Reckoning With Real Estate – Ep. 44 (Encore): How to be an advocate, activist, and professional agitator with YIMBY

Reckoning With Real Estate – Ep. 44 (Encore): How to be an advocate, activist, and professional agitator with YIMBY

This episode originally aired January 18, 2026: In part two of our conversation with YIMBY director and housing advocate Leora Tanjuatco Ross, we dig into the U.S. housing shortage and focus on the power of individual action. This episode shows how a single person can make a meaningful impact in the push for more housing. Links below will help you get started. Check us out at therecollab.com [https://www.therecollab.com/] HOW TO GET INVOLVED Firstly, check out YIMBY’s Website [https://new.yimbyaction.org/] for all YIMBY info and to become a member for access to chat with other advocates. At Twin Cities YIMBY [https://twincitiesyimby.org/] you can find information on how to take action—such as contacting officials and signing petitions—as well as details on local meetings and events. Find a Saint Paul City Council Meeting to attend, apply to be on a board or committee, and view previous/upcoming meeting minutes HERE [https://www.stpaul.gov/meetings-agendas-and-minutes]. Find a Minneapolis City Council Meeting to attend, apply to be on a board or committee, and view previous/upcoming meeting minutes HERE [https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/city-council/meetings/]. ZAZZLE/YIMBY SWAG!! [https://www.zazzle.com/store/yimbyaction] Legalize Housing T-shirt [https://www.zazzle.com/legalize_housing_t_shirt-235889312918748370?srsltid=AfmBOopYeSka6KIVY2GQ8sL-7EOKnVuEVvpoMJ9knVacxwaVvUX4TLbC] Important Terms: YIMBY: “Yes-In-My-Backyard” A movement that advocates for increased housing development. Supporters favor higher-density housing in urban areas as a way to address housing shortages. Those who identify as YIMBYs support relaxed zoning regulations and the construction of more compact housing to promote walkable cities and improved public services. NIMBY: “Not-In-My-Backyard” This opposing stance to YIMBY resists new development in one’s own neighborhood. Zoning: Zoning is a set of regulations drafted at the federal level that defines what may be built on a specific parcel of land. These rules determine, for example, how many residential units are allowed per acre and the permitted size or height of buildings. This helps cities manage growth and land use. ~More about Zoning Here [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoning] What are ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) and a JADUs (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit)?: Both are smaller, independent housing units situated on the same property as a primary home and intended to increase housing availability/provide greater residential flexibility. Thank you to our Sponsors! Taylor Hall @ Evergreen Collective [https://ecoevergreen.co/] Matt Berna @ Bell Bank Mortgage [https://bell.bank/mortgage/loan-officer/mattberna] Ben Feldman @ Active Insurance Solutions [https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/staff-directory/BenFeldman]

Reckoning With Real Estate – Ep. 43: The Starter Home We Forgot About (Pt 2 of 2)

Today we’re back with Part 2 of our conversation with Sammi Silver! Sammi is a licensed Realtor®, founder, and president of Bright Idea Properties, where she specializes in manufactured homes. As you may remember from last episode, these homes are no longer called mobile homes. Today’s manufactured homes are beautifully crafted and permanent places to call home. The homes themselves have come a long way, but there are still some unique ownership challenges to navigate. That’s where Sammi comes in. She shares how she’s helping improve the process through education, advocacy, and state-level legislation to make manufactured homeownership more accessible and equitable. If you missed Part 1 [https://www.youtube.com/live/2L9ukLqn-cs?si=PWczI3swnY8HFz-x], be sure to give it a listen first! This week, we explore why manufactured homes can create more opportunities for affordable housing and where you can go to learn more or even get involved yourself! Check out the links below, and learn more about us at therecollab.com [http://therecollab.com] Extras: Find Sammi’s Bright Idea Properties Website here. [http://www.brightideaproperties.biz] isaiahmn.org [http://isaiahmn.org] – local organization advocating for Minnesota’s Manufactured Home Residents legislation (HF2381/SF2691) Learn how REC is making an impact here [https://www.therecollab.com/impact] Yes to homes legislation [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xs0I8_yWqDA5V-27aMage9xRn3YpPKwy/view?usp=sharing] What does Legalize Housing mean? [https://yimbydenver.org/our-solutions/legalize-housing/] Thank you to our Sponsors! Taylor Hall @ Evergreen Collective [https://ecoevergreen.co/] Matt Berna @ Bell Bank Mortgage [https://bell.bank/mortgage/loan-officer/mattberna] Ben Feldman @ Active Insurance Solutions [https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/staff-directory/BenFeldman]

