Hi! Crazy Substacker here who is slowly going into the whole crunchy/alt/decentralization/homeschoolyourkidsradicalized culture... I'm 17 and I'm going to college in the fall of 2027. I want to study construction management at Georgia tech, minor in public policy, and get a masters in real estate development. Here are some questions for you:
1. I go to local Board of Commissioners meetings. I also have texted with my district's commissioner a few times. I've gone up to speak a few times. What are some things I can easily advocate for? (eg. allow ADUs)
2. What are some great local or national companies that I can get an internship or a job with either now or in the future?
3. Is there any way I help you guys with the app you are building
4. How do I become a real estate developer coming from not much money?
5. Are there any good real estate development or sustainable construction related youtube videos, podcasts, or even courses that you could recommend?
6. If I were to have a real estate development firm, what are some good "alt ordo" type ideas for building housing/commercial space on a planned level? Basically, how can I take traditional real estate development concepts and ideas and turn them into alternative real estate development ideas? (eg. Serenbe, or health-conscious homes)
7. How can I get ahead in the goal of owning a home? (I want to have kids, so I am not wanting to live in a trailer or tiny house) I literally only have $50 in savings.
Hey fellow Yellow Jacket! I studied computer science at Georgia Tech from around 2010 to 2014. It's always fun seeing another GT student heading into the world of building things.
First, I have to say you're asking the right questions. At 17, you're already showing up to county commission meetings. That alone puts you ahead of most people your age. Development isn't just about buildings. It's about understanding how communities are shaped.
1. What should you advocate for?
I'd focus on making it easier for normal people to build.
ADUs
Cottage courts
Duplexes and fourplexes
Smaller lot sizes
Less restrictive parking requirements
Faster permitting
Home businesses
Mixed-use neighborhoods
Backyard workshops and greenhouses
A lot of America's housing problems aren't because we forgot how to build. They're because we made it illegal to build the kinds of places we used to.
2. Where should you work?
Don't just work for one developer. Try to understand every piece of the puzzle.
Spend time with:
Home builders
Commercial contractors
Civil engineers
Surveyors
Land planners
Developers
Local government
Every one of those people sees land differently. The more perspectives you understand, the more valuable you'll become.
3. Can you help with Alt Ordo?
Absolutely.
We're building what I hope becomes the Zillow for alternative living. Right now we're deep into county research, zoning, communities, and regulations.
If you enjoy research, spreadsheets, maps, or digging through county ordinances, I'd love the help as the project grows.
The best developers don't just buy land. They create value where other people don't see it yet.
Knowledge compounds before capital does.
5. Resources I'd recommend
Strong Towns has had a huge influence on how I think.
I'd also recommend:
Not Just Bikes
CityNerd
Incremental Development Alliance
Urban3
More importantly, start walking neighborhoods.
Study old neighborhoods that people love. Study new neighborhoods that people avoid. Ask why.
That exercise will teach you more than a semester of lectures.
6. What would an Alt Ordo development look like?
This is probably my favorite question.
I'd love to see neighborhoods built around human flourishing instead of maximum square footage.
Think:
Shared gardens
Community workshops
Walking trails
Native landscaping
Rainwater systems
Solar-ready homes
Flexible lots for ADUs
Small commercial buildings woven into neighborhoods
Shared gathering spaces
Homes that are beautiful without being oversized
I think the next generation of development is going to be less about bigger houses and more about better places.
7. Buying your first home
Don't worry about having $50.
Seriously.
At 17, your savings account matters far less than your trajectory.
Stay out of unnecessary debt. Get internships. Live below your means. Graduate with skills people pay well for. Learn construction. Buy something modest first.
People think wealth starts with money.
I think wealth starts with competence.
Become unusually competent at understanding land, buildings, construction, finance, and local government. If you do that, you'll have opportunities most people never even see.
Keep asking questions. We need more young people building communities instead of just subdivisions.
So let me see if I got this straight. A kickstarter was done before the name change for the simulation. A lot of money was raised yet the "v2" of the simulation with the upgraded graphics was never done even though it reached the goal. Now a name change, and another kickstarter with a goal of $120k? Do I have that right? Yea...no.
Our first campaign funded a 2D simulation, and that's exactly what we built and delivered. A 3D version with upgraded graphics was never a funded part of that campaign, it was the thing users kept asking for afterward.
So this isn't a redo. After polling users and doing more research, the clear demand was 3D graphics, county-level data, zoning intelligence, community features, and planning tools. That first app proved the appetite and laid the groundwork for what we're building now.
If it's not for you, no worries at all. We're fired up about the new features and the folks who are excited to build alongside us. Take care!
