everything from track housing to high-end custom homes. Adam has extensive knowledge of the home building industry, from land layout to framing to design and final touches. Adam is also an integral partner of the Utah Cribs Development Company, where he works to fulfill his dream of building Utah's future one house at a time. He walks clients through the entire home-building process. As a result, Adam has been a considerable asset to professionals and clients seeking professional help in the industry. About The George The George is a four-plex unit with street access. The units are set up like a townhome and are stacked on about ⅓ of an acre parcel downtown Salt Lake. In addition, the townhome setup is on Washington street, thus the name the George. What Makes Salt Lake City a Great Place to Live Many people move to Salt Lake to work in the tech industry. However, the job scene isn't the only attraction for families moving to Salt Lake City and the surrounding area. "It's livability, attainability, for everyone. You can see various homes, from a townhome to a custom home." Adam says there's a range of livability in the Salt Lake Valley, which makes our location such an attractive place to live. Incorporating Ideas from the Parade of Homes Many times, people can't afford the large homes that are on display at the Parade of Homes. However, Adam suggests you don't go to the Parade of Homes to see the homes you can't afford. "Go there to take home new ideas such as what to do with your unfinished basement space, how to remodel your kitchen, or how you can landscape your backyard." Downtown you'll see old homes that are restored, remodeled, or rebuilt. When you head west, you get new development. Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas "have this unique va...

Dan Milar from Gordon Milar Construction discusses “The Modern Murray Perch” in the Salt Lake Parade of Homes. Gordon Milar Construction is a family-owned business and a premier custom home builder in northern Utah. The team enjoys establishing and maintaining long-term relationships with clients and industry partners. Building Custom Homes In Utah County Gordon Milar builds between 30 and 40 custom homes each year. Every one of their homes is custom built for their client and to fit the property. Gordon Milar, who founded the custom home building company, had been frustrated with the lack of flexibility with home building. As a result, he built Gordon Milar Construction to be flexible enough to build on any of their client’s choices, and because of their home building niche, they’ve built on quite a few challenging lots. Designing Homes with a View On their latest custom home build, they needed to find a solution for building a client’s home, which had a 25-foot drop on one side of the property. “We wanted the home to sit on the high side to capture the views and design the yard to work nicely.” The home is perched on a hill in Murray, featuring views on the side of the house. “The other complex challenge with this lot is that it’s a fairly shallow lot front to back.” The team needed to be aware of the depth of the home design and had to use the side yard for terracing and the basement area.

If you're looking for a home that will let you bring your hobbies to life, look no further than “The Ollie'' by Davies Design Build. This stunning home, featured in the Salt Lake Parade of Homes, includes a skateboard park in the basement - complete with Graffiti by a local artist. Davies Design Build is passionate about making homeowners' dreams come true, and it shows in every detail of this one-of-a-kind home. Whether you're an avid skater or just looking for a unique feature, the Ollie is sure to impress. ED Axley is the CEO of Daves Design Build, a top award-winning luxury and custom home builder. Davies Design Build has earned a remarkable reputation as a leader in the home construction industry. With decades of experience in the design-build process, Davies delivers the peak in customization and style, with some of the highest quality structures in Utah real estate. Building Custom Homes in Utah Ed likes his homes to compliment the natural aesthetics of the scenery around them. In addition, he proportions his homes to the lots, so the design fits the lot they are built on in Utah. "The intent and inspiration behind the homes is to take advantage of its environment. The mountains around it, the hills, the rocks, and the trees. The home fits into the environment while allowing the person on the inside to look through fabulous windows, great settings, and big open areas." These elements are the main reasons designs are breathtaking and very popular among home buyers. The Inspiration Behind the Custom Home Build Designing "We do interesting, and amazing special custom builds in our homes from skate parks to fire poles and climbing gyms." No matter your specialty or hobby, the designer at Daves Design Build can make it happen for you! The Client Experience at Davies Custom Home Build Ed's company doesn't have one architectural style that they build. "We believe that we are curators of architectural interpretations." Whatever their clients' wishes, Ed's team will curate designs, materials, and elements around their clients' wishes. "Ultimately, the museum on display becomes loved by the client and their family." When working with clients, Ed's team curates the elements around the design-build to make a custom home built around their customers' lifestyles.

Symphony Homes presents "The Octave" in the 2022 Salt Lake Parade of Homes. This house is in South Jordan and features a stunning kitchen with TWO butler pantries. Cash Knight, Director of New Construction, shares that the word "symphony" is synonymous with quality. When you think of a grand symphony, every piece must be harmonious to create a masterpiece. Kim Carlson, Marketing Director, adds that the team at Symphony is all about orchestrating your dreams! Symphony Homes History The nature of Symphony Homes is to build a customized home for their clients, so you're not starting your home from scratch. Cash shares, "We start with the base plan, but the clients get to change walls or any other feature in their home." The homes built by the company owners starting 30 years ago have shown the value of the area and how the company has focused on hiring the right people who are also interested in building customized homes. All of the homes from Symphony Homes have a music-related name and theme to give you the feel of the Symphony; the Tempo, Forte, and Cannon are just a few examples.

