The AI Edge Podcast: CRE & AI

What if the real estate under your business could fund your next stage of growth?

In this episode, Matt Kramer explains why many operators misunderstand growth capital, how sale-leasebacks actually work, and why smart expansion isn't about opening more locations—it's about structuring growth correctly.

We also discuss development financing, operator mistakes, AI in commercial real estate, and why some businesses scale while others collapse under their own success.

Growth doesn't usually fail because of a lack of opportunity.

It fails because of poor capital structure.

In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, I sit down with Matt Kramer, Founder and Managing Partner of Century Partners, a firm that has facilitated more than $1.6 billion in transactions helping operators grow through real estate.

We discuss:

• How sale-leasebacks actually work

• Why many operators grow too aggressively

• The biggest mistakes businesses make with expansion capital

• Why structure matters more than funding

• How development financing has evolved

• Automotive services, retail, and emerging opportunities

• AI's role in commercial real estate

• Why operators should think differently about owned real estate

Matt also shares insights from hundreds of transactions across the country and explains how smart operators use real estate as a strategic growth tool rather than simply an asset sitting on the balance sheet.

If you're a business owner, franchise operator, developer, investor, or commercial real estate professional, this episode delivers practical lessons on scaling intelligently.

Matt Kramer

Founder & Managing Partner — Century Partners

Century Partners specializes in:

• Sale-Leaseback Advisory

• Development Capital

• Growth Financing

• Operator Real Estate Strategy

• Portfolio Recapitalization

• National Retail Real Estate Advisory

Over $1.6 Billion In Transaction Volume

Connect With Matt Kramer

Website:
CenturyPartnersRE.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kramer-a625a2b2/

Email:
[email protected]

#CommercialRealEstate #SaleLeaseback #BusinessGrowth #GrowthCapital #RealEstateInvesting #Development #Entrepreneurship #TheAIEdgePodcast

What if everything commercial real estate has believed for the last 50 years is backwards?

Joe Brady says the ribbon cutting isn't the end of a project anymore—it's the beginning.

In this conversation, we discuss why consumer behavior is reshaping office, retail, and development, how AI is changing decision-making, and why the future belongs to operators who can adapt faster than the market.

Joe Brady has spent more than three decades building companies, leading real estate portfolios, developing retail projects, and helping organizations navigate change.

As CEO of LRG Investors and author of Workshop: The Consumer Driven Transformation of Commercial Real Estate, Joe believes commercial real estate is entering a new era—one driven not by buildings, but by consumer behavior.

In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, we discuss:

• Why ribbon cuttings are now the beginning of the job, not the end

• The consumer-driven transformation of commercial real estate

• Why physical retail is more important than ever

• The future of office, retail, multifamily, and development

• How AI is becoming a force multiplier for operators

• Why curiosity may become the most valuable skill in business

• The relationship between technology, community, and the future of work

Joe also shares his perspective on leadership, mentorship, decision-making, and the opportunities emerging for those willing to embrace change.

If you're involved in commercial real estate, development, investing, technology, or AI, this conversation is packed with insights.

Joe Brady

CEO — LRG Investors

Author — Workshop: The Consumer Driven Transformation of Commercial Real Estate

University of Florida Bergstrom Real Estate Center Advisory Board

President — Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity

Commercial Real Estate Executive | Investor | Developer | Author

Connect With Joe Brady

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joebrady03/

Website: LRGinvestors.com

Book: Workshop: The Consumer Driven Transformation of Commercial Real Estate

#CommercialRealEstate #AI #RetailRealEstate #Development #RealEstateInvesting #Leadership #PropTech #TheAIEdgePodcast

What if the biggest obstacle to growing your business isn't the market...

It's you?

Most brokers, investors, and operators don't have a lead problem.

They have a leverage problem.

They're buried in follow-ups, admin work, underwriting, LOIs, marketing, and transaction coordination while the relationships that actually drive revenue sit untouched.

In this episode, Kevin Hanan breaks down how top-performing commercial real estate operators are using AI, virtual talent, and operational systems to remove themselves as the bottleneck and scale faster with less overhead.

In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Kevin Hanan, Co-Founder of CRE Task Wizard.

Kevin and his team help commercial real estate operators build lean, scalable back-office systems using trained virtual assistants, AI-powered workflows, and operational automation.

