What Durham's Creative Builds Can Teach Us About Solving Housing Supply Problems in North Carolina
- BETTER
- Nov 25, 2025
- 1 min read
The Triangle Appraisal Group (TAG) recently sat down with BETTER’s COO, Ian Lipman, to explore what is really driving housing supply and population growth across fast growing metro areas like Durham. Their conversation challenges the idea that today’s market issues are purely about a lack of housing, instead highlighting how buyer preferences, aging housing stock, and development constraints all play a role in shaping supply and demand.
Key takeaways from the conversation include:
Much of Durham’s single family housing inventory is nearly a century old, creating a disconnect with modern buyer expectations
Demand is increasingly concentrated around updated homes in walkable, amenity rich neighborhoods
Housing challenges are not just about quantity, but about the type and location of available homes
By right development and creative infill offer practical ways to add housing without long zoning timelines
Underused urban lots, backyards, and side yards present meaningful opportunities for smart, scalable growth
Durham’s evolving approach to development offers valuable lessons for other growing markets across North Carolina. By focusing on thoughtful infill and streamlined development strategies, communities can expand housing options while preserving neighborhood character.
To read the full conversation and dive deeper into the insights shared by Ian Lipman and the TAG team, click the link below.