In this episode, the focus shifts to the side of real estate that quietly determines which deals actually get done: banking and financing. Joseph Fingerman, Senior Managing Director and President of Commercial Real Estate at Peapack Private Bank & Trust, shares how lenders evaluate deals, what makes a sponsor stand out, and why relationships matter more than most people realize. Drawing on over two decades of experience and billions in transactions, he breaks down how banks think, what red flags stop deals in their tracks, and how market cycles, interest rates, and regulation shape lending decisions. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how capital flows, why some deals fall apart while others go through, and what it really takes to build credibility in the eyes of a lender.