Commercial Real Estate 101 Podcast

Hosted by Raphael Collazo

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119

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May 2026

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About the show

The Commercial Real Estate 101 Podcast is the go-to show for CRE brokers, investors, and developers who want to close bigger deals and build long-term wealth through commercial real estate. Hosted by Raphael Collazo, a CRE broker, investor, and developer in Louisville, KY, each episode features expert interviews, real deal breakdowns, and actionable strategies across retail, multifamily, industrial, and office real estate. New episodes every week. Subscribe and leave a review if you find value!

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May 22, 202639 min

USDA Loans for Commercial Real Estate: How Developers Finance Rural Projects with Jordan Blanchard

Most developers, investors, and business owners hear “USDA loan” and immediately think of farms, agriculture, or rural housing.But USDA financing can also be a powerful tool for commercial real estate projects, business acquisitions, new construction, renovations, equipment, working capital, and rural economic development.In this episode, Raphael Collazo, CCIM sits down with Jordan Blanchard, USDA lender and Co-Founder of X-Caliber Rural Capital, to break down how USDA-backed financing works for commercial real estate and business projects.Jordan explains how USDA loan programs can help eligible borrowers access capital for projects in rural communities, including areas near major cities that many people may not realize still qualify. He also shares what lenders look for during underwriting, how USDA financing compares to conventional loans and SBA loans, and the common mistakes that can delay or derail a USDA loan application.In this episode, we cover:✅ What types of commercial real estate projects may qualify for USDA financing✅ How USDA financing applies to business and commercial real estate✅ How USDA defines “rural”✅ Why some areas near major cities may still qualify✅ USDA loans vs. conventional commercial loans and SBA loans✅ The types of businesses and operators that are often a good fit✅ Using USDA loans for acquisitions, construction, renovations, equipment, and working capital✅ What the underwriting process looks like✅ Minimum and maximum loan size considerations✅ Common reasons USDA loans get delayed or denied✅ What brokers, developers, and business owners should do first if they think a project may qualifyWhether you are a commercial real estate broker, developer, investor, lender, or business owner, this conversation will help you better understand one of the most overlooked financing tools in commercial real estate.If you are exploring a project in a rural or secondary market, USDA financing may be worth a closer look.▶️ Connect with Jordan Blanchard:▶ Website: https://xrcusda.com▶ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/x-caliberruralcapitalIf you like the video, please SUBSCRIBE and don’t forget to press the bell 🔔, 👍 like, comment, and share.📌 About Your Host — Raphael Collazo, CCIM:Raphael is a commercial real estate broker, investor, and developer based in Louisville, KY. He is President & Co-Founder of Summit Commercial Group, a CCIM designee, and author of 3 CRE books. He has been featured in Commercial Property Executive for his innovative use of AI in commercial real estate brokerage.🔗 Website: https://raphaelcollazo.com🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/raphaelcollazo📧 raphael@sumcg.com | 📞 502-536-7315🆓 Free CRE Resources: https://linktr.ee/raphaelcollazocre

May 8, 202610 min

Local Real Estate Developer MeetUp - Announcement

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate 101, Raphael Collazo shares a special update on the upcoming Local Real Estate Developer Meetup taking place in Louisville, Kentucky from August 27–29.This event is designed for aspiring and active real estate developers who want to learn directly from people doing real projects across the country. The meetup will include speaker sessions, strategic partner panels, downtown and urban development discussions, project site tours, networking opportunities, and a VIP experience for deeper relationship-building.Raphael also discusses the mission behind the Local Real Estate Developer Podcast, which he co-hosts with Kristi Kandel, and how the podcast has featured more than 50 developers working on innovative residential and commercial projects nationwide. The goal is to inspire others to pursue their first development project and continue growing as real estate developers. Featured speakers and topics include:✅ Ground-up development and adaptive reuse✅ Affordable housing development✅ Creative mixed-use and urban redevelopment projects✅ Strategic partners including lenders, attorneys, and other professionals✅ Downtown and urban development insights✅ Louisville project site tours✅ Networking with developers from across the countryThe event will also include tours of several Louisville development projects, including Raphael’s own East Broadway adaptive reuse project, where attendees will get a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges, lessons, and strategy behind bringing a commercial redevelopment project to life.Whether you are a broker, investor, developer, contractor, lender, attorney, or someone interested in pursuing your first real estate development, this meetup is designed to help you build relationships, gain practical insight, and connect with others who are actively working in the space.If you’re interested in attending, check the links below to learn more and register.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoy the show!

