Spencer Burton, CEO and co-founder of CRE Agents, joins us to explore how AI is transforming the way CRE professionals work. From eliminating repetitive tasks to enabling smarter, faster decision-making, Spencer shares how digital coworkers are already creating a multiplier effect for their human counterparts across the industry.

In conversation with our host, Omar Eltorai, they discuss strategies for adopting AI without overhauling your entire operation, and why building reflexive AI usage habits now will give both professionals and firms an edge in the years ahead.

Tune in if you’re looking to work smarter, move faster, and stay competitive.

Key Takeaways:



00:46 Spencer Burton's background

02:12 Automation and efficiency in commercial real estate

04:38 Founding of CRE Agents

06:49 Building a digital coworker

09:32 The role of AI in commercial real estate

17:56 The technical bench strength behind CRE Agents

19:41 Challenges and future of CRE technology

23:12 The AI multiplier effect

32:07 Zero friction adoption for AI in CRE

34:42 Advice for industry professionals

Resources Mentioned:

Spencer Burton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerburton/

CRE Agents | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/creagents/

CRE Agents | Website

https://www.creagents.com/

Email us -

altusresearch@altusgroup.com

Thanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property

From interest rate volatility and sector-specific repricing to evolving strategies across construction lending and senior housing, Justin Pinckney, Head of Private Debt at AEW, offers a tactical lens on balancing risk and opportunity in today’s CRE debt market. Together with our host, Omar Eltorai, they also explore the case for standardized valuation benchmarks, results and findings from Altus Group's Q1 2025 Debt Capital Markets Survey, and how AEW is positioning itself for the next phase of the cycle.

Tune in for Justin’s engaging and data-driven perspectives on lending and underwriting strategies in 2025’s US CRE environment.

Key Moments:

01:52 Justin Pinckney's career journey

04:41 Role at AEW and credit platform

06:37 Market trends and strategies

13:40 Senior housing opportunities

17:13 CRE debt market analysis

25:54 Private credit and portfolio construction

31:00 Bank and non-bank lenders

33:59 Future of CRE lending

Resources Mentioned:

AEW – https://www.aew.com/

Searching for gold: Strategies for navigating debt opportunities in uncertain times - https://www.aew.com/research/searching-for-gold

Altus Group’s Debt Capital Markets Survey - For more information about the survey findings or to participate in future surveys, please reach out to the team at AltusResearch@altusgroup.com

Email us - altusresearch@altusgroup.com

Thanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property

Christine Mastandrea, President and COO of Whitestone REIT, shares how a community-first mindset can drive long-term value in commercial real estate. From tailoring retail environments to local culture, to acknowledging and leveraging psychographics and generational shifts, Christine lays out Whitestone’s strategy of turning shopping centers into vibrant and diverse hubs for community.

We explore how retail spaces can serve as the “living rooms” of their neighborhoods, and why flexible, experience-driven developments are key to succeeding in today’s constantly changing landscape.

Tune in to better understand the value of building resilience and relevance into a retail property investment.

Key Moments:

01:07 Meet Christine Mastandrea: Background and early Career

03:36 The rise of REITs

05:00 Teaching experience and generational Insights

06:32 Christine's role at Whitestone REIT

08:14 Strategic decisions and market focus

11:55 Whitestone's IPO journey

14:41 Wearing a lot of hats at Whitestone

19:51 COVID-19 response and adaptation

26:09 Entrepreneurial mindset and growth of the “small business”

28:45 Impact of high Interest rates and inflation

31:10 Generational shifts in consumer behavior

36:36 The role of retail in community building

42:44 Challenges and opportunities in retail development

49:03 Advice for breaking into the CRE industry

50:45 Redefining retail for the future

Resources Mentioned:

Whitestone REIT - https://www.whitestonereit.com/

ESRI – https://www.esri.com/en-us/home

Placer.AI - https://www.placer.ai/

Email us - altusresearch@altusgroup.com

Thanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property



We discuss the latest installment of Altus Group’s US CRE Investment and Transactions Quarterly report. The team delivers a retrospective on transaction volumes nationally and then zooms in on pricing trends and sector-by-sector insights, covering industrial, hospitality, multifamily, office, retail, and general commercial/mixed use.

Tune in for the numbers, the analysis, and a few surprises.

