Skip to main content

2025 WREOC Recap

By Delaney Grace Witko

October 20, 2025

On Friday, October 3rd, the Graaskamp Center hosted their 2025 Wisconsin Real Estate and Economic Outlook Conference. Over 150 professionals joined in discussions to find creative solutions to Wisconsin’s housing affordability crisis. Expert panelists and keynote presenters from industry, government, and academia shared their predictions and solutions to increase affordability. As housing policy takes center stage, participants left with new connections and strategies to make real changes in housing.

Below are the slides from keynote speakers and panelists. Click to view the agenda.

Keynote Presenter: The 2025 Economic and Housing Outlook 

Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 

View the slides or Read the recap

Charting a Course Through Federal Housing Policy Uncertainty 

View the slides or Read the recap

Panelists:

  • Thom Amdur, Senior Vice President for Policy & Impact, Lincoln Avenue Communities 
  • Karl Eckart, Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs, National Association of Home Buildings (NAHB) 
  • Erika Poethig, Executive Vice President for Strategy and Planning at the Civic Committee and Commercial Club of Chicago; Former Special Assistant to the President for Housing and Urban Policy in the White House Domestic Policy Council; Former Assistant Secretary for Policy, Development, and Research at the US HUD; and former Deputy Secretary for Policy Development and leading architect of the White House Council for Strong Cities and Strong Communities 

The Economics of Housing: Affordability, Policy, and the Road Ahead 

Carlos Garriga, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 

View the slides or Read the recap

Update on the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA)’s Affordable Housing Initiatives
Elmer Moore, President, WHEDA

Housing Under Pressure: Building Solutions for Wisconsin 

View the slides or Read the recap

Panelists:

  • Bryan Schreiter, Senior VP of Real Estate Commercial Lending, Associated Bank 
  • David Weiss, CEO, General Capital Group 
  • Rob Brooks, Wisconsin State Representative, Assembly District 59