Reckoning With Real Estate – Special Episode: Live at Twin Cities Pride 2026

This special episode was recorded live at Minneapolis Pride! We were joined by two incredible leaders in the housing justice space: AsaleSol Young and Anne Mavity. AsaleSol, who has joined us on the RECkoning with Real Estate podcast before [https://www.youtube.com/live/i-pIqA5RTS0?si=yKvZNu3R55vKMIDd], is the Executive Director of Housing In Action, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit advancing housing justice through affordable housing, homeownership pathways, and resident-led policy advocacy. Anne is the Executive Director of Minnesota’s Housing Partnership and brings decades of experience in affordable housing, capacity building, and community development. Together, they share an engaging—and literally lively—conversation about the importance of housing policy, the power of collective action, and how simply showing up can help create meaningful change! We break down what housing policy means for everyday people and why it matters. With extra time to really dig into these topics, this episode is packed with thoughtful discussion and practical insight. It’s one you won’t want to miss. Happy Pride! Learn more at therecollab.com [http://therecollab.com] Extras: See if you can find the throw back to the Ed Goetz Episode [https://www.youtube.com/live/SvGsQ-pNBaA?si=8vMvr6GwJtSxMbZE]! Affordable Housing vs. Housing Affordability explained HERE [https://www.therecollab.com/blog/we-all-do-better-when-we-all-do-better] Anne Mavity’s MN Housing Partnership website [https://mhponline.org/] Share your home story here [https://www.homestoryproject.org/] AsaleSol Young’s Housing in Action [https://housinginaction.org/] Information on Yes to Homes! [https://www.therecollab.com/blog/yes-to-homes] Mapping prejudice [https://mappingprejudice.umn.edu/] Jerusalem Demsas on the Housing Crisis [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/09/jerusalem-demsas-on-the-housing-crisis-book/679666/] Thank you to our Sponsors! Taylor Hall @ Evergreen Collective [https://ecoevergreen.co/] Matt Berna @ Bell Bank Mortgage [https://bell.bank/mortgage/loan-officer/mattberna] Ben Feldman @ Active Insurance Solutions [https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/staff-directory/BenFeldman]

Reckoning With Real Estate – Ep. 42: The Starter Home We Forgot About (Pt 1 of 2)

Manufactured housing has come a long way from the days when they were “mobile homes” with a license plate and wheels. In this episode, we’re joined by Sammi Silver: licensed Realtor®, founder, and president of Bright Idea Properties! We’re lucky to be joined by her to get the inside scoop on these misunderstood homes, and how they could be an important part of addressing the nation’s housing shortage. The quality of today’s manufactured homes are higher than most might expect. They are built to rigorous standards, often featuring high-quality materials, modern layouts, and construction designed to remain in place rather than be moved. We discuss why manufactured housing could play an important role in addressing the nation’s housing shortage and expanding starter-home opportunities, as well as the unique structure of manufactured home communities, where residents typically own their homes but lease the land beneath them. We also explore Minnesota’s Manufactured Home Residents Bill of Rights (HF2381/SF2691), legislation developed by residents to provide stronger protections and opportunities for those living in these communities. Tune in to learn why manufactured housing deserves a closer look as part of the conversation around housing affordability and access. Find us at therecollab.com [http://therecollab.com] Extras: Find Sammi’s Bright Idea Properties Website here. [http://www.brightideaproperties.biz] Learn how REC is making an impact here [https://www.therecollab.com/impact] Thank you to our Sponsors! Taylor Hall @ Evergreen Collective [https://ecoevergreen.co/] Matt Berna @ Bell Bank Mortgage [https://bell.bank/mortgage/loan-officer/mattberna] Ben Feldman @ Active Insurance Solutions [https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/staff-directory/BenFeldman]