With over 200 CRE clients, Kevin has a unique view into where operators lose time, where deals get stuck, and why many founders unknowingly become the biggest bottleneck in their own business.

Topics discussed:

✅ Why founders become the bottleneck

✅ The hidden cost of admin work

✅ How brokers should be using AI today

✅ Virtual assistants vs AI agents

✅ Building a lean back office

✅ Scaling without adding overhead

✅ Why data quality matters more than automation

✅ The future of commercial real estate operations

If you're a broker, investor, acquisitions professional, operator, or entrepreneur looking to scale more efficiently, this episode is packed with practical insights.

Connect with Kevin:

Website:
https://www.cretaskwizard.com/

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

Email:
[email protected]

Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, investors, and business leaders building real companies in the AI era.

Most investors think the hard part is finding the deal.

They're wrong.

The real danger starts after the contract is signed.

Liens. Title defects. Communication breakdowns. Missing documents. Last-minute surprises that can delay or kill a transaction entirely.

In this episode, Samuel Weiner pulls back the curtain on what actually happens between contract and closing, where deals break down, and what smart operators do differently to get transactions across the finish line.

If you're buying, selling, developing, raising capital, or actively investing in real estate, this conversation could save you time, money, and a massive headache.

In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Samuel Weiner, Managing Partner of Brooklyn Land Title.

Samuel has a front-row seat to real estate transactions across multiple asset classes and markets. From multifamily and commercial assets to development projects and financing transactions, his team helps operators navigate the complex path from contract to closing.

Topics discussed:

✅ Why deals fail at the last minute

✅ The biggest communication mistakes investors make

✅ What title insurance actually does

✅ Common issues operators never see coming

✅ Liens, judgments, encumbrances, and deal killers

✅ Why communication is the most overlooked skill in real estate

✅ The future of title companies and transaction management

✅ Where AI may impact the closing process

Whether you're an investor, developer, lender, operator, or syndicator, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most critical parts of every real estate transaction.

Managing Partner, Brooklyn Land Title

Brooklyn Land Title is a national title insurance firm handling residential and commercial transactions across the United States.

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-weiner-3a10a3117/

Website:
https://brooklynlandtitle.com

Most people think real estate investing is simple.

Buy the property.

Hire management.

Collect checks.

Colby Carlson learned the hard way that the real work starts after closing.

Everyone talks about finding deals.

Almost nobody talks about what happens after you close.

In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Colby Carlson, Managing Partner at Tier One Capital, breaks down what real multifamily operations actually look like behind the scenes.

From sleeping in a vacant apartment during a major renovation project to managing contractors, property managers, lenders, budgets, tenant issues, and capital improvements, Colby shares lessons most investors never learn until it's too late.

We discuss:

• How Colby got started in commercial real estate at 22 years old
• Building broker relationships and sourcing deals
• Why operations create returns, not acquisitions
• The truth about property management
• Common mistakes new investors make
• What actually breaks inside apartment deals
• Why some operators succeed while others fail
• Northwest Arkansas and emerging market opportunities
• Development vs acquisitions
• AI, automation, investor relations, and scaling operations

If you're investing in multifamily, syndications, commercial real estate, or trying to build a real estate business, this conversation is packed with practical lessons from someone who has lived inside the operations, not just the spreadsheets.

Guest:
Colby Carlson
Managing Partner, Tier One Capital

Connect with Colby:

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdcarlson20/

Website:
https://t1-capital.com

Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, investors, and business leaders building real companies through execution, systems, and discipline.

#MultifamilyInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #ApartmentInvesting #PassiveIncome #Syndication #AIEdgePodcast #RealEstateOperator

Most developers think the biggest risk is financing.

It's not.

According to veteran developer Wesley DeFoor, the fastest way to lose money, time, and years of your life is choosing the wrong partner.

What actually kills real estate deals?

Most people blame interest rates, construction costs, lenders, or market conditions.

Veteran developer Wesley DeFoor says they're looking in the wrong place.

In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Wesley breaks down the hard lessons learned from 30+ years in commercial real estate development, including why bad partnerships destroy great deals, how disciplined operators survive downturns, why most developers take unnecessary entitlement risk, and what separates successful projects from expensive mistakes.

