Housing Matters Podcast

In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot sits down with Steve Kautz, Accredited Financial Counselor and Financial Education Programs Specialist at the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME), for an honest conversation about the psychology of money, the real forces behind Maine's housing affordability crisis, and what individuals can actually do about it.
Steve has spent over 20 years working on financial literacy in Maine. He studied economics at Southern Connecticut State University, earned an MBA from the University of Hartford, served in the Peace Corps in the Czech Republic, and has taught personal finance in classrooms from Portland to Spain. At FAME, he creates content for the Money Matters for ME blog and delivers financial education to Mainers of all ages.
In this conversation, Matt and Steve cover why financial literacy education is so difficult and why spending psychology matters more than math, the real market forces driving housing costs in Maine including demographic shifts and supply constraints, practical strategies real people are using right now to save for a down payment, the power of compound interest and the danger of compound debt, how the monthly payment mentality quietly drains wealth, why Steve says "Take a part of capitalism, or it'll take a part of you," the Maine Opportunity Tax Credit and student loan strategies most people do not know about, budgeting and emergency fund foundations that actually build long term wealth, and the generational shift happening in classrooms that gives Steve hope for the future.
Whether you are a first time homebuyer, a renter weighing your options, or someone looking to reset your financial habits, this episode is packed with real talk and actionable advice.
Learn more about FAME and the Money Matters for ME blog at famemaine.com. Learn more about Housing Matters and Pouliot Real Estate at pouliotrealestate.com.

What does it really take to create housing that works for a community?
In this episode of Housing Matters, Matt Pouliot sits down with Debora Keller, Executive Director of Bath Housing, for a thoughtful conversation about the future of housing in Bath and across Midcoast Maine. They discuss the growing mismatch between wages and housing costs, the lack of downsizing options, workforce housing needs tied to major employers like Bath Iron Works, and why communities need a broader range of housing choices—not just one-size-fits-all solutions.
Debora also shares how Bath Housing is approaching the challenge through development, preservation, policy, and direct services, including its nationally recognized Comfortably Home program that helps older adults safely remain in their homes.
This episode is a practical look at housing, community development, zoning, homeownership, aging in place, and the real local strategies that can help Maine communities move forward.

Bangor is one of Maine’s true regional hubs: a city of about 33,000 that swells to roughly 130,000 people during the day. In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot (Pouliot Real Estate) sits down with Anne Krieg, Director of Community & Economic Development for the City of Bangor, to talk about how Bangor is tackling housing supply while protecting the scale and character of its neighborhoods.
They cover what Bangor has already changed—parking requirements, ADUs, zoning updates, and streamlined permitting—plus what’s next: pre-approved duplex/triplex/fourplex plans, mixed rental/ownership development targeting 80–120% AMI, tiny home communities, co-living, supportive housing, and the real-world constraints that can slow progress (financing and infrastructure like wastewater capacity). They also discuss downtown conversions, employer-supported housing, and the redevelopment potential around the Bangor Mall area.
If you care about housing affordability, development, and practical solutions that work in real communities, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Zoning might sound technical—but it quietly shapes where we live, what gets built, and why housing costs keep rising.
In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot sits down with Sara Bronin — architect, attorney, George Washington University law professor, and Founder & CEO of Land Use Atlas, Inc. — to unpack zoning in a clear, practical way.
Together, they explore how local land use rules influence housing supply, affordability, environmental outcomes, and the choices available to families, seniors, and workers. Sara shares insights from her work building the National Zoning Atlas, including surprising findings about Maine’s regulatory complexity and why well-intentioned policies sometimes fall short at the local level.
You’ll learn:
• What zoning actually is (Zoning 101)• Why “one-size-fits-all” single-family zoning limits housing options• How local rules can quietly block ADUs and new housing• What the National Zoning Atlas reveals about communities nationwide• Practical ways policymakers, developers, and residents can engage and drive change
Whether you’re a homeowner, real estate professional, developer, planner, or policy wonk, this conversation will change how you see the rules shaping housing in America.
Guest: Sara BroninAuthor of Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our WorldFounder & CEO, Land Use Atlas, Inc.
Learn more:zoningatlas.orgpreservationatlas.org

In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot is joined by Dan Bacon, Development Director at M&R Development, for an in-depth conversation on what it actually takes to build housing at scale in Maine.
Dan brings a rare perspective, having spent more than a decade on the public planning side before moving into private development. He shares how that experience shapes his approach today—especially when it comes to zoning, permitting, community engagement, and reducing risk so projects can move from approval to reality.
The conversation centers on The Downs in Scarborough, a 575-acre planned community that is redefining mixed-use development in Maine. Together, Matt and Dan unpack how large projects get financed, permitted, and phased; why housing density matters; how infrastructure can make or break a deal; and what lessons from The Downs can be applied to smaller towns and infill projects across the state.
They also explore missing middle housing, vertically integrated development, purpose-built town centers, and why predictable zoning—not politics—is one of the most powerful tools for solving Maine’s housing shortage.
Whether you’re a developer, planner, municipal leader, or someone simply trying to understand why housing is so hard to build, this episode offers real-world insight into the challenges—and solutions—facing Maine’s housing future.

