On episode 33 of Granite Goodness Andy talks to Matthew Gallant. The two discuss:
Advocating for Affordable Housing: New Hampshire Housing helps make homeownership accessible through competitive mortgage rates and down payment assistance, serving a broad range of income levels.
Challenges in the Housing Market: New Hampshire faces an affordability crisis due to limited housing supply, skyrocketing prices, and zoning regulations that hinder development.
Innovative Housing Solutions: Matt emphasizes the importance of building diverse housing options, including luxury apartments, to create a "housing ladder" that benefits all income levels.
Passion for Helping People: With a background in sales and mortgage lending, Matt found his niche in supporting first-time homebuyers and ensuring overlooked individuals have access to housing opportunities.
Vision for Thriving Communities: By addressing housing needs with dignity and respect, Matt envisions a New Hampshire where families and individuals can find stability, grow roots, and contribute to a thriving community.
and more!
Matt Gallant is Senior Manager of Business Development at New Hampshire Housing, where he focuses on making homeownership accessible across New Hampshire, helping families and individuals navigate the housing market. He also hosts the Making Homeownership Happen podcast.
Links & Notes:
Making Homeownership Happen Podcast
Matt’s Holiday Playlist (it’s actually great)
This episode was recorded in Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, NH.
Music provided by Sneaky Miles
Youtube
AI Generated Episode Summary*
What’s your connection to New Hampshire?
I was born and raised in Barrington, New Hampshire, and now live just 100 yards from where I grew up. My family and I have deep roots here, and I’m committed to improving the state’s housing landscape for future generations.
What inspired you to work in housing?
I’ve always been passionate about helping people, and my career evolved from sales and lending into housing advocacy. I discovered my love for supporting first-time homebuyers and those often overlooked in the system.
What challenges does New Hampshire’s housing market face?
Affordability is at an all-time low, and housing supply hasn’t kept up with demand. We see soaring home prices and a rental market that’s out of reach for many, including essential workers like firefighters and teachers.
How does New Hampshire Housing address these challenges?
We’re a self-funded, quasi-governmental organization that provides competitive mortgage rates and down payment assistance. Our goal is to make homeownership affordable for a wide range of incomes, not just those at the lowest levels.
What are the biggest misconceptions about housing solutions?
Many think luxury apartments are the problem, but they’re part of the solution. Building higher-end units frees up more affordable housing by moving people up the housing ladder. It’s about creating a diverse “carousel” of housing options.
How does zoning impact housing availability?
Zoning laws can be a significant barrier. For example, requiring excessive parking spaces for small units or limiting housing density doesn’t make sense. We need more common-sense regulations to streamline housing development.
How did your career prepare you for this role?
I started in sales, moved into mortgage lending, and found my passion for helping first-time homebuyers. I even created innovative homebuyer workshops in breweries before it was a trend. These experiences shaped my approach to housing advocacy.
What keeps you motivated in this challenging field?
Seeing the joy on people’s faces when they achieve homeownership is incredibly fulfilling. Knowing I can help families find stability and success through housing keeps me energized every day.
What’s your vision for New Hampshire’s housing future?
We need to build to meet demand while ensuring housing remains accessible and dignified. If we can get this right, our communities will thrive—our kids and grandkids will stay, and everyone will have a place to call home.
*This episode summary was generated by an AI analyzing a transcript of the interview. The questions, wording, and written meaning of particular sections may contain slight differences to the original conversation. We include these summaries to give listeners a brief, readable synopsis of the episode. The full episode transcript is available on granitegoodness.com.
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