How We Use Lessons from European Cities to Strengthen Your Real Estate Investments
- BETTER
- Apr 20
- 1 min read
What makes a city not just functional but feel alive?
After spending time in Europe, Ian came back with a renewed perspective on something we often take for granted: how the built environment shapes not only how we live, but how we invest.
In this episode, we break down the real lessons behind great European cities and how those insights directly translate into stronger, more resilient real estate investments.
This isn’t just a conversation about urban design. It’s about how regulatory frameworks, like form-based zoning, can protect capital, reduce entitlement risk, and create more predictable, durable outcomes for investors.
In this episode, we explore:
Why walkable, mixed-use environments consistently outperform over time
How form-based zoning removes friction and accelerates development timelines
What this shift means for the future of housing, affordability, and market demand
And how BETTER uses these principles to safeguard and strengthen investments in evolving U.S. markets
At the end of the day, the cities that prioritize people, connection, access, and experience, are the ones that attract long-term growth, talent, and capital. And those are the markets we’re actively paying attention to.
If you’re an LP or investor looking to better understand how zoning, planning, and market design influence risk and returns, this episode will give you a clearer lens into how we evaluate opportunities and how we think about protecting your investment in an uncertain environment.
