The London Group | Commercial Real Estate Consulting & Advisors

NEWS: Mayor Supports Ending Minimum Lot Sizes — in Targeted Approach

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 19:20:38 -0700

by Will Huntsberry October 16, 2025

Both Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera recently announced their support — with caveats — for one of the most interesting housing policies currently floating around City Hall.

A broad coalition of groups have backed the proposal, which would end the city’s requirement that homes be built on lots of a certain minimum size. That may sound about as exciting as a truckload of No. 2 pencils, but it actually has the potential to significantly change the city’s housing landscape.

Currently, homes must be built on lots of at least 5,000 square feet throughout most of the city — a requirement that ultimately restricts the type and number of homes that can be built. Ending minimum lot sizes would allow townhomes and row homes to be built on slices of ground 1,000 square feet or less...

VIDEO: How San Diego Can Build Affordable Homes Without Subsidies | Gentle Density in Action

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:32:25 -0700

Join Gary London of London Moeder Advisors as he sits down with Donovan Adesoro from BuildCasa to discuss innovative solutions for San Diego’s housing crisis. From gentle density in single-family neighborhoods to affordable modular homes, they explore how small lot subdivisions can create starter homes for families without subsidies or HOA fees. Discover how these strategies make housing more accessible, increase tax revenue, and minimize neighborhood disruption—all while keeping prices well below the San Diego median.

💡 Topics Covered:

Affordable family homes in San Diego

Small lot subdivisions & gentle density

Modular, site-delivered construction

Avoiding HOA fees & lowering monthly costs

Market strategies for first-time homebuyers

Policy recommendations for city planning

VIDEO: A New Way to Measure Housing Affordability | What’s Being Overlooked?

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:30:44 -0700

In this discussion, I sit down with Norm Miller, Professor Emeritus at the University of San Diego, to talk through a different approach to measuring housing affordability.

We explore how traditional affordability metrics—typically based on home prices, mortgage rates, and median income—may be missing key cost drivers. This analysis takes a broader view by incorporating property taxes, insurance, utilities, and other ongoing expenses that directly impact the true cost of homeownership.

In our conversation, we cover:

Where conventional affordability indexes fall short

The growing gap between existing homeowners and new buyers

The increasing role of insurance and property taxes

Differences in affordability across markets

How migration trends and remote work are influencing housing decisions

What this could mean for investors, policymakers, and housing supply

Overall, this is a look at how affordability is evolving—and how a more complete picture of costs can shape better decision-making moving forward.

VIDEO: Housing Affordability, Zoning, and the Future of San Diego

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:27:44 -0700

San Diego leaders, housing advocates, economists, and developers came together for an in-depth discussion on one of the biggest housing policy proposals the city has considered in years.

The conversation focused on eliminating minimum lot sizes and allowing more townhomes and “missing middle” housing in traditionally single-family neighborhoods across San Diego.

Panelists discussed:

• How smaller lot development could reduce housing costs by roughly 40%

• Why land use and zoning are central to affordability

• The impact of housing shortages on young families and workforce retention

• The financial realities developers face in San Diego

• Why townhomes and row homes are becoming more common nationwide

• Concerns around regulation, infrastructure, parking, and implementation

• How the proposal could affect homeownership opportunities and long-term housing supply

Speakers included:

• Ricardo Flores — LISC San Diego

• Gary London — London Moeder Advisors

• Amy Fossett — Building Industry Association of San Diego County

• Nicole Lily — Our Time To Act

• Tony Manolatos — Manolatos Public Affairs

The panel also explored broader themes around affordability, attainable housing, workforce migration, development feasibility, and the future of urban growth in San Diego.

Whether you’re a homeowner, investor, developer, policymaker, or simply interested in the future of housing, this conversation offers insight into one of the most important real estate and planning discussions happening today.

NEWS: New Economic Analysis Highlights the Detrimental Impact of San Diego County’s VMT Policy on Homebuilding

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:23:12 -0700

A newly commissioned study by leading San Diego economists with London Moeder Advisors (LMA) reveals the significant negative impact of San Diego County’s Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) policy on homebuilding, further exacerbating the region’s housing crisis. The analysis, commissioned by the Building Industry Association of San Diego County (BIA), underscores the urgent need for the county to revise its approach to VMT regulations to support housing development.

“This thorough analysis sheds more light on how destructive the county’s VMT policy is,” said BIA CEO Lori Pfeiler. “The BIA is strongly encouraging the county to adjust this policy as soon as possible to clear the way for more housing.”

The county’s VMT policy was designed to address climate concerns, but it may actually harm our environment, LMA’s...Read More

REPORT: San Diego Community Lot Size Reduction: Market and Feasibility Analysis

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:21:13 -0700

Local Initiatives Support Corporation ("LISC") has recently formed a coalition of local housing experts and advocates called Homeownership Opportunities for San Diego ("HO4SD"). That coalition, led by LISC, introduced the concept of eliminating the City of San Diego's minimum lot size requirement in residential zones to allow for the development of residential housing suitable for middle income families. This report summarizes the analysis London Moeder Advisors ("LMA") undertook to test the extent to which the HO4SD proposal would achieve its objective of lowering these price points.