November 2025
At the recent Investors Exchangors Housing Symposium, Ryan De Young, President of De Young Properties, joined a panel of experts hosted by the Fresno Association of Realtors and the Fresno State Gazarian Real Estate Center, Craig School of Business. The event brought together housing and economic leaders to discuss growth, affordability, and the future of the Fresno/Clovis Metro Area (MSA).
The symposium’s purpose was to share insights on economic and job growth, inflation, State and Central Valley housing trends, construction activity, housing affordability, and the economic outlook for California’s housing market.
Speakers included Oscar Wei, C.A.R. Deputy Chief Economist, with host Dr. Andres Jauregui of Fresno State, alongside presenters and panelists Tyler Maxwell, Fresno City Councilmember; George Gonzalez, MPA – City of Clovis Planner; Patty Grissom, Guild Mortgage Branch Manager; Carmen Jimenez Phillips and Michael Gutierrez, I/E Co-Chairs; and Kyle Chaney, F.A.R. Government Affairs Director.
Representing the homebuilding community, Ryan De Young spoke about land acquisition, development, and the need for efficient, well-coordinated planning to make housing more attainable for local families.
“We don’t build homes just to build them - we start with who we’re building for,” he said, emphasizing that each community begins with the homeowner in mind.
Ryan stressed the importance of working with pro-housing communities and building momentum through partnership:
“Time from land purchase to first closing is critical - speed lowers costs.”
“We succeed when cities share a clear playbook - timelines, cadence, and consistent communication.”
Ryan also discussed how regulatory fees play a major role in affordability, noting that “up to 9% of a home’s total cost here is fees alone, compared to 0.5% to 3% in other states.”
Regarding infrastructure, Ryan added that growth aligned with existing services helps reduce construction costs: “Being contiguous to existing services is critical.”
Ryan closed with advice for today’s homebuyers:
“It’s always ‘unprecedented.’ Waiting for perfect timing rarely pays. If the need is real and the payment works, buy the home.”
The symposium reflected the shared commitment of local leaders to address housing challenges and promote balanced, sustainable growth. De Young Properties remains dedicated to helping families achieve homeownership while contributing to the region’s long-term success.