April 17, 20261 hr 5 min

How To Make It In Real Estate with John McNellis

What does it really take to make it in real estate development? In this episode, Raphael Collazo, CCIM sits down with John McNellis, veteran developer, co-founder of McNellis Partners, and author of the bestselling Making It in Real Estate: Thriving as a Developer (3rd Edition) — for a candid conversation about building a career in commercial real estate from the ground up.With over 40 years of experience and 100+ deals across shopping centers, mixed-use projects, and office buildings throughout Northern California, John shares the hard-won lessons most developers would never admit to. In this episode, you'll learn how to identify and evaluate real estate opportunities, how to structure partnerships and navigate financing, how to survive economic downturns and costly mistakes, and what it truly takes to build lasting wealth through real estate development.Whether you're just getting started or a seasoned developer looking to sharpen your edge, John's insights are practical, honest, and backed by decades of real-world experience. His new book is the field guide he wished existed when he started — and this conversation is one you won't want to miss.▶️ Connect with John McNellis:▶ Website: https://www.johnmcnellis.com▶ Book: Making It in Real Estate: Thriving as a Developer (3rd Edition) — Available on AmazonIf you like the video, please SUBSCRIBE and don't forget to press the bell 🔔, 👍like, comment, and share.📌 About Your Host — Raphael Collazo, CCIM:Raphael is a commercial real estate broker, investor, and developer based in Louisville, KY. He is President & Co-Founder of Summit Commercial Group, a CCIM designee, and author of 3 CRE books. He has been featured in Commercial Property Executive for his innovative use of AI in commercial real estate brokerage.🔗 Website: https://raphaelcollazo.com🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/raphaelcollazo📧 raphael@sumcg.com | 📞 502-536-7315🆓 Free CRE Resources: https://linktr.ee/raphaelcollazocre

April 2, 202642 min

CRE Development Breakdown: Leasing, Permits, Construction & Value Creation

In this episode, we break down a real commercial real estate deal in Louisville, KY, and how we’re transforming it from a vacant building into a stabilized, income-producing asset.We walk through the full process:✅ How we secured national healthcare tenants (including Genoa Healthcare)✅ Navigating permits, zoning, and multiple agencies✅ Managing construction challenges (plumbing, electrical, slab cutting, MEP systems)✅ Solving a flood zone issue to increase long-term value✅ How leasing + execution is helping us increase the property’s valuation✅ Our strategy to refinance and fund the next phase of the projectThis is a real look at what value-add commercial real estate actually takes—beyond the headlines.If you’re interested in:👉🏼 Commercial real estate investing👉🏼 Value-add development👉🏼 Net lease and tenant strategy👉🏼 Passive income through CRE👉🏼 Real estate deals and behind-the-scenes executionThis episode breaks it down step-by-step.Special shoutout to my business partner, Fred Newman (Newman Electric), whose construction expertise is critical to executing this project.📍 Project Location: 706 E Broadway, Louisville, KY

March 28, 202657 min

Multifamily Brokerage Success in 2026 & Beyond: Strategies to Win in a Changing Market