Reckoning With Real Estate – Ep. 41 (Encore): The difficulty of building housing in the US with guest YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard)

This episode originally aired January 11, 2026: In this episode, we welcome a special guest to discuss the housing shortage in the United States. We discuss why it’s so difficult to build new housing, and the reality that the U.S. is facing a genuine housing shortfall. Our guest, Leora Tanjuatco Ross, is the California Director of YIMBY Action, a national organization with more than 70 chapters across the country advocating for affordable housing. YIMBY stands for “Yes in My Backyard,” and the organization does incredible work empowering people to organize and advocate for greater housing access and affordability. Learn more at yimbyaction’s website [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://new.yimbyaction.org/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789914337&usg=AOvVaw2YuWEck2VqGe49j_xWAmGj]. Check REC out @ therecollab.com [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.therecollab.com/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789914512&usg=AOvVaw0oSf7kmiAR_feXIML1FFZW] Extras: Read How Burrowing Owls Lead to Vomiting Anarchists (Or SF’s Housing Crisis Explained) here [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://techcrunch.com/2014/04/14/sf-housing/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789914825&usg=AOvVaw2LQoJQtbTXxNU_sfj2uV8T]. ~You can also find the book on google books or via Amazon. Twin Cities YIMBY [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twincitiesyimby.org/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789915037&usg=AOvVaw3QbbEKVzdIzZJVlnQgyP1V] YIMBY Action [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://yimbyaction.org/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789915142&usg=AOvVaw2U2Hla0Hk8vlvf4Md8a8J5] (National) Leora @ YIMBY Action [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://yimbyaction.org/people/leora-tanjuatco-ross/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789915279&usg=AOvVaw3W-h35q3oh9eRCZtYdqvLP] ‘Homeless’ or ‘Unhoused?’ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.therecollab.com/blog/is-it-ok-to-use-the-word-homeless-or-should-you-say-unhoused&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789915432&usg=AOvVaw1b_HOllQSIsHl-lFXzvcRk] – REC Blog Dollars and Sense [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.therecollab.com/blog/dollar-and-sense&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789915565&usg=AOvVaw3I5UvYVmK65xoa6YMzQuJk] – REC Blog #2$Bill Project [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.therecollab.com/blog/2bill-project&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789915707&usg=AOvVaw3CYSs3P_VG6HP1dunM5wQk] – REC Blog Moving forward: 3 ways to combat the Twin Cities’ legacy of housing discrimination [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.therecollab.com/blog/moving-forward-3-ways-to-combat-the-twin-cities-legacy-of-housing-discrimination&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789915934&usg=AOvVaw3G9Q7-VhE39TVSzwP7Oof1] – REC Blog A Snapshot of Racial Discrimination in Real Estate [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.therecollab.com/blog/a-snapshot-of-racial-discrimination-in-real-estate&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789916130&usg=AOvVaw0t7f3jZ75V1TDqa3skUHv1] – REC Blog Why does Home Matter? [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.therecollab.com/blog/why-does-home-matter&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789916284&usg=AOvVaw3F_YfojJQi7QB0WLQNxQNU] – REC Blog Thank you to our Sponsors! Taylor Hall @ Evergreen Collective [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ecoevergreen.co/?srsltid%3DAfmBOooMWdDeM3d14eNTEjt4UDwH8cekZicYmkcn5SU94H3f2C5Qe7Qb&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789916545&usg=AOvVaw0QHM7CyVGq4S5XXHUWDpAa] Matt Berna @ TruStone Home Mortgage [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://trustonefinancial.org/mortgages/meet-our-team/matt-berna&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789916697&usg=AOvVaw3ghld9z-skwZiV2JmByXMS] Ben Feldman @ Active Insurance Solutions [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.aisolutionsmn.com/staff-directory/BenFeldman&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789916839&usg=AOvVaw06REzDApd318lBs74mHzcx] REC’s website [https://www.google.com/url?q=http://therecollab.com/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789916939&usg=AOvVaw2DRWVuuPG2Djj1fGqS60nf] Find REC on YouTube [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstateCollaborative/streams&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1767982789917070&usg=AOvVaw3NqlDC_dBqATirea3eYz4H]