In this episode of Smith Lane, we welcome Peter Dennehy, Senior VP of Consulting at John Burns Research and Consulting, for a wide-ranging conversation on career pivots, emerging home trends, and the increasingly diverse needs of today’s homebuyers. We also explore what creates a true sense of community — and why it matters.

Peter shares the mission behind John Burns Research and Consulting: to provide high-quality, unbiased data that helps developers make informed decisions about housing projects. He reflects on the lessons he’s learned from moving between consulting and operations, offering a unique perspective on both sides of the industry.

We dive into the shifting housing landscape, from evolving migration patterns and unexpected economic trends to the transformation of the 55+ housing market. Peter discusses how retirement is no longer a fixed milestone and how COVID-19 prompted a reset in how we think about the housing industry.

Peter also reflects on his own neighborhood in San Diego — his personal “Smith Lane” — and how moments of coming together can create a true community.

This episode offers a thoughtful look at how data, trends, and human connection all play a role in placemaking — and how every pivot creates the opportunity for something better.

About Peter

Peter Dennehy is a senior vice president of John Burns Research and Consulting.

A college internship with the City of Pasadena introduced Peter Dennehy to the development industry. It led to 30 years of working with the nation’s pre-eminent market research companies specializing in the real estate industry. He has extensive experience analyzing real estate developments for developers, financial institutions, and public agencies throughout the United States. He has directed consulting engagements for hundreds of clients, covering various product types and real estate asset classes, focusing on rental and for-sale residential projects, mixed-use urban infill developments, master-planned communities, and portfolio analysis.

From 2018 to 2023, he headed up customer and market research for land, housing, mixed-use, and multifamily projects for Newland Real Estate Group and Brookfield Properties, one of the largest private developers of planned residential and urban mixed-use communities in the United States. Before joining Newland Real Estate Group and Brookfield Properties, Peter worked for leading national real estate research companies, including John Burns Research, Meyers Research/Zonda, and RCLCO. This unique background in consulting and market research, land development, and homebuilding provides additional perspectives for homebuilder clients.

Peter Dennehy holds a JD from the University of San Diego’s School of Law and a BA in Government/Public Policy from Pomona College.

He is a past co-chair of the Urban Land Institute’s San Diego-Tijuana District Council and a full member of the Urban Land Institute and Lifestyle Residential 55+ Product Council (Program Chair). He has served on the boards of Lambda Alpha, the City of San Diego’s Consolidated Plan Advisory Board, The University of Puget Sound Parent’s Council, The Balboa Park Conservancy, BIA Cares, and Artform.

Connect with Peter

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John Burns Research & Consulting