USC Lusk Center for Real Estate

USC Lusk Center for Real Estate The USC Lusk Center seeks to advance real estate knowledge, inform business practice, and address ti

The USC Lusk Center for Real Estate:
- Advances real estate knowledge through innovative and pertinent multidisciplinary research on real estate and urban economics.
- Addresses critical and timely issues of markets, institutions, and policy.
- Convenes industry leaders, students, and faculty in seminars, workshops, symposia, and forums to examine the current state of the industry and to anticipate future industry opportunities and challenges.
- Supports the highest quality real estate degree and executive education programs that prepare both students and industry professionals alike for tomorrow's real estate environment.

We were honored to host Tomas Monarrez from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia in our research seminar series on S...
09/21/2026

We were honored to host Tomas Monarrez from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia in our research seminar series on September 18!

Tomas presented a version of his paper, “Boundaries in Motion: Effectiveness and Efficiency of School Redistricting.”

Thanks very much to Tomas Monarrez for sharing his work with us!

We were honored to host Sean Flynn from the Wisconsin School of Business in our research seminar series on September 4!S...
09/07/2026

We were honored to host Sean Flynn from the Wisconsin School of Business in our research seminar series on September 4!

Sean Flynn presented a version of his paper, "The Effect of Mortgage Rate Lock-in on Commercial Real Estate.”

Thanks very much to Professor Flynn for sharing his work with us!

08/19/2026

Apartment buildings can be occupied, cash-flowing, and still be in trouble.

In our latest Lusk Perspectives, Cynthia Nelson (FTI Consulting) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to discuss a changing real estate landscape, including how the COVID-era multifamily boom collided with moderating rents, surging operating expenses, and higher interest rates.

Highlights include:

- How workouts and restructurings help lenders and borrowers find common ground
- California's extraordinary investment potential, despite its affordability and governance challenges
- Where investors are beginning to see opportunity in distressed office assets and commercial real estate debt

Watch or listen at the link in bio.

401(k) funds could be unlocked to help first-time homebuyers, but crucial changes are required.In a recent analysis, co-...
07/16/2026

401(k) funds could be unlocked to help first-time homebuyers, but crucial changes are required.

In a recent analysis, co-authors Richard Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) and Michael Stegman (Urban Institute) ran the numbers, and the results show promise.

To make the proposed policy effective, however, the 10% early withdrawal penalty on 401(k)s would need to be eliminated.

Read more: https://www.urban.org/research/publication/why-funding-down-payment-retirement-funds-winning-proposition

05/08/2026

The way we talk about storms hasn’t caught up with how water’s behavior is changing.

That mismatch has consequences for how we plan, build, and invest.

Listen to “When Water Rewrites the Rules” at the link in bio.

05/06/2026

"1% risk” sounds low…until you look at it over time.

Roni Deitz (Arcadis) explains how the way we map flood risk can be misinterpreted, and why the risk is closer than it seems.

In the latest episode of Lusk Perspectives, Deitz highlights how water is reshaping real estate, infrastructure, and long-term investment.

Highlights include:

- The limits of engineering as a standalone solution
- What “one water” thinking looks like in practice, from stormwater to wastewater
- The importance of integrating policy and practice to make cities more stable and investible

Watch or listen at the link in bio.

04/28/2026

The best upgrades aren’t always the most expensive.

As Kyle Ransford (Cardinal Investments) explains, a few key improvements like air conditioning, in-unit laundry, and dishwashers can go a long way in attracting and retaining tenants.

In this clip from Lusk Perspectives, he shares the upgrades residents notice first and why these relatively smaller upfront investments can make a meaningful difference in property performance.

04/22/2026

Section 8 housing is often misunderstood.

As Kyle Ransford (Cardinal Investments) explains, the economics differ from market-rate housing, but so do the timelines and how leasing works.

Lease-ups can take months, but once tenants are placed, the structure can offer more stability over time.

In this clip from Lusk Perspectives, Ransford walks through the tradeoffs and why understanding them is key to making these properties work.

Many in real estate talk about finding the right deal.In practice, it’s about running it well.In our latest Lusk Perspec...
04/13/2026

Many in real estate talk about finding the right deal.
In practice, it’s about running it well.

In our latest Lusk Perspectives, Kyle Ransford (Cardinal Investments) offers a ground-level view of workforce housing: where success follows ex*****on, not just acquisition.

A few key ideas from the conversation:

- Management can be a primary value driver
- The most effective upgrades are often the simplest
- Tradeoffs are unavoidable—understanding them is essential

The fundamentals of real estate may not be complicated, but operations can erode that simplicity.

We were delighted to host Tess Scharlemann from the Federal Reserve in our research seminar series on April 10!Scharlema...
04/11/2026

We were delighted to host Tess Scharlemann from the Federal Reserve in our research seminar series on April 10!

Scharlemann presented a version of her paper, “Locked In: Mobility, Market Tightness, and House Prices”.

Thanks very much to Tess Scharlemann for sharing her work with us!

Address

650 Childs Way, Ralph & Gold Lewis Hall, Suite 331
Los Angeles, CA
90089

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12137405000

Website

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