Mark Rea Baker

Architect and entrepreneur | third places and urban revitalization | multi-family housing provider | developer | retwit

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

Lots of new followers, so I'll share the time I jumped scale, went WAY outside my comfort zone. Bought a vacant SEARS store, did an office-to-housing conversion (had already been re-worked in 1990). 54,000 sf of drywall, drop ceilings, and second guessing... 🧵

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@Toadkiller @elonmusk Sorry I triggered you. This is an important issue; Elon considers it the greatest issue of our time.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

Quick! Name a large charitable action by @elonmusk You probably got stumped! Now that he's the first trillionaire, I've got the perfect way he can give back. He's always talking about population decline, and studies show that the high cost of housing is causing smaller households and directly related to the declining birth rate. So Elon should create a grant or discount lending program for developers of housing, targeting the most expensive cities. It's a win-win-win and it'll help repair his aura too.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@maxij84 @elonmusk I am! Check my feed. I'm out here providing housing the best I can at my relatively tiny scale.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@thetomcane @elonmusk Trust me, as someone in the industry for 30 years, that's not it. It's an easy scapegoat but not it.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@filtedxenon @elonmusk I don't get these name-callers. Like, what is this, 5th grade?

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@AndPuns2 @elonmusk Thank you for this. It definitely seems like I triggered a certain section of the population. The only reason I suggested it is because I know Elon cares about this AND I know he could get it done. And the rep thing wouldn't hurt his legacy either.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@Josh_E78 @elonmusk That's not a bad idea at all; but it puts the work directly onto his shoulders. A housing fund on the other hand could be administrated by a 3rd party; it's not rocket science (excuse the pun.)

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@Tim99247060 @elonmusk @grok That's actually not what the studies say.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@LongBeachBum @elonmusk Never underestimate Elon!

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@DrinkRedbull1 @elonmusk Elon can do almost anything, but single-handedly reversing population decline is even too much for him.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@robdubparker @christoph_wertz @elonmusk That's not true. I've been building for 33 years and one never changing fact is that when lower rates are available, construction increases.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@brohanski2 @christoph_wertz @elonmusk Don't underestimate Elon; he can do anything as long as his heart's in it. Population collapse seems like an issue close to his heart: "the biggest problem the world will face in 20 years is population collapse"

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@CMiller111111 @Infidel50 @elonmusk Actually I wouldn't underestimate him. He could put a team on it; probably even partner with an existing lender to run BankX for him. Could change the world!

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@danho194 @elonmusk Semantics. What do you think about the proposal? It's a win-win-win.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@DarrenWRash1 @elonmusk Ha! Perhaps, although he is out there spreading the word about the low birth rate issue.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@TMLutas @BoilerFanTalk @elonmusk Great question. Traditional lending rates on housing are at about 8% at the moment. I'm sure a 4 or 5% fund would move the needle. That's what everyone is waiting for - hence the lack of production.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@MySugarFreeJrny @elonmusk Don't underestimate Elon! He's the world's best multitasker.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@CMiller111111 @Infidel50 @elonmusk It wouldn't be a black hole if he was behind it. Don't underestimate what he can do!

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@Phaty98 @TMLutas @elonmusk Reading comprehension is not what it used to be. Don't underestimate Elon.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@foundlost421 @TMLutas @elonmusk Why make this red vs blue? He's not wrong about population decline, and the housing costs are proven to be related. Don't underestimate Elon.

[Mark Rea Baker @markreabaker]

@robdubparker @TMLutas @elonmusk Read #1 above again.