We also dive into:

• How Wesley evaluates development opportunities
• The biggest mistakes developers make with LOIs and partnerships
• Why location still matters more than almost anything else
• Retail, medical office, and mixed-use development trends
• Capital markets, LP equity, and today's financing environment
• Development risk management and underwriting discipline
• AI in real estate development and where it actually creates value
• The future of commercial development over the next 12–24 months

If you're a developer, investor, capital partner, sponsor, or commercial real estate operator, this conversation is packed with practical lessons from someone who has lived through multiple market cycles.

Guest:
Wesley DeFoor
Principal, DeFoor Ventures

Connect with Wesley:
Website: https://defoorventures.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesley-defoor-443a8a50/

Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, investors, and business leaders building real companies and solving real problems.

#CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateDevelopment #CRE #RealEstateInvesting #AIEdgePodcast #Development #Multifamily #RetailDevelopment #CommercialDevelopment

Most investors think they're losing because they need a better strategy.

Mark Perry disagrees.

After completing more than 1,000 real estate transactions and generating a $500,000 payday on a single deal, Mark believes the biggest obstacle isn't market conditions, interest rates, or competition.

It's mindset.

In this episode, Mark breaks down creative financing, wholesaling, subject-to deals, seller financing, off-market opportunities, and why he believes your beliefs ultimately determine your results.

Mark Perry is a real estate investor, entrepreneur, educator, and author with more than a decade of experience across wholesaling, creative financing, lease options, subject-to transactions, buy-and-hold investing, and multifamily opportunities.

In this conversation, Mark shares how he got started in real estate, completed his first wholesale deal, built a portfolio using creative financing strategies, and eventually generated over $500,000 on a single transaction.

We also dive into:

• How to identify opportunities others miss

• Creative financing strategies that require little or no money down

• Subject-to deals, lease options, and seller financing

• The current state of today's real estate market

• Off-market opportunities and relationship-driven deal flow

• Why mindset may be more important than strategy

• Daily habits that create long-term success

• How gratitude, visualization, and belief influence results

• The future of AI in real estate investing

Whether you're a new investor, experienced operator, or entrepreneur looking to level up your thinking, this episode delivers practical insights on both the tactical and mental side of building wealth.

🎙 Hosted by Louis Fernandes
Co-Founder, Edge Partners AI
Host of The AI Edge Podcast

Mark Perry

Real Estate Investor | Entrepreneur | Educator

Follow Mark:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-perry-94b682101/
• Facebook: Search "Mark Perry"
• YouTube: Mr. Perry The REI Guy

Most multifamily operators think they have a reporting problem.

What they actually have is a data infrastructure problem.

In this episode, Saad Shah, Founder of RentViewer, breaks down how owner-operators are leaking money through bad data, missed collections, stale workflows, delayed make-readies, and dashboards nobody actually uses.

Most real estate operators think AI will magically solve their operational problems.

Saad Shah says that’s wrong.

In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Saad Shah, Founder of RentViewer, to break down the real operational bottlenecks inside multifamily and manufactured housing portfolios — and why clean, trustworthy data matters more than flashy dashboards or AI-generated presentations.

Saad explains how RentViewer helps owner-operators managing 2,000–20,000 units move beyond spreadsheets and manual reporting into live operational visibility.

The conversation dives deep into:

• Why dashboards alone don’t solve operational problems
• The hidden money leaks inside multifamily portfolios
• How AI is changing acquisitions, reporting, and investor presentations
• Why most operators still can’t trust their own data
• How owner-operators are using AI incorrectly today
• The operational realities behind make-ready delays, collections, occupancy, and resident experience
• Why “dirty data” is one of the biggest threats to AI adoption in real estate
• How real estate companies can use AI without creating risk

This is not a hype conversation.

This is an operator-to-operator discussion about systems, workflows, infrastructure, analytics, and what actually matters when scaling real estate operations.

About Saad Shah

Saad Shah is the Founder of RentViewer, a real estate analytics platform helping multifamily and manufactured housing operators gain real-time visibility into portfolio performance.

RentViewer helps owner-operators automate reporting, centralize data, improve KPI visibility, streamline acquisitions analysis, and eliminate operational blind spots across thousands of units.

Saad operates at the intersection of real estate operations, analytics, AI, and data infrastructure, helping operators move beyond spreadsheets into scalable operational intelligence.

