Agenda

Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.


Friday, July 24, 2026

9:00 am – 4:00 pm CDT


Agenda:

Presented by Stanislava Dobreva

Understanding and Addressing the Unaffordability of Homes

  • Historical evolution of U.S. homebuilding (1930–present)
    • Increasing home size and added features over time
  • Demographic shifts in U.S. homebuyers and mismatch with existing housing stock
  • Key cost drivers in housing delivery
    • Financing costs
    • Material costs
    • Labor costs
  • Rethinking conventional residential design approaches

Focus on Lot Size and Location 

  • Smaller residential lot development strategies
  • Infill development vs. greenfield expansion
  • Balancing common spaces and private amenities
  • Planned communities as affordability drivers 

Focus on Smaller Home Sizes and Twin Homes 

  • Designing smaller homes without reducing livability or market appeal
  • Reducing building footprint efficiently
  • Optimizing total floor plan layouts
  • Cost-saving design modifications that improve functionality and efficiency 

Focus on Economical Design Features 

  • Standardization and modular design strategies
  • Simplification of structural and architectural systems
  • Efficient mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) layouts
  • Value engineering strategies without compromising performance or quality 

Focus on Economical Building Materials and Construction Techniques  

  • High-efficiency and cost-effective material selection
  • Prefabrication and off-site construction methods
  • Labor-efficient construction techniques
  • Durability and lifecycle cost considerations 

The Homebuilding Unicorn: Building a 1200-Square Foot Home for $250,000 

  • Conceptual exploration of ultra-affordable housing targets
  • Design, cost, and construction constraints analysis
  • Feasibility discussion across markets and regions

 

Webinar Instructions 
 
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited. 

Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher. 

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Credits

Engineers
6.0 PDHs

Architects
6.0 HSW CE Hours

AIA - American Institute of Architects
6.0 HSW LUs

ICC - International Code Council
0.6 CEUs (Building)

 

Continuing Education Information

This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.0 PDHs for professional engineers and 6.0 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects in all states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.

HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider License No: CEA362), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, and New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00049300). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (Regulations of the Commissioner §68.14(i)(2) and §69.6(i)(2)). Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses.

The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.0 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.

The International Code Council has approved this event for .6 CEUs in the specialty area of Building (Preferred Provider No. 1232).

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).

*On-Demand Credits*

The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing boards and may not qualify for the same credits; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate. The following pre-approvals may be available for the on-demand format upon request:

6.0 HSW LUs (AIA)

Speakers

Stanislava Dobreva

Project Manager, in Los Angeles, CA

Ms. Dobreva is a dedicated project manager with a successful track record in the construction industry. Currently based in Los Angeles, her experience encompasses a diverse range of projects in commercial real estate, luxury living, and biotech/life sciences, featuring budgets that span from $15 million to $300 million in states such as Arizona, Texas, Michigan, and Florida. She specializes in project management, cost management and construction consulting. Ms. Dobreva diligently engages in all project phases, from design to construction management, consistently delivering high-quality outcomes while building strong relationships with her clients. Passionate about purposeful design and the use of natural elements, she continually seeks innovative ways to add value to projects and spaces creatively, showcasing her dedication to both her professional and personal interests.

AIA Info

AIA Provider Statement: 

HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3). 

This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. 

AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request. 

Course Title: Designing and Constructing Affordable Homes

Delivery Method: Live Online 

Course Description: This six-hour course explores factors contributing to housing unaffordability and examines design and construction strategies for delivering more economical residential projects. Instruction covers lot size and location considerations, smaller home and twin home design approaches, economical design features, and cost-effective materials and construction techniques. The course also analyzes the feasibility and challenges of achieving ultra-affordable housing construction targets.

Learning Objectives: 

Learning Objective 1: Learners will be able to identify key housing cost drivers, including financing, material, and labor costs, and their impact on residential development.

Learning Objective 2: Learners will be able to analyze residential lot size and location to determine development strategies and layout design.

Learning Objective 3: Learners will be able to examine smaller home and twin home design approaches, including reduced building footprints and optimized floor plan layouts.

Learning Objective 4: Learners will be able to evaluate economical design features, building materials, and construction techniques to support more affordable housing.

LUs: 6.0

LU Type: LU|HSWs 

Prerequisites: None

Advance Preparation: None 

Program Level: Intermediate 

Course Expiration Date:  06/01/2029

Complaint Resolution Policy: 

Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.