Real Estate Forum

Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Business
  • Updated Biweekly

Presented by the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School, The Real Estate Forum podcast offers insights into the evolving real estate landscape—from candid conversations with thought leaders to cutting-edge research from the Milstein Research Lab. Hosted by Raphael Sidelsky, episodes feature Columbia alumni, faculty, and industry experts exploring the ideas and innovations shaping the future, from capital markets and development to sustainability and strategy. ⁠https://business.columbia.edu/realestate

  1. 5d ago

    The Evolution of Corcoran and the Future of Luxury Real Estate with Pamela Liebman

    Pamela Liebman, President and CEO of The Corcoran Group, joins Raphael Sidelsky to discuss the evolution of Corcoran and the changing landscape of luxury residential real estate. Pamela shares how Corcoran grew from a Manhattan brokerage into a national and international brand, the importance of local market expertise and strategic partnerships, and her perspective on key luxury markets including New York City, South Florida, and Colorado. She also explores how AI-driven wealth creation and intergenerational wealth transfer are reshaping the market, why maintaining a human-first approach matters, and lessons from her career leading through periods of significant change. 00:00 — AI, wealth creation & the luxury residential market 01:57 — Pamela Liebman’s career and leadership at Corcoran 05:27 — Growing Corcoran beyond New York City 08:08 — Building a lasting luxury brand 10:42 — Brokerage consolidation & brand independence 13:33 — Private exclusives and seller choice 16:08 — New York City’s luxury real estate market 23:22 — South Florida and the luxury market 26:41 — Lifestyle markets, second homes & wellness 29:06 — Branded residences and luxury development 31:31 — Emerging luxury markets and lessons from Austin 35:20 — AI and the future of real estate brokerage 36:58 — Building a career and developing talent 39:52 — Innovation, change & the brokerage business 40:36 — Leadership through crises and downturns 43:17 — Advice for starting a career in real estate 45:15 — Book recommendation: How Will You Measure Your Life?

    The Evolution of Corcoran and the Future of Luxury Real Estate with Pamela Liebman

  2. Sep 16

    Brandon Shorenstein on the Office Market Reset and Investing Beyond the Cycle

    Raphael Sidelsky sits down with Brandon Shorenstein, Chairman and CEO of Shorenstein Realty Services, to discuss the firm’s evolution from a San Francisco office operator into a national institutional real estate platform. Brandon shares how Shorenstein has refined its investment strategy to combine bottom-up underwriting with top-down market analysis, focusing on markets and micro-markets with strong leasing demand, low vacancy, and attractive long-term fundamentals. He discusses recent acquisitions across Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta, New York, and other markets; opportunities emerging from the post-COVID reset in office values; and why smaller, high-quality assets are increasingly attractive. Brandon also provides insight into the recovery of office debt markets, Shorenstein’s current fundraising efforts, and the importance of discipline and staying focused on areas of expertise during periods of market dislocation. 00:00 – The Office Market Has Hit Bottom 00:51 – The Shorenstein Family Legacy 06:22 – Taking Over the Firm 07:41 – A New Approach to Office Investing 10:17 – Where Shorenstein Is Buying 15:20 – Durable Cash Flow in Office 18:21 – Finding Opportunity in the Right Markets 23:42 – The New Office Amenities Arms Race 25:02 – Is the Office Recovery Real? 29:04 – Calling the Bottom in 2024 30:33 – Advice for the Next Generation 32:50 – Carrying the Family Legacy Forward

    Brandon Shorenstein on the Office Market Reset and Investing Beyond the Cycle

  3. Sep 2

    How AI Is Reshaping Real Estate with Zach Aarons, Co-Founder & General Partner of MetaProp

