Martin Muoto, founder of SoLa Impact and Model/Z, joins Taylor Avakian on No Vacancy for a wide-ranging conversation on affordable and workforce housing in California. They cover the realities of building in Los Angeles, the shift from acquisition-rehab to ground-up development, and how modular construction is being used to change cost and timeline math in one of the toughest markets in the country. The discussion also explores investing in historically underserved neighborhoods, working with Section 8, the role of Opportunity Zones, and how technology (including AI) is being applied to design, permitting, and operations. Martin shares his personal path from West Africa and Wharton into real estate, the lessons from scaling a vertically integrated platform, and why he believes driving down the true cost of housing is central to solving California’s supply crisis.Sponsor - Loan TitanUpscale your experience withhttps://loantitan.com/Sponsor - AI for CRE CollectiveAI for CRE Community: https://www.skool.com/ai-for-cre-collective/about?ref=3b3ff2c0ccce44ba8039fafd54bf291a*Chapters:*00:00 - Introduction & Martin Muoto’s background 01:55 - SoLa Impact origins and the pivot to ground-up development 09:34 - From private equity to personal investing in South LA 14:49 - The decision to go all-in on real estate 17:21 - Raising capital and operating with integrity 20:25 - Investment thesis in underserved LA communities 22:15 - Section 8 realities and tenant support infrastructure 25:00 - What’s working and broken with current housing programs 28:36 - Upward mobility, vocational programs, and community impact 32:23 - Launching Model/Z and the modular housing approach 37:51 - Factory model, standardization, and cost reductions achieved 42:18 - Using AI and software to cut soft costs and timelines 43:22 - Vertical applications of AI in real estate development 47:19 - Where the industry could be in 10 years 49:29 - Biggest threats facing multifamily in Los Angeles 50:37 - Handling criticism and staying focused on solutions 52:12 - Personal resilience and what keeps him up at night 53:41 - Advice for young people entering the space today 55:36 - Proprietary data, AI, and competitive advantage 01:02:28 - Future vision for SoLa Impact and Model/Z 01:04:39 - Challenges in LA and reasons for optimism 01:07:58 - Where capital should be deployed right now 01:10:07 - Closing thoughts🔔 Don’t miss out on the latest trends and tips to maximize your property's potential: https://www.youtube.com/c/TaylorAvakian📈 Connect with me:Website: https://www.thegroupcre.com/Email: taylor@thegroupcre.comX: https://x.com/TAYVAY_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayloravakian/#commercialrealestate #cre #losangeles