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In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, recorded at the Vancouver Real Estate Forum, hosts Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk welcome Trevor Blakely, founder and CEO of Forgestone Capital. With over $8 billion in transactions and $3 billion in assets under management, Trevor shares sharp insights on navigating today’s volatile real estate market. He explains why fundamentals matter more than ever, how to adjust investment strategies, and why debt is gaining appeal, all while offering actionable advice for thriving beyond the era of easy returns.
What you will learn:
- How to adapt investment strategies when traditional growth drivers like cap rate compression are no longer reliable
- Why focusing on debt over equity makes strategic sense in the current market
- The fundamental shifts occurring across major asset classes
- How to evaluate real estate opportunities in a stable or declining market environment
- Why operational excellence and strong partnerships matter
- The “Early Adopter Principle” for identifying and capitalizing on emerging trends
- How institutional ownership is reshaping market dynamics and valuations
- Why private capital may become increasingly important
- The importance of focusing on yield and risk management in current fundraising efforts
- How to navigate geopolitical uncertainties while maintaining investment momentum
Trevor Blakely is the Co-Founder and CEO of Forgestone Capital, where he leads the strategic direction, investment strategy, and execution of major transactions. With over 34 years in commercial real estate and over $40 billion in investment and debt financing expertise, Trevor has been instrumental in Forgestone’s growth to over $5 billion in assets under management. Under his leadership, the firm has raised over $1.5 billion in equity. Before Forgestone, Trevor was Co-Head of the Real Estate Capital Markets group at Bank of Montreal, where he launched and built its real estate investment and brokerage platform.
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