Be sure to join us for an engaging conversation on the latest episode of CRE 101 🎙️In this episode, we sit down with Tim VanWingerden, Principal Broker at VanWingerden Real Estate Advisors, to break down his journey into commercial real estate and what it really takes to succeed in multifamily brokerage in 2026 and beyond.Tim shares practical, real-world insights on building a brokerage career, creating deal flow, and scaling a business in today’s competitive CRE landscape.Whether you're a new broker, investor, or looking to level up your business, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways.What We Cover:How Tim got started in commercial real estateWhat multifamily brokerage actually isEarly career struggles (and how to push through them)How to create opportunities and build deal flowSystems and processes that drive consistencyGoing out on your own and building a brandHiring and building a strong teamLong-term vision and where the market is headingBest resources for learning and growthHow to connect with Tim📩 Want to connect or learn more? Drop a comment or reach out directly.🔔 Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes:https://lnkd.in/eW3j2s

March 20, 202658 min

AI for CRE: Ways to Close More Deals Using Artificial Intelligence

AI isn't coming for your CRE business; it's already here. In this episode, we break down the specific AI tools and workflows that brokers, investors, and developers are using right now to analyze deals faster, generate leads, and win more listings.📰 As seen in: Commercial Property Executive — "CRE Brokers Lean Into AI"https://www.commercialsearch.com/news/cre-brokers-lean-into-ai/📌 About Your Host — Raphael Collazo, CCIM:Raphael is a commercial real estate broker, investor, and developer based in Louisville, KY. He is President & Co-Founder of Summit Commercial Group, a CCIM designee, and author of 3 CRE books. He has been featured in Commercial Property Executive for his innovative use of AI in commercial real estate brokerage.🔗 Website: https://raphaelcollazo.com🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/raphaelcollazo📧 raphael@sumcg.com | 📞 502-536-7315🆓 Free CRE Resources: https://linktr.ee/raphaelcollazocre#CommercialRealEstate #AIRealEstate #CREBrokerage #CRE101 #ChatGPT #ArtificialIntelligence #CREInvesting

March 13, 202658 min

A Day In The Life of A CRE Developer with Brian Forrest

▶️ Visit to know more: https://www.raphaelcollazo.com/ Welcome, and for all your questions, Raphael is here to help you with HA Day In The Life of A CRE Developer with Brian Forrest.If you are interested in learning about the many facets of commercial real estate, whether you're a business owner, investor, or just someone who's curious about the subject, you'll gain value from being a part of the group! In this episode, Brian Forrest, Owner of FJR Commercial Real Estate, talked about his background and how he got into real estate. Along with that, he shared how he broke into commercial real estate development and what a day in the life of a developer looks like.After the talk, we opened up the floor for Q&A. So, watch the full video until the end to learn about his story.▶️ If you're interested in learning more about Brian, click the following links: ▶ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-forrest-1a470a389/▶ Website: https://fjrcom.com/▶ Email: brian@fjrcom.comIf you like the video, please SUBSCRIBE and don't forget to press the bell 🔔, 👍like, comment, and share. ----------------------------------- ▶️ Check out my Website: https://www.raphaelcollazo.com/---------------------------------- ▶️ For business inquiries: raphael@sumcg.com ▶️ Call/Text me: 502-536-7315---------------------------------- ▶️ FREE REAL ESTATE GUIDES: https://linktr.ee/raphaelcollazocre---------------------------------- ▶️ Follow me on: • Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/Commercial-Real-Estate-101/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recollaz/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raphaelcrelouisville• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelcollazo/----------------------------------- #CommercialRealEstate #RaphaelCollazo #retail #luxuryrealestate #realestate #commercialrealestatelouisville #commercialrealestatelouisvilleky #CRELessons #CRE #brokerage

