Armstead Jones is a real estate developer, educator, and economic development professional with over a decade of experience delivering complex urban infill, mixed-use, and affordable housing projects.
He is the president of Imagine Think Tank, where he leads real estate development strategy, project finance structuring, community engagement, and public-private partnership initiatives across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic.
His professional background spans public-sector economic development, private real estate investment, and large-scale infrastructure and systems engineering. Armstead brings a practitioner-led approach to teaching, integrating live development projects and real-world capital stack analysis into the classroom to prepare students for careers in real estate finance, development, and public-private infrastructure delivery.
Education
- MS, Systems Engineering, Morgan State University
- BS, Industrial Engineering, Morgan State University
Research
Selected publications
- “Global Issuance of Mortgage-Backed Securities Falls to a 23-Year Low,” Yahoo! Finance, May 2023
- “Barndominiums: What They Are and How Much They Cost,” U.S. News & World Report
- “The Future of Hospitals: Flexible Space for the Next Pandemic,” The New York Times, September 2022
- “Are Infill Developments Worth the Investment?” GlobeSt / Leverage
- “Housing Market Question: Should You Sell Now or Wait?” San Francisco Gate (SFGate)
- “Condo and HOA Units Increased but Reserve Funds Dipped,” National Mortgage News
- “Multifamily Braces for Another Fed Rate Hike,” Multi-Housing News
Working papers
- Urban Land Institute – Technical Assistance Panel, Frankford Community
- Urban Land Institute – Technical Assistance Panel, Irvington Community
- Matthew Henson / Easterwood Vision Plan
Teaching
Current
- Project Finance for Real Estate
- Public-Private Infrastructure Delivery
Honors and distinctions
- NASA Graduate Research Grant Recipient, Morgan State University
- Senatorial Scholarship Award Recipient
- Chairperson, Consumer Council of Maryland, 2018–2022
- Vice President, Small Developers Collective
- Member, Urban Land Institute Regionalism Committee, DEI Committee, and Transit-Oriented Development Product Council
- Former President, Morgan State University Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers
Impact and engagement
Business
- President of Imagine Think Tank, providing development advisory, investment strategy, and project finance leadership for urban real estate projects
Policy
- Former Economic Development Officer at Baltimore Development Corporation and Business
- Performance Manager at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
Community
- Active in Urban Land Institute panels, regional planning initiatives, and community-based redevelopment efforts across Baltimore neighborhoods.
In the media
- "Trump’s Davos Speech Offers Few Details on Housing Affordability Policy," U.S. News & World Report
- "Americans Fear They’ll Never Own a Home," Realtor.com
- "How to Know If Mortgage Refinancing Makes Sense Right Now," CBS News
- "Homebuyers Now Have to Negotiate Agent Fees Upfront," CNBC, August 21, 2024
- "U.S. Housing Sales Are on Track for the Slowest Year Since the 2008 Housing Bubble," Fortune, October 16, 2023
- "Home Price Growth Slows in August at the Fastest Pace on Record: Case-Shiller," Fox Business