About Us — Cypress Pathways

Our Mission

Far too many good projects stall — not because of bad economics, but because the permitting path is unclear. That's the problem we're setting out to solve.

In our years of experience working in both public and private development sectors, we've witnessed a consistent and recurring pattern: policy is often opaque, and navigating it can be difficult. New England has over 1,300 municipalities, all with slightly different rules and regulations. Adding the web of Federal, State, and local policy to the difficulty in locating labor, materials, and financing, you can see why deals often stall or die completely. This is not just theoretical, but shown by the data: across New England, we have a shortage in building permits at a time where new housing, businesses, and third spaces are needed most.

We founded Cypress Pathways to make a positive impact on our communities by working with owners, regional investors, and developers of any size or status to help their projects move forward.

What We Do

How we help your project move forward.

Each of our service areas addresses a specific friction point in the development process. Here's the problem we typically see — and where we come in.

01

Entitlements

Title research & policy due diligence

The Common Problem

Developers often acquire sites without fully understanding the entitlement landscape — existing restrictions, easements, or zoning conflicts that only surface late in the process, costing time and capital.

Where We Come In

Thorough title research backed by rigorous policy knowledge. We map the entitlement path before you commit, so your due diligence gives you genuine peace of mind — not false confidence.

02

Permitting

Navigating municipal processes with precision

The Common Problem

New England's 1,300+ municipalities each have their own rules, timelines, and stakeholder dynamics. A misstep in one town can look very different from the same misstep in another — and both can derail a project.

Where We Come In

We bring years of experience inside municipal permitting offices — knowing not just what officials will need, but how they will think about your project. We manage the applications, meetings, and presentations so you can focus on the decisions that matter.

03

Leasing

Maximizing value at repositioning & lease-up

The Common Problem

Owners often undervalue their space going into lease-up — either by pricing too conservatively, targeting the wrong tenant mix, or failing to position the asset in the context of the surrounding market.

Where We Come In

We combine intricate knowledge of the Greater Boston market with economic and demographic analysis to build a leasing strategy that maximizes project value from day one — whether retail, office, or mixed-use.

04

Funding

Unlocking public subsidy & creative financing

The Common Problem

Many developers leave significant public funding on the table — not because they're ineligible, but because the grant landscape is fragmented, competitive, and time-consuming to navigate without dedicated expertise.

Where We Come In

From state and local government grants to federal programs and other forms of public subsidy, our team is well-versed in identifying and securing creative financing that can be the difference between a project that pencils and one that doesn't.

Meet the Team

Max Houghton

Founder & Principal

Max is a real estate development professional with a passion for livable, well-designed communities and a mission to create more housing in New England. His early work in policy and housing advocacy informed his belief in sustainable development around New England's major cities. He went on to join the public sector advisory practice of a global management consulting firm, specializing in federal grants management following the devastating summer 2023 floods in central Vermont. Max's experience also includes his time at the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), where he served as the permitting and entitlements manager for projects within Boston's urban renewal zones, including Article 80, Article 35, CFROD, GCOD, and MGL 121A/B.

Zachary Gagné

Permitting & Zoning Specialist

Zach is a permitting and zoning specialist with deep experience in title risk mitigation, community engagement, data architecture/analysis, and planning processes from his time working for the Lewiston–Auburn Metro Chamber of Commerce and Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA). Zach is currently pursuing his Master's in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Amsterdam, where he is writing his thesis on the historical economic transformation of New England.

Aidan Regan

Property & Brokerage Specialist

Aidan is a property management professional and licensed commercial real estate agent with years of experience in the real estate brokerage industry, working with developers across single and multifamily asset classes. He is also the founder of Restored Living, an online platform designed to address MA's affordability crisis by simplifying the process of co-buying real estate and achieving homeownership in Greater Boston.

Ready to move forward?

Let's talk about your project.

Reach out directly — we'd love to learn about what you're working on.

Contact Us