In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot sits down with Kevin Sutherland, Town Manager of Newcastle, Maine, for a deep dive into why housing has become the backbone of community survival across the state.
This conversation goes beyond real estate and into the realities town managers face every day: staffing EMTs and fire departments, keeping schools and daycare centers running, stabilizing property taxes, and planning for long-term infrastructure costs—all in a system that relies heavily on property taxes and offers little direct return from sales tax.
Kevin explains why many Maine communities are struggling to hire first responders and essential workers simply because there’s nowhere affordable for them to live nearby. He also shares how Newcastle is exploring a bold, town-led approach to housing, including downtown density, lifecycle infrastructure planning, and creative models like separating land ownership from homeownership to lower costs.
In this episode, we cover:
Why housing is the “flywheel” that keeps Maine communities functioning
How long response times and staffing shortages are directly tied to housing availability
The real financial math behind sprawl vs. downtown density
Why sales tax doesn’t come back to Maine towns—and what that means for local budgets
Newcastle’s downtown housing project and a potential public-private path forward
How housing solutions can support seniors, families, and workforce retention
If you care about Maine’s housing future—or you’re involved in development, municipal leadership, or local business—this episode offers a clear, honest look at what it will actually take to move forward.

Why do so many housing projects in Maine get approved—but never actually get built?
In this episode of Housing Matters, Matt Pouliot sits down with John Egan of the Genesis Fund to unpack what’s really stalling housing development across the state. From financing gaps and broken appraisals to the “missing middle,” workforce shortages, and misunderstood tools like TIFs, this is a deep dive into the real-world mechanics of getting housing from paper to reality.
They also explore:
Why public investment is critical to unlocking private development
The growing urgency of preserving rural and USDA-financed housing
How towns can reduce friction with zoning, parking, and faster approvals
And what it will take to keep Maine’s housing momentum alive
If you care about Maine’s economy, workforce, or future communities, this is a must-listen conversation about why approval isn’t the finish line—and homes don’t get built by accident.

What if the real problem isn’t home prices or interest rates—but the money itself?
In this episode of Housing Matters, host Matt Pouliot sits down with Jeffrey Truchon, founder of Sovereign Wealth Management, to connect the dots between time, inflation, broken money, housing, and why he believes Bitcoin is the premier long-term store of value.
Jeff shares his journey from Maine kid and Enterprise manager to independent fiduciary advisor, and how COVID, money-printing, and a 35% market crash pushed him deep down the Bitcoin rabbit hole. He walks through the end of the gold standard, how fiat currency quietly steals your time and energy, and why he thinks Bitcoin should be viewed as digital property alongside (not instead of) real estate.
You’ll hear Jeff’s take on:
Why time—not dollars—is your most valuable asset
How inflation and debt are crushing younger generations
Bitcoin mining, halvings, and the 21 million cap
Bitcoin vs gold, bonds, and housing as a store of value
How he builds portfolios that include Bitcoin while still focusing on risk
Jeffrey Truchon is a Maine-born financial advisor, Husson University business graduate, and founder of Sovereign Wealth Management. He holds his Life & Health Insurance License and Series 65, and has been featured in Fortune, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg Businessweek, and on multiple radio and TV shows. He works with clients across Maine and nationwide to protect and grow their life savings.
👉 Learn more about Jeff at retiredsovereign.com or email info@retiredsovereign.com.
*This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice.

Maine’s next generation is stepping up — and few voices capture that energy better than Collin McGarr, founder and host of The Maine-ifesto Podcast.
In this episode, Matt Pouliot sits down with Collin to talk about how law, business, and community can work together to shape Maine’s future. From housing policy and local control to entrepreneurship, education, and workforce renewal, this conversation dives into the mindset shift needed to unlock Maine’s full potential.
They explore:
Why housing is economic development
How Maine can attract and retain young talent
The “silver wave” and the future of the trades
Law school insights, leadership, and civic engagement
How storytelling and optimism can change Maine’s narrative
Whether you’re a policymaker, investor, or proud Mainer, this episode will leave you inspired about what’s possible when passion meets purpose.
🎧 Listen to Housing Matters Episode 23 — “Maine’s Future: Housing, Policy & Entrepreneurship with Collin McGarr” — and discover how today’s young leaders are redefining what it means to build community in Maine.

Real estate development doesn’t have to be big to make a big impact. In this episode, Matt Pouliot sits down with Jim Heid, infill developer, author of Building Small, and founder of the Small Developer Forum, to explore how incremental, human-scale projects can strengthen communities and expand housing choices.
From cottage courts and ADUs to the future of zoning, Jim shares lessons from his 40-year career bridging design, policy, and economics. Hear how he’s helping rebrand “developers” as built-environment entrepreneurs—people who balance profit with purpose and build places that allow humanity to thrive.
👉 Learn more about Jim’s work and resources: jheid.com | buildingsmall.mn.co | Building Small on Amazon