Fisher Center for Real Estate + Urban Economics

09/01/2026

In Memoriam: Dennis O’Brien

The Fisher Center for Real Estate + Urban Economics mourns the passing of longtime Policy Advisory Board member Dennis O’Brien.

A visionary homebuilder and dedicated community leader, Dennis built more than 6,000 homes throughout the Bay Area over the course of his career. He was equally committed to giving back, generously supporting organizations focused on education, affordable housing, youth, and community.

We are grateful for Dennis’s involvement with the Fisher Center and the insight and experience he shared with our community. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

08/07/2026

Congratulations to Leonel Drukker on receiving the 2026 Western Finance Association (WFA) Brattle Group Ph.D. Candidate Award for Outstanding Research for his paper, "Do Lower Mortgage Rates Benefit First-Time Homebuyers?"

Leonel's award-winning research explores a question at the heart of today's housing affordability debate: Do lower mortgage rates actually help first-time homebuyers? His findings challenge conventional thinking and offer new insights into how monetary policy affects housing markets and aspiring homeowners.

A recent UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business graduate, Leo will join the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University as an Assistant Professor of Finance in August 2026.

We're proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and look forward to seeing the impact of his research in the years ahead.

Read the award-winning paper: https://westernfinance-portal.org/viewpaper?n=1056664

07/27/2026

California's FAIR plan is "disproportionately tied to higher-income, high-asset communities," according to research by Nancy Wallace and the Fisher Center. Middle-income households and moderate-risk areas are subsidizing the wildfire risk of high-value homes.

As California's wildfire insurance crisis drives homeowners to the state's insurer of last resort, wealthy areas such as Beverly Hills, Malibu and Bel Air

06/16/2026

Earlier this month, the Fisher Center for Real Estate + Urban Economics was proud to host the 2026 PREA Institute at UC Berkeley Haas.

Bringing together institutional investors, industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers from across the country, the two-day program sparked engaging conversations on many of the forces shaping the future of real estate—from AI and housing affordability to climate risk, infrastructure, transportation, and investment strategy.

The Institute featured a strong contribution from Haas faculty and leadership, including Nancy Wallace, Christopher Hartung, Timothy McQuade, Olivia Bordeu, and Laura Weiwu, who shared research and insights at the intersection of real estate, finance, public policy, and technology.

With packed sessions, lively discussions, and meaningful networking throughout the event, the 2026 PREA Institute showcased the power of bringing academic research and industry expertise together to tackle today’s most pressing real estate challenges.

Thank you to PREA, our speakers, attendees, and partners for making this year’s Institute such a success. We were thrilled to welcome you to Berkeley.

06/09/2026

Congratulations to UC Berkeley Haas PhD candidate Jacob Moore!

Jacob has been named the recipient of the 2026 ABA Banking Research Dissertation Grant by the American Bankers Association! This prestigious grant will support his doctoral research examining how the spatial structure of the U.S. banking system impacts small business lending—specifically focusing on homebuilders and its connection to the country's housing shortage.

We are incredibly proud to see Jacob’s innovative work recognized on a national level. Join us in celebrating this fantastic academic achievement!

Read more here: https://www.aba.com/about-us/press-room/press-releases/aba-names-2026-banking-research-dissertation-grant-recipient

06/05/2026

The caps have been tossed, but we're not done celebrating. 🎓

Today we're highlighting our 2026 Real Estate MBA graduates— Frederick Amoako Awuah, Erik Kuhn, Kendenn Rose, Joe Wilson, and Sirui Zhou— as they reflect on their Haas experience and share what's next on their professional and personal journeys.

Congratulations to this outstanding group—we can't wait to see the impact you'll make in the real estate industry and beyond!

05/07/2026

In a co-authored op-ed with MIT Sloan School Professor Simon Johnson, Amir Kermani, professor at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, argues that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is having devastating global consequences.

Around the world, cash-strapped governments and people already struggling with poverty are asking with increasing urgency: Is there an off-ramp for the latest conflict in the Middle East? There is—but it requires taking economic incentives seriously.

Read the article here: https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/ending-iran-war-requires-recognizing-economic-incentives-by-simon-johnson-and-amir-kermani-2026-04

05/06/2026

We’re saddened to share that Doris Fisher has passed away at the age of 94. As the Fisher Center’s namesake, she and her late husband, Donald G. Fisher, played a huge role in shaping what we do, with a lasting impact across business, philanthropy, and the arts. We’re grateful to continue carrying their legacy forward.

You can read more in The New York Times here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/business/doris-fisher-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gFA.wtqo.NvVhIwW0rq0u&smid=nytcore-ios-share

05/04/2026

We recently hosted Professor Eric Chyn from UT Austin, who presented his research on magnet schools in Los Angeles, highlighting the academic gains of students who were selected to attend through the lottery system.

04/30/2026

Huge congratulations to our Berkeley team for bringing home the Golden Shovel.
Christian O’Connor, Hayley Carter, Isabella Tangherlini, Brian Krall, and Colin McCarthy delivered an outstanding, pitch-perfect proposal reimagining an SFMTA bus yard in Fisherman’s Wharf—an impressive showcase of innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact.
A special thank you and congratulations to team coaches Abby Franklin and Bill Falik for their leadership and mentorship throughout the competition.
We’re incredibly proud to support students who continue to raise the bar and represent the strength of the Berkeley community.
Go Bears 💙💛