⸻

🔗 Connect with Saad Shah & RentViewer

🌐 Website:
https://www.rentviewer.com

💼 LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rentviewer/

👤 Saad Shah:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saadshah/

⸻

📌 Connect with Edge Partners AI

🌐 https://www.edgepartnersai.com

📅 Book a Discovery Call:
https://calendly.com/edgepartnersai/ai-discovery-call

🎙 Podcast:
https://youtube.com/@theaiedgepodcast

#AI #CommercialRealEstate #Multifamily #RealEstateInvesting #PropTech #DataAnalytics #ArtificialIntelligence #CRE #PropertyManagement #BusinessSystems

Developers are drowning in delays, municipalities are stuck in the past, and housing affordability is collapsing.

Jill Ferrari believes AI is about to completely change how housing gets built in America — from land acquisition to zoning, permitting, financing, and occupancy.

In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with commercial real estate attorney, developer, and entrepreneur Jill Ferrari for a deep operator-level conversation on the future of housing development, AI, and affordability in America.

Jill has spent nearly 30 years solving some of the hardest development problems in commercial real estate — from brownfield redevelopment and complex capital stacks to workforce housing and public-private partnerships.

But what makes this conversation different is where it goes next.

Jill breaks down how AI is beginning to reshape the housing development process itself:

• Site selection
• Land banking
• Municipal permitting
• Zoning analysis
• Construction workflows
• Housing affordability
• Income-qualified housing placement
• Developer operations
• Public-sector bottlenecks

This is not a hype conversation.

It’s a real discussion about where AI is actually creating leverage inside real estate development — and where the industry is still completely unprepared.

We also dive into:

• Why affordable housing is so misunderstood
• The hidden friction slowing down development
• Why municipalities may resist AI adoption
• How developers are quietly building their own AI tools
• The future of workforce housing
• Why operational efficiency matters more than ever

If you’re a developer, investor, operator, architect, municipality, proptech founder, or anyone building in the real world — this episode is packed with insight.

Commercial Real Estate Attorney | Developer | Founder | Housing & Economic Development Strategist

Jill Ferrari specializes in complex commercial real estate development, brownfield redevelopment, public-private partnerships, affordable housing strategy, and incentive-based financing structures.

She is also co-founder of Renovare Development and creator of Homeverse, an AI-driven platform designed to connect income-qualified renters and homebuyers with housing opportunities.

Jill recently moderated a national Urban Land Institute panel focused on AI and housing development.

LinkedIn:
Jill Ferrari https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-ferrari-6729891/

Firm Website:
sbdetroit.com

Podcast:
Breaking Ceilings, Breaking Ground

Most multifamily operators are still playing checkers.

Justin Spillers built a vertically integrated machine that:

• Underwrites 1,200 deals a year
• Renovates units in 7 days
• Runs 97% occupancy
• Uses AI across leasing, underwriting, hiring, and operations
• Is scaling toward 2,500 units

This is what real operational scale actually looks like.

Most real estate operators think growth comes from finding more deals.

Justin Spillers believes growth comes from fixing operational bottlenecks faster than everyone else.

In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Justin Spillers, co-founder of Real Estate Alpha and VSF Rentals, to break down how his team built a vertically integrated multifamily operation managing 700+ units across Ohio.

They discuss:
• How Justin’s team renovates apartment units in 7 days
• Why speed is their competitive advantage
• Building in-house leasing, construction, and maintenance teams
• Underwriting 1,200+ deals per year
• AI inside leasing, hiring, underwriting, and operations
• Scaling systems before things break
• Why most operators fail at execution, not acquisitions

This is not theory.
This is operator-level execution at scale.

Justin started as a real estate attorney before moving full-time into multifamily investing and operations. Instead of outsourcing management and construction like most operators, he and his partner built everything in-house.

Today their company:
• Owns and manages 700+ apartment units
• Operates with a 60-person in-house team
• Underwrites over 1,200 deals annually
• Renovates units in as little as 7 days
• Maintains 97% occupancy
• Uses AI across acquisitions, leasing, hiring, underwriting, reporting, and operations

What stood out most about Justin is how operationally obsessed he is.

Every process is tracked.
Every KPI is monitored.
Every bottleneck gets attacked.

This conversation goes deep into:
• Building systems that survive scale
• Why leasing is really a sales organization
• The hidden operational failures killing most multifamily operators
• AI’s real role inside real estate businesses
• Why speed is becoming the ultimate advantage

This wasn’t a motivational podcast.
This was a masterclass in execution.

• Website:
realestatealpha.io

• LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinspillers/

• Email:
[email protected]

• Phone:
419-305-3732