February 27, 202651 min

How To Become a Top Investment Sales Broker with Tyler Bindi

▶️ Visit to know more: https://www.raphaelcollazo.com/ Welcome, and for all your questions, Raphael is here to help you with How to Be a Top Investment Sales Broker with Tyler Bindi.If you are interested in learning about the many facets of commercial real estate, whether you're a business owner, investor, or just someone who's curious about the subject, you'll gain value from being a part of the group! In this meeting, Tyler Bindi, Senior Director of Investments at Marcus & Millichap, discussed his background and how he got into the business. He also shares what it takes to become a top investment sales broker and the strategies that get you there.After the talk, we opened up the floor for Q&A. So, watch the full video until the end to learn about his story.▶️ If you're interested in learning more about Tyler, click the following links: ▶ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-bindi/▶ X: https://x.com/TripleNetTyler▶ Email: tyler.bindi@marcusmillichap.comIf you like the video, please SUBSCRIBE and don't forget to press the bell 🔔, 👍like, comment, and share. ----------------------------------- ▶️ Check out my Website: https://www.raphaelcollazo.com/---------------------------------- ▶️ For business inquiries: raphael@sumcg.com ▶️ Call/Text me: 502-536-7315---------------------------------- ▶️ FREE REAL ESTATE GUIDES: https://linktr.ee/raphaelcollazocre---------------------------------- ▶️ Follow me on: • Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/Commercial-Real-Estate-101/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recollaz/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raphaelcrelouisville• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelcollazo/----------------------------------- #CommercialRealEstate #RaphaelCollazo #retail #luxuryrealestate #realestate #commercialrealestatelouisville #commercialrealestatelouisvilleky #CRELessons #CRE #brokerage

February 21, 202636 min

How To Succeed in Multifamily Redevelopment with Zach Molzer

▶️ Visit to know more: https://www.raphaelcollazo.com/ Welcome, and for all your questions, Raphael is here to help you with Understanding the How To Succeed in Multifamily Redevelopment with Zach Molzer.If you are interested in learning about the many facets of commercial real estate, whether you're a business owner, investor, or just someone who's curious about the subject, you'll gain value from being a part of the group! In this meeting, Zach Molzer, Principal & Founder of Molzer Development, discussed his background and how he got into the business. He will also share insights on how he's been able to execute on large-scale multifamily redevelopment projects and ways others can pursue similar projects in their market.After the talk, we opened up the floor for Q&A. So, watch the full video until the end to learn about his story.▶️ If you're interested in learning more about Zach, click the following links: ▶ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmolzer/▶ Website: https://molzerdevelopment.com/▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachmolzer/?hl=enIf you like the video, please SUBSCRIBE and don't forget to press the bell 🔔, 👍like, comment, and share. ----------------------------------- ▶️ Check out my Website: https://www.raphaelcollazo.com/---------------------------------- ▶️ For business inquiries: raphael@sumcg.com ▶️ Call/Text me: 502-536-7315---------------------------------- ▶️ FREE REAL ESTATE GUIDES: https://linktr.ee/raphaelcollazocre---------------------------------- ▶️ Follow me on: • Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/Commercial-Real-Estate-101/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recollaz/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raphaelcrelouisville• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelcollazo/----------------------------------- #CommercialRealEstate #RaphaelCollazo #retail #luxuryrealestate #realestate #commercialrealestatelouisville #commercialrealestatelouisvilleky #CRELessons #CRE #brokerage

February 12, 202646 min

Adaptive Reuse Project - 706 E Broadway

In this episode of CRE 101, we take you inside an adaptive reuse project we’re actively pursuing at 706 E Broadway in Louisville. My business partner, Fred Newman, and I break down how the deal came together, from sourcing the opportunity and working through due diligence, to structuring the financing and lining up a tenant for half of the first floor. With plans to begin construction soon, this episode offers a real-world look at what it takes to move a development from concept to execution.We walk through the challenges, the decision-making process, and the strategies behind repositioning an existing building into a productive, income-generating asset, without the fluff and without the theory.🎙 Topics covered in this episode:• How we found and evaluated the 706 E Broadway opportunity• The due diligence process and key risks we underwrote• How the financing was structured• How we secured a tenant for ½ of the first floor• What’s next as we move into the construction phaseIf you’re a commercial real estate investor, broker, or developer, or just want a transparent look at how deals actually get done, this episode is packed with practical, real-world insight.🔗 Connect with Raphael Collazo • Website: https://raphaelcollazo.com/ — Explore his commercial real estate services, listings, podcast content, and CRE resources. • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelcollazo — Follow Raphael for market insights, deal discussions, and industry commentary.