MIT/CRE Meet the Visionaries

In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, MSRED student Michael Khamis sits down with Jay Parsons, one of the industry’s renowned rental housing economists and strategists, for a deep dive into the forces shaping housing and capital markets in 2025 and beyond. From the ripple effects of immigration policy on construction labor and project feasibility to the rent slowdown, shifting housing policy, and the limits of monetary easing, Jay unpacks the data and narratives driving today’s real estate economy. The conversation also explores the 2025–2026 supply peak, evolving migration patterns, and what REIT earnings can tell us about the road ahead for multifamily performance and valuation.Interview by: Michael Khamis / MSRED 2026Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction: Michael Khamis / Lacey CochranMusic from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-with-meLicense code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E

In this episode, we welcome the dynamic and inspiring Nicholas Edelman, CEO and Founder of surf park development company Aventuur. Aventuur is on a mission is to create exceptional surfing destinations and experiences that generate meaningful social and economic value. To do this, the company's secured the rights to the world’s leading wave-generating technology – the Wavegarden Cove – in markets across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Fiji. They currently have three projects in active development.In our conversation, we dig deep into the business case for surf parks, including the unit economics, demand drivers, and secular trends that make it one of the hottest niches in commercial real estate right now. Nick also shares his personal journey - one filled with a love of sport, nature, and personal connection - and how he came to found Aventuur with a friend from graduate school and the backing of some heavy-hitting investors.Listeners will surely want to stay till the end to hear Nick provide an incredible anecdote about the early days of the company. From the beginning, though, this conversation is truly a masterclass in humble leadership, passion, and commercial real estate fundamentals.Interview by: Robby Mulcahy / MSRED Candidate 2025Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction by: Robby MulcahyMusic from ⁠⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/track/mark-july/dance-with-me?rt=uc-referral⁠⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E

This episode features MIT alum Dave Burt, CFA, Founder and CEO of DeltaTerra Capital, who is at the forefront of quantifying the growing risks the climate crisis poses to real estate and mortgage markets.Drawing on his background in managing a global macro portfolio as a Partner at BlueMountain Capital Management and his strategic leadership at Bain & Company, Dave offers a uniquely rigorous, data-driven perspective on uncovering often-overlooked climate-related market inefficiencies.In this conversation, current MSRED student Sam Jakshtis and Dave explore how his work is shaping a new understanding of property valuation and investment strategy in an era of increasing climate volatility.Paper Reference: Adaptation Using Financial Markets: Climate Risk Diversification through Securitization: https://www.nber.org/papers/w32244Interview by: Sam Jakshtis, MSRED Candidate 2025Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction by: Lacey CochranMusic from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/track/mark-july/dance-with-me?rt=uc-referral⁠⁠⁠⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01Ehttps://cre.mit.edu/

In this episode, we're honored to host one of the preeminent voices in commercial real estate today, Willy Walker.Willy is Chairman and CEO of Walker & Dunlop. Under his leadership, Walker & Dunlop has grown from a small, family-owned business to become one of the largest commercial real estate finance and advisory firms in the United States and internationally. Walker & Dunlop is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and in its first ten years as a public company, its shares have appreciated more than 800%. The firm was also #17 on Fortune’s 2017 list of “Fastest Growing Public Companies” and has been named a Best Workplace for eight of the last eleven years by the Great Place to Work® Institute. Mr. Walker received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011, was named “Financier of the Year” in 2017 and 2020 by Commercial Property Executive and was selected as a Most Admired CEO by the Denver Business Journal in 2024.Willy shares the story of how he came to helm Walker & Dunlop, his early vision for the company, and how he's grown it from a modest, local real estate firm to one of the most recognized international real estate advisory companies in the world. He discusses the origin of his incredibly successful podcast, the Walker Webcast, as well as his approach to social media and brand building. We dive into Willy's thoughts on the state of the commercial real estate market today, and then end with a fun lightning round of questions in which Willy offers some great insight. Throughout, Willy provides heaps of advice for students, and young and mid-career professionals alike. His experience, deep understanding of capital markets, and quick wit make this episode a truly delightful and informative listen. Interview by: Robby Mulcahy / MSRED Candidate 2025Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction by: Robby Mulcahy, Soala AjienkaMusic from ⁠⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/track/mark-july/dance-with-me?rt=uc-referral⁠⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01Ehttps://cre.mit.edu/

In this episode, we sit down with Elena Alschuler, Head of Sustainability for the Americas at LaSalle. She acts as a central leader for sustainability and climate risk initiatives across all asset classes and investment products, collaborating closely with Portfolio Management, Transactions and Asset Management. Elena shares the business case behind sustainable real estate—how robust data, energy efficiency, and proactive climate-risk planning can enhance both asset value and environmental resilience. Listen in to learn about the evolving industry benchmarks that guide sustainability strategies, plus tangible ways investors can future-proof properties against climate shocks. Whether you’re new to real estate or a seasoned industry professional, this episode offers fresh perspectives on balancing profitability with sustainability.Papers: LaSalle, The Value of Green 2023JLL, Demand for Sustainable Buildings 2023Interview by Soala Ajienka | MArch, MSRED 2025Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction by: Soala AjienkaMusic from ⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/track/mark-july/dance-with-me?rt=uc-referral⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01Ehttps://cre.mit.edu/