What happens when developers from across the country come together to share what they’re actually building?

In Episode #70, Raphael Collazo and Kristi Kandel recap the first LRED developer meetup in Louisville, bringing together local developers, investors, city leaders, and industry professionals.

They talk about the real lessons from touring active projects, learning from experienced developers, navigating city challenges, and building relationships that can lead to new ideas and opportunities.

Because development isn’t just about knowing the numbers. It’s about knowing the people, the market, and your community.

🔗 Full Episode: What Happens When Local Developers Get in the Same Room? | EP#70

📥 Developer Vault:

http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin

🏢 LRED Meetup 2026: https://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/lred-meetup-2026

Connect with Raphael:

🌐 Website: http://www.raphaelcollazo.com/

📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commercial_louisville/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelcollazo/

Connect with Kristi:

🌐 Website: https://kristikandel.com/

📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristikandel/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-kandel-4b650a12/

About the Show

The Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is for locals who want to build in their own communities. Real projects. Real lessons. No gatekeeping.

#localrealestatedeveloper #communitydevelopment #realestatedevelopment #localdevelopment #buildlocal #developlocal #realestatecommunity #louisville #tampa

What if you didn’t need years of experience, a massive network, or millions in the bank to become a developer?

YJ Tung shares how he went from working in tech and marketing to taking on his first 37-acre development project near California’s Western States Trail.

With his partner, YJ is developing Forestill Basecamp, a hospitality project featuring 10 modular cabins, saunas, cold plunges, and recovery amenities designed for trail runners and endurance athletes.

Along the way, they’ve had to navigate permitting, due diligence, financing, marketing, and community partnerships. They even tested the concept with just $20 a day in Instagram ads and collected deposits from future guests before the project was built.

This episode is a real look at what it takes to go from “I don’t know how” to “I’m doing it.”

🔗 Full Episode: Inside a First-Time Developer's 37-Acre Vision | EP#70

📥 Developer Vault:

http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin

Guest

YJ Tung

Website: https://foresthillbasecamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582172090154

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foresthillbasecamp

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youngjohntung/

About the Show

The Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is for locals who want to build in their own communities. Real projects. Real lessons. No gatekeeping.

#localrealestatedeveloper #communitydevelopment #realestatedevelopment #localdevelopment #realestateinvesting #realestateentrepreneur #propertydevelopment #buildlocal #communityfirst #localdeveloper #realestatepodcast #firsttimedeveloper

What happens when your first development project doesn't go as planned?

After years in brokerage, Alan Sestito took the leap into development. His first project had potential but city delays, a reduced site plan, and unexpected setbacks quickly turned it into a real-world education.

Instead of walking away, Alan adapted, leaned on his partner, and kept moving.

In this episode, Alan shares the lessons behind his first project, the importance of strong partnerships, understanding your market, and why resilience matters when development gets messy.

For anyone considering their first development project, Alan's story proves that experience doesn't always come before the deal. Sometimes, the deal is what gives you the experience.

🔗 Full Episode:

📥 Developer Vault:

http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin

Guest

Alan Sestito

Website: http://www.sesresidential.com/

About the Show

The Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is for locals who want to build in their own communities. Real projects. Real lessons. No gatekeeping.

#localrealestatedeveloper #realestatedevelopment #localdevelopment #communitydevelopment #realestateinvesting #localdeveloper #smalldeveloper #infilldevelopment #developerjourney #buildlocal

What if you didn’t need millions of dollars or generational wealth to become a developer?

In this episode, Kristi Kandel sits down with Kimberly Honea to talk about her journey from a small-town Oklahoma upbringing to hospitality, adaptive reuse, and launching her own development company.

Kimberly shares the hard lessons behind taking the leap, learning construction and finance, finding the right partners and mentors, knowing when to walk away from a bad deal, and using incentives to make projects work.

Most importantly, she explains why great development isn't just about buildings. It's about creating places that bring people together, support local businesses, and give communities a reason to thrive.

🔗 Full Episode:

📥 Developer Vault:

http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin

Guest

Kimberly Honea

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyhonea/

About the Show

The Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is for locals who want to build in their own communities. Real projects. Real lessons. No gatekeeping.

