In this episode of The Land Development Podcast, host Ryan Glick sits down with Felipe Castillo, partner at PlaceMKR, to discuss his path into real estate development. Felipe shares how his early ambitions to become an architect evolved into a passion for development after gaining exposure to the broader aspects of the industry. His story highlights the influence of military service on his work ethic and leadership style.
Felipe takes listeners through the intricacies of land development, from rezoning to managing investor relationships. With over 30 successful rezonings under his belt, he emphasizes the importance of engaging with local communities and understanding the political landscape to secure project approvals. His insights into raising capital, balancing project complexity, and driving revenue provide valuable lessons for both new and experienced developers.
One of the standout discussions revolves around Felipe’s involvement in redeveloping the iconic Backyard venue in Bee Cave, originally started by Willie Nelson. Felipe explains how his team is transforming the site into a vibrant mixed-use destination while preserving its rich history. This project underscores his philosophy of blending creativity with practical development strategies.
Ryan sits down with Peter Murphy Lewis to talk about how storytelling can help developers and builders attract better talent and build stronger teams. They break down simple, practical ways to use video and real stories to stand out in today’s labor market.
Keith Miller joins the show to talk about his focus on building attainably priced homes at scale in Montana, why he’s using factory-built housing, and what it really takes to bring new supply to fast-growing markets.
Ryan and Charles break down falling homebuyer demand, a heated TikTok debate on millennial housing choices, a proposed property tax hike in New York City, and what a shrinking U.S. population could mean for developers.