The Gulf South’s Surprising Commercial Real Estate Secrets 🌊🏢

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Hello, Commercial Real Estate Pros! 🏢

What if the biggest real estate lessons weren’t in boardrooms, but in the storm-battered streets of the Gulf South?

This week, we uncover how cities like New Orleans and Mobile have turned adversity into opportunity—offering a masterclass in resilience. Plus, AI is rewriting the rules of prospecting, transforming what used to take weeks into hours. And if you think success in commercial real estate is all about deals and data, think again—mentorship might be the most powerful (and underrated) asset in your career.

Let’s get into it.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

• Lessons from the Gulf South: Resilience & Opportunity in Commercial Real Estate 🌆🌊

• AI is Revolutionizing Commercial Real Estate Prospecting 🤖🏢

• Mentorship: The Hidden Catalyst for Success in Commercial Real Estate 🏢🤝

Lessons from the Gulf South: Resilience & Opportunity in Commercial Real Estate 🌆🌊 read the full 869-word article here

Article published: January 29, 2025

After traveling through New Orleans, Biloxi, and Mobile, real estate expert Allen Buchanan unpacks some surprising insights about commercial real estate in the Gulf South.

This region, shaped by hurricanes, ports, and energy industries, offers a masterclass in resilience and opportunity. From climate-proof developments to thriving secondary markets, the Gulf South is a case study in how local economies drive commercial success.

If you’re thinking about where to invest next, the lessons here could change your perspective.

Key Takeaways:

• 🌪️ Resilience is non-negotiable: In a region prone to hurricanes and flooding, developers use elevated structures and advanced drainage to protect assets—risk mitigation is everything.

• 📦 Port cities = real estate goldmines: Houston, New Orleans, and Mobile thrive on logistics and trade, making warehouses and industrial hubs prime investments.

• 💰 Business-friendly incentives fuel growth: Low taxes and state incentives attract commercial projects, boosting office spaces, mixed-use developments, and corporate campuses.

• 🏝️ Tourism keeps the market strong: From New Orleans’ festivals to Biloxi’s casinos, tourism fuels hotels, vacation rentals, and entertainment venues, creating a steady demand for real estate.

AI is Revolutionizing Commercial Real Estate Prospecting 🤖🏢 watch the full 39-min video here

Video published: January 28, 2025

Commercial real estate prospecting has always been a grind—cold calls, endless voicemails, and chasing down property owners. But AI is changing the game.

In this episode of The Commercial Real Estate Blueprint Podcast, host Graham Storey speaks with Seamus Boswell, co-founder of Terracotta, an AI-powered prospecting tool designed specifically for commercial real estate investors and brokers.

Boswell and his team built a smarter way to generate leads, verify property owners, and automate outreach—turning weeks of work into hours. If you're looking to scale your deal flow and eliminate wasted time, this is the future of CRE prospecting.

Key Takeaways:

• 📞 AI-powered dialing boosts efficiency: Terracotta automates cold calls, voicemail drops, and lead verification, reducing wasted time and increasing response rates.

• 🔍 Smarter data, better deals: AI verifies property owners, filters disconnected numbers, and prioritizes top contacts, ensuring higher-quality conversations.

• 🗂️ No more lost leads: AI transcribes, summarizes, and tracks calls so brokers and investors can follow up strategically and close more deals.

• ⏳ Speed = more opportunities: Instead of spending hours manually dialing, AI lets you reach 100+ owners in an hour—a massive competitive advantage.

Mentorship: The Hidden Catalyst for Success in Commercial Real Estate 🏢🤝 read the full 735-word article here

Article published: January 23, 2025

In commercial real estate (CRE), deals and data drive the business—but mentorship is the game-changer that shapes careers.

In Inside Indiana Business, Brandi Floyd, Business Development Manager at Intertek PSI, highlights how mentorship isn’t just career advice—it’s a powerful force for professional growth, diversity, and leadership development.

Through her experience in the IndyCREW Mentoring Program, she’s seen firsthand how mentorship bridges industry gaps, elevates new voices, and creates future leaders—especially for women, who still hold only 9% of C-suite roles in CRE.

Key Takeaways:

• 👥 Mentorship is a two-way street: Mentors gain fresh perspectives and insights from mentees, making it a mutually enriching experience.

• 🚀 Career acceleration through guidance: 75% of executives credit mentorship for their success, proving it’s a direct path to leadership.

• 🌎 Diversity in CRE starts with mentorship: With women making up only 36.7% of the CRE workforce, mentoring programs like IndyCREW help dismantle barriers and nurture leadership talent.

• 🔄 The mentorship ripple effect: Successful mentees often become mentors, ensuring continuous growth and a stronger industry.

Why It Matters

Resilient markets. Smarter prospecting. Powerful mentorship. These aren’t just trends—they’re the forces shaping the future of commercial real estate.

The Gulf South shows us that preparation and adaptability create lasting opportunities. AI is proving that efficiency isn’t optional—it’s the new standard. And in an industry where connections mean everything, mentorship isn’t just helpful—it’s the hidden key to long-term success.

The question isn’t whether the game is changing—it’s whether you’re ready to change with it. Where will you place your next bet?

Anne Morgan
Editor-in-Chief
Commercial Real Estate Weekly