#localrealestatedeveloper #realestatedevelopment #communitydevelopment #adaptivereuse #localdevelopment #realestateinvesting #hospitalitydevelopment #economicdevelopment #buildlocal #communitybuilding #realestatepodcast #developerjourney

What if becoming a developer isn’t about having all the answers but having the courage to take the next step?

In Episode #67, Raphael Collazo and Kristi Kandel get real about how they went from first-time investors and nervous beginners to building commercial projects and community-focused developments.

They share the fear behind their first deals, lessons from finding lenders and partners, the power of starting small, and why local developers have a major advantage: they know their communities.

But development doesn’t have to be a solo game.

That’s why Raphael and Kristi created LRED to bring local developers, investors, lenders, and industry professionals into the same room to share ideas, solve problems, build relationships, and create opportunities together.

You don’t need millions to start. You need the right people, the right knowledge, and the courage to take the next step.

Join the LRED community and get in the room with people who are actually building.

🔗 Full Episode: https://youtu.be/uP7TtgI_isY

📥 Developer Vault:

http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin

Connect with Kristi:

🌐 Website: https://kristikandel.com/

📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristikandel/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-kandel-4b650a12/

Connect with Raphael:

🌐 Website: http://www.raphaelcollazo.com/

📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commercial_louisville/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelcollazo/

About the Show

The Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is for locals who want to build in their own communities. Real projects. Real lessons. No gatekeeping

#localrealestatedeveloper #lred #lredmeetup #realestatedevelopment #communitydevelopment #localdevelopment #realestateinvesting #commercialrealestate #realestatedeveloper #buildlocal #investlocal #realestatepodcast #realestatecommunity #developmentcommunity #realestateeducation

What if your community doesn't need another billion-dollar project... it just needs someone willing to care?

For years, cities have chased mega-projects, outside investors, and expensive revitalization plans believing bigger budgets lead to better communities. But what if the biggest transformation starts with something much smaller?

In this episode, urban planner and Ash & Lime founder Rik Adamski shares why thriving towns aren't built by waiting for someone else to invest, they're built by local people who choose to act.

Drawing from decades of experience in planning, downtown revitalization, and community building, Rik reveals how vacant storefronts, walkable neighborhoods, third places, and incremental development can breathe new life into struggling communities. Inspired by movements like Strong Towns, Better Block, and tactical urbanism, he makes a compelling case that meaningful change doesn't require billions of dollars, it requires people who care enough to start.

If you've ever looked around your hometown and thought, "Someone should do something," this episode is a reminder that someone could be you.

🔗 Full Episode:

📥 Developer Vault:

http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin

Guest

Rik Adamski

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikadamski/

About the Show

The Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is for locals who want to build in their own communities. Real projects. Real lessons. No gatekeeping.

#localrealestatedeveloper #communitydevelopment #incrementaldevelopment #strongtowns #placemaking #urbanplanning #buildlocal #thirdplaces #downtowndevelopment #realestatedevelopment

What if one weekend could completely change how you see real estate development?

REGISTER: https://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/lred-meetup-2026

In this episode, Raphael Collazo and Kristi Kandel share what to expect at the first-ever Local Real Estate Developer Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. From inspiring keynote speakers and adaptive reuse site tours to honest conversations about project failures, networking, and building stronger communities, this event is designed to help aspiring and active developers take the next step.

Development isn't about having all the answers, it's about learning from people who are actively doing the work and building the relationships that help you overcome the inevitable challenges every project brings.

The biggest projects don't start with millions of dollars, they start with someone willing to raise their hand, build relationships, solve problems, and believe they can make their community better.