    Zach Aarons, co-founder and partner of MetaProp, joins host Raphael Sidelsky, Director of Equity Strategies at JVP Management and a 1999 Columbia Business School alumnus, on the Real Estate Forum Podcast to discuss how AI is reshaping real estate, PropTech, and the investment landscape. Zach shares his journey from real estate and finance to venture capital and explains how MetaProp evaluates emerging technologies and the founders behind them. He explores AI’s growing impact across real estate—from data centers and office demand to construction, multifamily, retail, and spatial analysis—while highlighting opportunities and challenges for investors. Zach also discusses the future of PropTech, AI-driven fraud and identity verification, and where he sees the most compelling real estate investment opportunities over the next decade. Be sure to also check out Zach’s podcast, Between Zak and Aaron, with Zach Aarons, for more conversations at the intersection of real estate, technology, and innovation. 00:00 — Is AI Making Real Estate More Valuable? 08:16 — How MetaProp Started 14:07 — AI Is Transforming Construction 19:38 — Will AI Kill the Office? 23:00 — Betting on the Future of Data Centers 27:34 — Where AI Is Changing Real Estate 31:35 — The New Risks of AI 33:24 — The Rise of GeoAI 37:08 — Preparing for Real Estate’s AI Future 44:34 — Building Your Career Story

    How AI Is Reshaping Real Estate with Zach Aarons, Co-Founder & General Partner of MetaProp

  4. Jun 8

    Real Estate Forum Podcast — Season 2 Recap

    As Season 2 of the Real Estate Forum Podcast comes to a close, we’re proud to share a recap of a season filled with timely conversations and insights from some of the real estate industry’s most influential leaders and innovators. Hosted by Raphael Sidelsky '99BUS, the season explored the ideas, strategies, and trends shaping the future of real estate across global markets. This season featured conversations with Hossein Fateh (CHQ), Anar Chudgar (Artemis Partners), Meredith Marshall '92BUS (BRP), Keith Breslauer (Patron Capital), David O'Reilly '01BUS (Howard Hughes), Lauren Hochfelder (Morgan Stanley), and Gregorio Schneider '96BUS (TC Latin America Partners). Across investment, development, leadership, and global market strategy, guests shared perspectives on navigating today’s evolving real estate landscape and the opportunities shaping the industry ahead.

  5. May 20

    Nearshoring & Industrial Real Estate: Mexico’s Manufacturing Boom

    Hosted by Raphael Sidelsky, this episode features Gregorio Schneider, Chief Investment Officer at TC Latin America Partners and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Business Finance Division at Columbia Business School. Gregorio shares his career journey from banking in Mexico to building a leading investment platform focused on industrial, logistics, and infrastructure opportunities across Latin America. Together, they explore how USMCA, labor costs, and regional supply chain shifts are driving manufacturing and logistics growth throughout Mexico. The conversation dives into key industrial markets including Monterrey, Tijuana, Juarez, and Mexico City, highlighting market dynamics such as vacancy rates, infrastructure constraints, and sector-specific growth. Gregorio also explains how investors are adapting strategies in today’s market cycle through build-to-suit developments, stabilized asset acquisitions, and long-term nearshoring plays. The episode concludes with insights on tariffs, automation, currency impacts, and why regionalization between the US and Latin America could shape the future of industrial real estate. Read Gregorio's featured viewpoint "The Southern Border and the Nearshoring Debate" on the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estates website here: https://business.columbia.edu/insights/milstein-center/southern-border-and-nearshoring-debate 00:00 – Introduction & Gregorio’s Market Perspective 27:51 – Adapting Strategy Through the Real Estate Cycle 28:32 – Demand Pipeline & USMCA Uncertainty 29:13 – Build-to-Suit Return Profile Explained 30:41 – Cash-on-Cash Returns & Exit Cap Rates 31:43 – Currency Risk & Dollar-Denominated Structures 32:23 – Automation, AI & the Future of Manufacturing 33:41 – Regionalization vs. Globalization 34:39 – Compression of U.S.–Mexico Cap Rate Spreads 35:19 – Book Recommendation: “The Globalization Myth” 36:00 – Life Philosophy, Running & Real Estate Cycles 36:46 – Closing Remarks & Additional Resources

    Nearshoring & Industrial Real Estate: Mexico’s Manufacturing Boom

  6. May 6

    Conviction & Recalibration: Lauren Hochfelder on Strategy and Steering $75B in Real Assets

