With our community’s post-pandemic rise in physical and mental health problems expected to continue for the foreseeable future, we have a responsibility to seize the potential of real estate development to improve people’s lives. Based on my decades of experience in the real estate industry, I can tell you that the industry needs to step up its innovation—complacency or the “same old” approaches are luxuries we cannot continue to afford if we truly seek to address these communitywide problems. An answer? Call it “neurorealestate.” Applying principles from neuroscience that have already proved effective in other industries provides an opportunity to design homes and communities that actively support well-being and connection.

The numbers speak for themselves: A national study conducted by Stress in America 2023 reveals that post-traumatic issues are impacting mental and physical health. Respondents listed mental health issues as the greatest post-pandemic problem, more impactful than physical or family health. Additionally, in the 18-34 age group, the largest increases in stressors reported since 2019 stemmed from the economy (from 52% in 2019 vs. 72% in 2023) and housing costs (from 57% in 2019 to 70% in 2023.)