🔗 Full Episode: https://youtu.be/rlOOvACFSsU

📥 Developer Vault:

http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin

Connect with Raphael:

Website: http://www.raphaelcollazo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commercial_louisville/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelcollazo/

Connect with Kristi:

Website: https://kristikandel.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristikandel/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-kandel-4b650a12/

About the Show

The Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is for locals who want to build in their own communities. Real projects. Real lessons. No gatekeeping

#localrealestatedeveloper #realestatedevelopment #communitydevelopment #buildlocal #localdevelopers #adaptiveReuse #placemaking #commercialrealestate #urbanrevitalization #mixeduse #developerconference #realestateinvesting #affordablehousing #networking #louisville #kentucky #buildyourcommunity #localleadership #smalltowndevelopment #realestatepodcast

Raising capital doesn't always mean finding new investors. In this episode, Kaaren Hall reveals how self-directed IRAs can unlock retirement dollars to fund real estate development projects.

Learn how developers can access an overlooked source of capital, build investor trust through transparency, and navigate the realities of partnerships, financing, and growing a development business.

After losing her job during the Great Recession, Kaaren founded UDirect IRA Services and helped thousands of investors take control of their retirement savings. She shares how self-directed IRAs work, common mistakes to avoid, and why understanding this tool can open doors for both investors and local developers.

This episode is for anyone who wants to raise capital more creatively, reduce reliance on traditional banks, and build projects that create lasting impact in their community.

🔗 Full Episode: https://youtu.be/RSt6ZI5D6Tw

📥 Developer Vault:

http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin

Guest

Kaaren Hall

Website: https://x.com/uDirectIRA

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaarenhall/

Instagram: instagram.com/udirectiraservices/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAycexbDjYjHh8R8goug0A

About the Show

The Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is for locals who want to build in their own communities. Real projects. Real lessons. No gatekeeping

#localrealestatedeveloper #communitydevelopment #realestatedevelopment #buildlocal #selfdirectedira #privatecapital #capitalraising #commercialrealestate #realestateinvesting #localdevelopers

Most people wait until they have experience. Alex Martinsen built a team and started anyway.After exiting a successful construction business, Alex took on an entirely new challenge: building 100 affordable homes in his first year of real estate development.In this episode, he shares how relationships, partnerships, private capital, and a simple land acquisition strategy are helping solve one of America's biggest housing challenges. From finding deals through Facebook Marketplace to raising millions without traditional financing, Alex proves that taking action beats waiting for the perfect moment.If you're ready to stop making excuses and start building in your own community, this episode is for you.🔗 Full Episode: https://youtu.be/KYfwscjcyv0📥 Developer Vault:http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optinGuestAlex MartinsenLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmartinsen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmartinsen_/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@landhomepackage About the ShowThe Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is for locals who want to build in their own communities. Real projects. Real lessons. No gatekeeping#localrealestatedeveloper #realestatedevelopment #affordablehousing #attainablehousing #communitydevelopment #landdevelopment #privatecapital #manufacturedhomes #buildlocal #realestatepodcast

What if one question could completely change your life?

Renzo Sanio never planned to become a real estate developer. He started college studying physics, but everything changed after a professor asked him one simple question: "What do you build here, and why?" That question sparked an obsession that led him from winning a national real estate development competition to launching his own ground-up development just months after graduating college.

In this episode, Renzo shares the real story behind building his first purpose-built vacation rental community with his business partner, Rajan Chida. From finding land on Zillow and raising capital without a track record to navigating permits, construction delays, tariffs, change orders, and the emotional highs and lows of development, Renzo pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to become a local developer.

You'll hear how military discipline, relentless preparation, and the right partnerships helped him push through setbacks, why development is a "full-contact sport," and why solving problems, not avoiding them, is what separates developers from everyone else.

Whether you're dreaming about your first project or already working through the challenges of one, this conversation is packed with practical lessons on finding opportunities, building the right team, managing risk, and creating projects that leave a lasting impact on your community.

🔗 Full Episode: https://youtu.be/OUBLXWlf9Ck

📥 Developer Vault:

http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin

Guest

Renzo Sanio

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sal-tarsia-41a00613/

About the Show

The Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is for locals who want to build in their own communities. Real projects. Real lessons. No gatekeeping

#localrealestatedeveloper #realestatedevelopment #buildlocal #communitydevelopment #groundupdevelopment #vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #developerjourney #realestateinvesting #propertydevelopment #entrepreneurship #landdevelopment #buildingtogether #localdevelopers #podcast