44: Rob Simmons on Emerging Markets and Smart Living. Director of Development, Cathartes

Rob Simmons is the Director of Development for Cathartes, a Boston-based private real estate firm with nearly one billion in investments across the Northeast. Cathartes strive to meet the evolving needs of an ever-changing society with purposeful spaces that promote smart living with every project. Rob has over 17 years of experience in the industry and has developed more than 700 housing units, several hundred hotel rooms, and 50,000 square feet of commercial space, all with a capitalization of maybe more than 600 million. He manage all development activities, including land due diligence, design, engineering, entitlement, financing, and construction.

Summary:
Rob Simmons, the Director of Development for Cathartes, shares his insights on real estate development and the success of Cathartes. He discusses the importance of boutique firms and their ability to see value in emerging markets. Rob also emphasizes the significance of community and smart living in their projects, as well as the challenges they face in the current market.

Key Takeaways:

• Cathartes focuses on emerging markets and ground-up development in secondary or tertiary cities.
• The company prioritizes community and smart living in their projects to create a sense of belonging and connection.
• Building strong relationships with sellers and communities helps Cathartus navigate the permitting process and gain trust.
• The current market challenges include increasing construction costs and tighter lending conditions.
• Cathartes has a five-year development pipeline of 600 units and aims to continue growing and delivering value to communities.

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