RYE, NH, August 05, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — As conversations about housing and community development continue across the country, multifamily housing professional Jeff Herter is encouraging local leaders, business owners, and residents to think beyond quick fixes and focus on the long-term health of their neighborhoods.
Drawing on more than fifteen years of experience working with multifamily properties, Herter believes that thriving communities are rarely created by one major project or policy. Instead, they are shaped by consistent improvements that make neighborhoods more welcoming, connected, and resilient over time.
“People often look for one thing that will transform a neighborhood,” Herter said. “In my experience, meaningful change usually comes from a series of smaller improvements that build on one another. It might be a local business opening its doors, a park being renovated, or homeowners investing in their properties. Those individual decisions create momentum.”
Research supports the importance of steady community investment. According to the National Association of Realtors, neighborhood quality, access to amenities, and nearby businesses remain among the leading factors influencing where people choose to live. Communities that invest in walkability, public spaces, and local services often become more attractive to both current and future residents.
Herter believes that successful neighborhoods are defined not only by the buildings within them but also by the people who live and work there.
“When I visit a community, I pay attention to more than the property itself,” he said. “I notice whether local businesses are busy, whether people are spending time in parks, and whether residents seem connected to the neighborhood. Those are often signs that people believe in where they live.”
He also encourages community leaders to take a patient approach to revitalization efforts.
“There is a tendency to look for immediate results,” Herter said. “But healthy communities usually develop over years, not months. Progress often comes from making thoughtful decisions consistently instead of trying to solve everything at once.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, communities across the country continue to experience shifts in population as people relocate for employment, affordability, and quality of life. These changes have increased the importance of creating neighborhoods that offer strong local amenities, safe public spaces, and opportunities for residents to build lasting connections.
Herter believes every community already has strengths that can serve as a foundation for future growth.
“I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is focusing only on what needs to be fixed,” he said. “Every neighborhood has something worth building on. When communities recognize those strengths and continue investing in them, they create places where people want to stay.”
He also points to the important role local businesses play in shaping neighborhoods.
“Small businesses are often among the first to demonstrate confidence in a community,” Herter said. “When entrepreneurs choose to open a restaurant, a coffee shop, or another local business, they are making a long-term commitment to that neighborhood. Those investments help create places where people gather and build relationships.”
Rather than measuring success by rapid change, Herter believes communities should focus on steady progress that can be sustained over time.
“The strongest neighborhoods I’ve visited weren’t necessarily the newest or the most expensive,” he said. “They were places where people cared about their community and continued making small improvements year after year. That’s what creates lasting success.”
A Call to Action
Herter encourages residents to become involved in their own communities by supporting locally owned businesses, participating in neighborhood events, volunteering with community organizations, and taking pride in the places they call home. He believes that long-term neighborhood growth is not the responsibility of one group alone but the result of many people making positive contributions over time.
About Jeff Herter
Jeff Herter is the Principal of Providence Real Properties, LLC and has more than fifteen years of experience working with multifamily properties across the United States. Based in Rye, New Hampshire, he has built his career on thoughtful decision-making, long-term planning, and an understanding of the communities surrounding the properties he works with. A graduate of Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, Jeff is also a volunteer SCORE mentor, where he supports and guides small business owners as they grow their organizations.
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