Key Moments:

00:49 Overview of the Investment and Transactions Quarterly Report

02:06 Key changes in the latest report

03:13 Headline volume figures for 2024

05:15 Transaction activity and trends

09:05 Pricing trends and market insights

12:55 Sector-specific analysis: Industrial, hospitality, and commercial general

19:40 Sector-Specific analysis: Multifamily, office, and retail

21:37 Key takeaways and surprises from the report

29:12 Conclusion and how to access the full report

Resources Mentioned:

Q4 2024 US CRE Investment and Transactions Quarterly report

• US commercial real estate investment trends and transaction volume - https://www.altusgroup.com/featured-insights/cre-transactions/
• US commercial real estate investment sales - pricing and pacing - https://www.altusgroup.com/featured-insights/cre-transactions/pricing-pacing/
• US commercial real estate investment sales - property sectors - https://www.altusgroup.com/featured-insights/cre-transactions/property-sectors/

Email us - altusresearch@altusgroup.com

Thanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property



We break down the Federal Reserve’s latest rate decision, the release of their minutes, the press conference, and the updated Summary of Economic Projections. We’ll also take a look at key macroeconomic highlights from the past week, including retail sales, housing data, and insights from regional Fed surveys and indices. Finally, we sift for some key takeaways from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Q4 2024 report on commercial mortgage debt outstanding.

Key Moments:

01:36 Federal Reserve Rate Decision and Economic Projections

06:27 Impact on Commercial Real Estate

08:18 Macro Highlights: Retail Sales and Housing Data

10:44 Manufacturing Indexes and Industrial Real Estate

19:41 Financial Conditions and Stress Indexes

24:18 Mortgage Bankers Association Q4 Report

29:07 Upcoming Conferences and Events

Resources Mentioned:

FOMC meeting – https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcpresconf20250319.htm

Advance Monthly Sales For Retail And Food Services, February 2025 - https://www.census.gov/retail/marts/www/marts_current.pdf

Monthly New Residential Constructino, February 2025 - https://www.census.gov/construction/nrc/current/index.html

Empire State Manufacturing Survey - https://www.newyorkfed.org/survey/empire/empiresurvey_overview

Philly Fed Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey - https://www.philadelphiafed.org/surveys-and-data/regional-economic-analysis/manufacturing-business-outlook-survey

Mortgage Bankers Association’s Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Debt

Outstanding quarterly report - https://www.mba.org/news-and-research/newsroom/news/2025/03/18/commercial-and-multifamily-mortgage-debt-outstanding-increased--47.7-billion-in-third-quarter-of-2024

Email us - altusresearch@altusgroup.com

Thanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property

Cole Perry and Omar Eltorai unwrap the latest parcel of US economic data, from shifting labor and employment trends to insights from the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index. They explore what these signals suggest for small business growth and economic momentum. The conversation sharpens around market reactions to proposed tariffs, the ripple effects on monetary policy decisions, and the potential implications for commercial real estate investors navigating an unpredictable landscape.

Key Moments:

01:21 NFIB Small Business Optimism Index

08:00 Labor market data analysis

13:19 Market reactions to tariff policies

15:18 Impact of tariffs on real estate

29:30 President Trump's address to congress

32:51 Upcoming data releases and announcements

Resources Mentioned:

NFIB Small Business Optimism Index - https://www.nfib.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NFIB-SBET-Report-Feb.-2025.pdf

ADP National Employment Report - https://mediacenter.adp.com/2025-03-05-ADP-National-Employment-Report-Private-Sector-Employment-Increased-by-77,000-Jobs-in-February-Annual-Pay-was-Up-4-7

The Challenger Report - https://www.challengergray.com/blog/job-cuts-surge-on-doge-actions-retail-woes-highest-monthly-total-since-july-2020/

BLS Employment Situation - https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm

BLS JOLTS - https://www.bls.gov/jlt/

Balancing returns and responsibility - Strategic innovation in impact investing - https://www.altusgroup.com/insights/strategic-innovation-in-impact-investing/

Email us - altusresearch@altusgroup.com

Thanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property

Our hosts, Omar Eltorai and Cole Perry, deliver a packed agenda this week with a discussion on recently released economic data, including PCE, GDP, consumer confidence, and housing statistics. They also share a brief update on the state of the markets, focusing on movements in equities and fixed income, as well as the latest earnings reports from retailers. Finally, the team serves up a "policy potluck," where we cover a variety of topics from Washington, and provide updates on aggregate banking information.

Key Moments:

0:51 Economic data highlights

05:50 Market updates and retailer earnings

08:45 Housing market insights

12:08 Treasury yields and market movements

16:58 Retailer earnings deep dive

21:55 Policy potluck: Banking and government updates

39:23 Upcoming data releases and announcements

Resources Mentioned:

Email us - altusresearch@altusgroup.com

Thanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property



Resources Mentioned:

Middleburg Communities - https://www.middleburg.com/

Email us - altusresearch@altusgroup.com

Thanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.

#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property