Kristen Mortensen became the first female president of the Salt Lake Home Builders Association shortly before the housing crash in 2008. Now, she's a partner in Goldcrest Homes and is coming up on having worked on 1000 homes. Goldcrest Homes has a passion for building with women in mind, as women are driving 80% of home sales and are typically managing the house day-to-day. In this episode, she talks about her experience as a woman in a male-dominated industry and Goldcrest Homes' showcase for the Parade of Homes. A Nest With Surprises The Goldcrest Homes' showcase for the Parade of Homes is called "The Lofty Nest." Kristen describes it as a comfortable, fun house, a nest with some surprises.' The two-story house has high ceilings, a loft study area, and an ordinance-compliant accessory dwelling unit in the basement, which allows leasing of the bottom one-bedroom apartment, a highly sought-after feature. Listen in to learn more about Goldcrest Homes, their current and upcoming communities in Utah, and more features of "The Lofty Nest." Following Through as a Contractor in Utah Kristen was always intrigued by the home-building process and inquired about how to enter the industry in college. She was encouraged to become a teacher, which she did until she had an opportunity to finish a house. Kristen found out there was no magic to the process; it took hard work, following through, and planning. Kristen recounts that she never felt intimidated as a woman in general contracting and that the tradespeople she's worked with over the years have been welcoming. She knows a little about many things, having learned from plumbers, electricians, roofers, and more. She's glad to see that women can now go to school for construction management and that more women are finding careers in construction. Utah Building With Women in Mind Goldcrest Homes' goal is to help "build a lovely nest for your flock." The company has a passion for building with women in mind, as statistics show that women drive 80% of home sales. Typically, women are more concerned with family planning, upgrading, and house management. As a company, they pay attention to a home's exterior curb appeal and practical interior use. Building a place that is functional as well as attractive is one of Goldcrest's top qualities.

Sean and Ashley Michaelis are the dynamic husband-wife duo behind Michaelis Homes. Sean is the contractor, and Ashley is the designer and realtor. They have three boys between the ages of 1 and 5 and have been flipping homes since 2017. They’re debuting “The Crestwood” for their first home parade to showcase. The Crestwood House Journey Sean and Ashley learned many things about the Crestwood house’s story and became close with the family who sold it. The house was originally built in the 1970s, and the couple who owned it raised 7 kids. Sean and Ashley’s work was cut out for them: it had 9 different types of carpet, many DIY projects, and a few years of neglect as the owners aged. Sean and Ashley bought the house with the intent to flip and sell but ended up falling in love. They had worked on three other houses on the same street and already loved the neighborhood and the house’s amazing views. Sean and Ashley are excited to finally be experiencing what their clients do. Listeners can see the before and after pictures of the Crestwood House journey on the Michaelis’ website. A Unique Remodeling Style Ashley has a great eye for design and could see incredible potential in this new property. They capitalized on the mid-century style, keeping much of the house’s natural charm while also bringing in an updated, modern feel. Ashley enjoys a style she calls ‘Utah modern,’ tying in geographical locations and color palettes into something that is uniquely Utah. Finding a Home with History Sean and Ashley’s love for their new house comes from its story. The previous owners had been older and unable to take care of the house as they wanted, and Sean and Ashley were eager to buy it. The owners’ kids were very involved in the buying process, and Sean and Ashley soon became close with the entire family. While it was a struggle to get all the materials they wanted, Sean and Ashley staged a viewing for the family around Christmas so that they could see what they had done with the house. They described it as very emotional, as the family was saying goodbye but also seeing the new life breathed into their childhood home. The owners’ kids and grandkids could see Sean and Ashley’s work and know they made the right choice in trusting them to remodel. Listen in to hear more about how the Michaelis couple incorporated the state of Utah into their homes, how they grew their business together, and more about “The Crestwood.”