    Lauren Hochfelder, Managing Director and Head of Global Real Assets at Morgan Stanley, joins Raphael Sidelsky to share insights from her 25-year career in real estate and investment banking. Lauren discusses her journey from studying ethics, politics, and economics at Yale to leading Morgan Stanley’s global real estate, infrastructure, and credit businesses. She explores key real estate investment themes, including demographic-driven senior housing, industrial demand fueled by e-commerce, and global opportunities in markets like Japan. Lauren highlights the value of institutional memory, rigorous research, and collaborative team culture in making informed investment decisions. The conversation also touches on balancing a demanding career with family life and how real estate continues to serve as a hedge against inflation, even amid evolving market dynamics.

    Conviction & Recalibration: Lauren Hochfelder on Strategy and Steering $75B in Real Assets

  7. Apr 22

    Building for Decades: Howard Hughes CEO on Master-Planned Communities & Strategy

    Host Raphael Sidelsky sits down with David O'Reilly, CEO of Howard Hughes Holdings, to discuss his path from engineering and investment banking to leading one of the country’s most innovative real estate platforms. The conversation explores the company’s master-planned community model, its long-term “flywheel” approach to development, and how projects like Summerlin and Ward Village create value over decades. David also shares insights on current market conditions, disciplined capital allocation, and the firm’s evolution toward a Berkshire Hathaway-style structure, including the potential role of insurance in scaling long-term growth.  00:00: Intro – Raphael Sidelsky welcomes David O’Reilly  02:00: Career Path – From engineering to investment banking to CEO  06:00: Lessons Learned – Finance and capital markets insights  12:00: Howard Hughes & MPC Model – Master-planned communities and flywheel approach  20:00: Balancing Short- & Long-Term – Profits, land, and growth strategy  30:00: Signature Communities – The Woodlands, Summerlin, Ward Village  38:00: Market & Capital Allocation – Current conditions and disciplined investing  45:00: Holding Company Strategy – Berkshire Hathaway-style growth and insurance  50:00: Closing Thoughts – Long-term value and strategic insights

    Building for Decades: Howard Hughes CEO on Master-Planned Communities & Strategy

  8. Apr 8

    Keith Breslauer on Patron Capital and Real Estate Private Equity Investing in Europe

    Keith Breslauer, founder and managing director of Patron Capital, joins host Raphael Sidelsky to discuss the evolution of Patron into a leading pan-European private equity real estate platform. He shares how the firm built its value-add and opportunistic strategy across Western Europe, expanded into mezzanine credit and separate accounts, and partnered with Mitsubishi Estate to scale the platform. Keith also discusses the importance of governance, disciplined leverage, and local operating expertise, as well as Patron’s charitable housing initiative supporting women and families affected by domestic abuse. The conversation also explores ESG, mid-market opportunities across Europe, and the leadership values that shape Patron’s culture and long-term vision. 00:00 – Introduction 00:35 – Meet Keith Breslauer 03:11 – From Capital Markets to Real Estate 06:58 – Building Patron Capital & Investor Trust 14:35 – Patron’s Business Lines & Investment Strategy 18:44 – Investing Across Europe vs. the U.S. 23:37 – ESG, Student Housing & Office Opportunities 27:48 – Culture, Ethics & Leadership Principles 36:00 – Personal Motivation & Teaching 38:40 – Advice for Young Real Estate Professionals 41:48 – Future of Real Estate & AI Impact 45:00 – Patron Capital Legacy & Philanthropy 47:00 – Personal Philosophy & Gratitude 49:00 – Closing Remarks

    Keith Breslauer on Patron Capital and Real Estate Private Equity Investing in Europe
See All (23)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Presented by the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School, The Real Estate Forum podcast offers insights into the evolving real estate landscape—from candid conversations with thought leaders to cutting-edge research from the Milstein Research Lab. Hosted by Raphael Sidelsky, episodes feature Columbia alumni, faculty, and industry experts exploring the ideas and innovations shaping the future, from capital markets and development to sustainability and strategy. ⁠https://business.columbia.edu/realestate

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School
  • Show Website
    Real Estate Forum

You Might Also Like