The real estate market isn’t just about prices and rates—it’s about policy, infrastructure, and how cities respond to massive state and federal pressure. In this episode, former pro skateboarder and current Thousand Oaks mayor Mikey Taylor sits down with Mike to unpack how housing laws, downtown redevelopment, and city budgeting are reshaping Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Valley.
Timed Highlights:
00:00 – Intro: Mortgage Wise with Mike Wise opens the show
00:20 – Meet Mikey Taylor: pro skater, investor, and mayor of Thousand Oaks
00:58 – Life on tour, Paris stories, and five kids later
01:59 – From brewery founder to co-president of Commune Capital
02:39 – The “seven stories in Thousand Oaks” controversy explained
04:13 – Builder’s Remedy: how state housing law overrides local control
05:22 – Why T.O. must add 2,600 new units and why the 101 corridor matters
06:32 – Matching the Civic Arts Plaza parking structure height and optics
07:33 – Can seven‑story buildings spread citywide in the future?
08:31 – Who builds the project and how the RFP/RFQ process will work
09:21 – What downtown could look like: park, splash pad, amphitheater, food hall
10:48 – Business incubator vision: keeping youth and startups in Thousand Oaks
12:17 – All‑in‑one mortgage explainer (principal-first “checking + mortgage” concept)
15:37 – Will the city subsidize developers? TIF bonds and future financing
17:53 – Traffic, parking, and environmental impact reports for new projects
19:41 – Population actually falling while traffic still feels worse
21:00 – Who’s leaving T.O. and why ages 25–50 matter so much
22:00 – Rentals vs. for‑sale units and the struggle to build ownership options
24:06 – Where new for‑sale homes may be built in Newbury Park
24:13 – Key development sites: Kmart, Sanctuary, Amgen corner and more
25:39 – State and federal pressure for affordable and mixed‑use projects
25:39 – What “affordable housing” legally means vs. what residents think it means
28:45 – Density bonuses and why 10% affordable became the local threshold
29:36 – Why “affordable” rents can still be $2,300–$2,500 a month
31:33 – Are these new units for local workers or commuters?
33:14 – Employers’ challenge: hiring when workers can’t afford to live nearby
34:00 – ADUs and why the mayor is more worried about them than big multifamily
35:30 – “Open season” on ADUs and the impact on single‑family neighborhoods
37:07 – Thousand Oaks Mall and Janss Mall: what’s next for struggling retail
39:20 – Analog is back: why younger generations want in‑person experiences
41:04 – “There’s nothing to do here”: sports complexes, Liberty Station, and ideas
43:16 – Food halls, restaurants, and making downtown attractive to young families
43:38 – Newbury Park: roads, aesthetics, overhead wires, and possible facelifts
45:30 – Potential utility undergrounding and working with Edison
47:04 – Jobs, commutes, and why diversification beyond Amgen matters
49:07 – How businesses decide whether a city council is “investable”
49:28 – Why Mikey ran for office and what four years in office have changed
50:49 – Homelessness strategy: shelter first, treatment, and a 46% reduction
52:49 – Crime at historic lows and why safety is non‑negotiable
53:44 – Re‑election, family sacrifice, and what’s next politically
53:58 – Staying a top‑10 safest city while adding thousands of units
55:22 – Partnering with CLU and Hub 101 for entrepreneurship and jobs
58:20 – How new rentals might (or might not) affect single‑family prices
59:02 – City budget, surplus, and why Thousand Oaks runs very lean
59:34 – Who actually runs the Civic Arts Plaza and how it’s structured
59:57 – Caltrans, freeways, and what the city can and can’t control
1:00:25 – Residents ask: any “fun” things coming? Cool restaurants, sushi, chefs
1:02:00 – The missing rungs: starter housing and senior housing gaps
1:03:33 – Converting struggling retail to living units over time
1:04:10 – Mixed‑use challenge: multifamily operators aren’t always good at retail
1:05:01 – Waiving fees? Land sales vs land leases and getting deals to pencil
1:06:44 – How much city cash is earmarked for the project and what comes next
1:08:10 – Why the city avoids debt and keeps taxes at the floor
1:09:08 – The decline of neighborhood centers and the rise of walkable mixed‑use
1:11:34 – Government’s role in pricing vs letting the market correct
1:12:12 – Light‑hearted close: will the mayor do a skateboard trick?