The Utah Real Estate Podcast is thrilled to present a mini-series about the Salt Lake Parade of Homes. Listeners will be able to peek behind the curtain and hear from the builders how their floorplans came to life. To kick off this mini-series, we have the Director of the Parade of Homes, Lindie Davis, and the Executive Officer of the Salt Lake Home Builders Association, Jaren Davis. They will be sharing with us about last year's parade and what makes 2022 unlike any other in the past, from a custom skatepark house to a downtown penthouse.  Witnessing the Parade’s Growing Success Last year was the Salt Lake Parade of Homes' most successful parade in 75 years, thanks to Lindie. She increased awareness through social media and collaborated with Utah's top influencers. She also single-handedly doubled the parade's numbers by going door-to-door, informing owners of the benefit of having their homes in the parade. She is, in Jaren's words, "a rare talent."  This year, Lindie wanted to see people bring their unique designs to the parade. For Lindie, Jumping into the organization was daunting and tiring, but it has been gratifying and rewarding to see the parade come together in August.  Advocating for the Community The Salt Lake Parade of Homes has a group of volunteers who meet monthly to prepare for the parade. To be featured in the parade, you must be a member of the association. Applications can be submitted at the end of August, which the committee of volunteers will look over and accept.   The Salt Lake Parade of Homes committee prides itself on being craftsmen who care about the community. Their volunteers are "the best of the best" and are serious about being an association that advocates opportunities in housing. Associations like theirs help keep housing prices down and always eye what's best for the community.  Improving Living Conditions Everywhere The Salt Lake Parade of Homes was the first of its kind and is still a great way to promote the industry. The parade is open from Jul 29 to Aug 13, 2022. Houses are available to tour Tues-Sat from 12 pm-9 pm. According to Jaren and Lindie, it's a welcoming environment, as the builders and tradespeople on site are happy to talk about their work. The Salt Lake Parade of Homes owes much to its sponsors, such as Mountain America Credit Union and the Salt Lake Board of Realtors, who help make the parade a reality every year.  Listen in to learn how the Salt Lake Parade of Homes advocates for housing affordability, the housing market and media, and what memberships the association offers. Use code 'utahrealestatepodcast' to get three dollars off your tickets.

Ben Hart is the Deputy Director at the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. One question Ben is asked the most is, why are we still trying to grow and attract people into the state? The answer is because we want to keep your kids and grandkids here. He explains that with each graduating class, we lose many people to more lucrative out-of-state opportunities, but by aggressively bringing in new businesses and growing pre-existing ones, Utah can maintain economic inertia.

Dejan Eskic is a senior research fellow at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. He earned a Bachelor’s in Urban Planning and later a Master’s in Real Estate Development, both from the University of Utah. What is the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute? Dejan describes the institute as a public think tank or holder of information, part of the David Eccles School of Business. Informed decisions are at the core of their mission, researching economy, population, and other trends to help city makers by giving them the information needed to make the right decisions. As part of a public university, the institute is apolitical, and values presenting reliable, unbiased information. The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute has a tremendous staff, including leaders with decades of experience, economists, and other world-class researchers at the University of Utah. “Our currency is reputation,” Dejan says, talking about the strong relationship that the institute has with both the city and its builders.

Envision Utah was born 25 years ago because of the growth Utah was seeing at the time. The question was asked, where is this taking us? From there began the process to bring people together and talk about the best plan for the state’s future. Ari Bruening is the Chief Operating Officer for the not-for-profit Envision Utah, which engages people to create and sustain communities that are beautiful, prosperous, healthy, and neighborly.

This past year alone, St. George has added a whopping 10,000 new residents. For the size of St. George, that’s a significant growth factor and made it the nation's fastest-growing metro area. With the addition of a new waterpark and other local amenities, St. George focuses on adding attractions for the locals and tourists alike to keep the money inside St. George. Neil Gibbs, with ReMax Real Estate, fell in love with the red rock of southern Utah, like many people who have moved to this area. Utah is known for its outdoor lifestyle, and St. George is definitely a region that is a part of incredible outdoor recreation. A close friend persuaded Neil to use his real estate license in St. George, and less than a week later, he moved to the area and has been there for almost three decades.

All you listeners have heard the Silver Dollar Man complain about how Utah is lacking in water, unlike his beloved East Coast. Linda Townes Cook, Public Information Manager with the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, has over thirty years of experience with water. Her job seeks to make the best use of available water through development, conservation, or servicing the Salt Lake County area. Why Water is Important to Utahns Water directly affects the state’s growth. How land is developed in the future will determine how much water there is, and if Utah ran out of water sources, development would stop completely. The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy plans 50 years into the future, as it would take as long to acquire a new water source. The good news is, Utah’s not about to run out of drinking water anytime soon, as 60% of drinking water goes into watering lawns. With such a large portion of water going to a non-essential source, Linda isn't worried about going thirsty, even in the second driest state. However, the battle for water conservation largely depends on landscaping.

What is the Inland Port of Utah? The Inland Port is not a water port but a logistics program used to manage the transportation of goods through the Utah rail system. The Inland Port program allows for the efficient movement of goods in Utah. In addition to the efficiency aspect, this port will become a Green Port, which will reduce carbon emissions. Meet Senator Gregg Buxton Senator Gregg Buxton is the Senate rules chair for District 4. He is also the Utah Inland Port Authority Vice-Chair. With a background in construction, he is leading the project to build the new prison in Utah. Senator Buxton is also on the committee for the Inland Port Authority.