Hi! Crazy Substacker here who is slowly going into the whole crunchy/alt/decentralization/homeschoolyourkidsradicalized culture... I'm 17 and I'm going to college in the fall of 2027. I want to study construction management at Georgia tech, minor in public policy, and get a masters in real estate development. Here are some questions for you:
1. I go to local Board of Commissioners meetings. I also have texted with my district's commissioner a few times. I've gone up to speak a few times. What are some things I can easily advocate for? (eg. allow ADUs)
2. What are some great local or national companies that I can get an internship or a job with either now or in the future?
3. Is there any way I help you guys with the app you are building
4. How do I become a real estate developer coming from not much money?
5. Are there any good real estate development or sustainable construction related youtube videos, podcasts, or even courses that you could recommend?
6. If I were to have a real estate development firm, what are some good "alt ordo" type ideas for building housing/commercial space on a planned level? Basically, how can I take traditional real estate development concepts and ideas and turn them into alternative real estate development ideas? (eg. Serenbe, or health-conscious homes)
7. How can I get ahead in the goal of owning a home? (I want to have kids, so I am not wanting to live in a trailer or tiny house) I literally only have $50 in savings.
Hey fellow Yellow Jacket! I studied computer science at Georgia Tech from around 2010 to 2014. It's always fun seeing another GT student heading into the world of building things.
First, I have to say you're asking the right questions. At 17, you're already showing up to county commission meetings. That alone puts you ahead of most people your age. Development isn't just about buildings. It's about understanding how communities are shaped.
1. What should you advocate for?
I'd focus on making it easier for normal people to build.
ADUs
Cottage courts
Duplexes and fourplexes
Smaller lot sizes
Less restrictive parking requirements
Faster permitting
Home businesses
Mixed-use neighborhoods
Backyard workshops and greenhouses
A lot of America's housing problems aren't because we forgot how to build. They're because we made it illegal to build the kinds of places we used to.
2. Where should you work?
Don't just work for one developer. Try to understand every piece of the puzzle.
Spend time with:
Home builders
Commercial contractors
Civil engineers
Surveyors
Land planners
Developers
Local government
Every one of those people sees land differently. The more perspectives you understand, the more valuable you'll become.
3. Can you help with Alt Ordo?
Absolutely.
We're building what I hope becomes the Zillow for alternative living. Right now we're deep into county research, zoning, communities, and regulations.
If you enjoy research, spreadsheets, maps, or digging through county ordinances, I'd love the help as the project grows.
4. How do you become a developer without money?
By becoming useful before you become wealthy.
Learn zoning. Learn finance. Learn construction. Learn negotiations. Learn entitlements.
The best developers don't just buy land. They create value where other people don't see it yet.
Knowledge compounds before capital does.
5. Resources I'd recommend
Strong Towns has had a huge influence on how I think.
I'd also recommend:
Not Just Bikes
CityNerd
Incremental Development Alliance
Urban3
More importantly, start walking neighborhoods.
Study old neighborhoods that people love. Study new neighborhoods that people avoid. Ask why.
That exercise will teach you more than a semester of lectures.
6. What would an Alt Ordo development look like?
This is probably my favorite question.
I'd love to see neighborhoods built around human flourishing instead of maximum square footage.
Think:
Shared gardens
Community workshops
Walking trails
Native landscaping
Rainwater systems
Solar-ready homes
Flexible lots for ADUs
Small commercial buildings woven into neighborhoods
Shared gathering spaces
Homes that are beautiful without being oversized
I think the next generation of development is going to be less about bigger houses and more about better places.
7. Buying your first home
Don't worry about having $50.
Seriously.
At 17, your savings account matters far less than your trajectory.
Stay out of unnecessary debt. Get internships. Live below your means. Graduate with skills people pay well for. Learn construction. Buy something modest first.
People think wealth starts with money.
I think wealth starts with competence.
Become unusually competent at understanding land, buildings, construction, finance, and local government. If you do that, you'll have opportunities most people never even see.
Keep asking questions. We need more young people building communities instead of just subdivisions.
So let me see if I got this straight. A kickstarter was done before the name change for the simulation. A lot of money was raised yet the "v2" of the simulation with the upgraded graphics was never done even though it reached the goal. Now a name change, and another kickstarter with a goal of $120k? Do I have that right? Yea...no.
Hey Ryan! Fair questions, let me clear it up.
Our first campaign funded a 2D simulation, and that's exactly what we built and delivered. A 3D version with upgraded graphics was never a funded part of that campaign, it was the thing users kept asking for afterward.
So this isn't a redo. After polling users and doing more research, the clear demand was 3D graphics, county-level data, zoning intelligence, community features, and planning tools. That first app proved the appetite and laid the groundwork for what we're building now.
If it's not for you, no worries at all. We're fired up about the new features and the folks who are excited to build alongside us. Take care!