In this episode of “How WWe See It,” Wray Ward’s Charla Muller talks with John McManus — founding editor of Adweek’s BrandWeek, former editorial director at Hanley Wood and founder of The Builder’s Daily — about forces reshaping the housing market and the emotional realities that many home and building brands are failing to fully address.

Drawing on more than four decades covering the topic, John reflects on the evolution of homebuilding from a fragmented, relationship-driven business into a highly consolidated, data-focused industry and spotlights the importance of reconnecting with the human side of housing.

“I like to think about people’s homes and what they mean to us — well-being, sanctuary, safety — these are timelessly valued principles and experiences. The home is a place where those values really take meaning, and there’s no other place where that happens.”
–John McManus

During their conversation, Charla and John also explore shifting homebuyer dynamics, including the rise of single-person households, evolving Gen Z expectations and the affordability crisis.