The Unlocking Value Bulletin #7
10 Bold Real Estate Shifts: AI, Platforms & Emerging CRE Trends
Welcome to a new issue of the Unlocking Real Estate Value newsletter. Each week I will provide you with exclusive advice and professional insights to help you realise long-term value through real estate development.
This week, I’ve curated a list of real estate stories that caught my eye on LinkedIn.
The feed is always rich with a variety of topics. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m noticing a steady rise in posts about Operational Real Estate platforms. It’s clearly a hot trend. I’m seeing this in Italy too, where many investors are moving into sectors like Student Housing, Senior Living, and Hostels.
AI is also a constant presence in my feed. Recently, there’s been a surge in posts about AI Agents being used in real estate.
Let’s dive in.
Latest Deep Dive
Latest Unlocking Value Bulletin
1. Real Estate’s Next Big Idea: Operating Platforms
Real estate is evolving from physical assets into digital platforms. This post explores how a "Real Estate OS" could manage everything from leases to energy, offering more control and scalability. The same tech playbook that transformed software could now improve building performance and tenant experience.
2. PBSA Goes Premium: The Dorm Room Boom
Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) is growing fast, with big money flowing into top-tier student housing. Driven by global demand and a lack of supply, these properties are seen as stable and valuable. This post shows how “dorms” are now being treated as core investments, not niche options.
3. Fractional CRE: Is This Real Estate’s ‘Uber Moment’?
Tech is quietly changing the real estate game. This post suggests we may be nearing a major shift—like what happened to taxis with Uber or hotels with Airbnb. With new models enabling fractional ownership and faster deals, traditional real estate firms may need to rethink how they create value.
4. $70K Desert Bet: Investing in the Future
A group bought desert land in California for $70,000, hoping future growth and infrastructure will boost its value. This post highlights the risks and vision behind betting on places that others overlook. It’s a classic story of bold, long-term investment.
5. From 30 to 2100: How Juniper Square Disrupted GP-LP Ops
Juniper Square grew from 30 to 2,100 clients by digitizing real estate operations. Their software helps with fundraising, compliance, and reporting. This post shows how fixing back-office pain points can create major value in traditional industries.
6. EDGE London: Smart, Green, Human-First Office Design
EDGE’s London office blends smart tech, sustainability, and people-first design. It’s built for well-being and high performance, while aiming for net-zero. This post offers a vision for what the future of office space can be—efficient, green, and inspiring.
7. $100K Degrees vs. AI: The ROI Question in Real Estate Ed
Graduate programs in real estate cost up to $100,000, but they often teach skills—like Excel modeling—that AI can now do in seconds. This post questions the return on investment for these programs. The future may favor creativity, tech fluency, and strategy over spreadsheets.
8. Why Now Is the Most Permissionless Time to Build
Tech is removing the old barriers in real estate and startups. This post argues that now is the best time to “just start”—with open data, AI tools, and fewer gatekeepers. What matters most is mindset, not credentials.
9. Designing the 15-Minute City: Real Estate as Experience
How we build communities is changing. This post talks about mixed-use spaces, 15-minute cities, and using digital tools to make places more responsive. Real estate is no longer just physical—it’s a way to shape experiences and communities.
10. Brookfield’s Teskey on the 3 Megatrends in Global Capital
Connor Teskey from Brookfield looks at the global forces reshaping investment—like deglobalization, AI, and clean energy. He explains why investors want scale and certainty in an uncertain world. A must-read for anyone tracking global capital strategy.
— Carlo
Founder and Managing Director Benigni
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This post is sponsored by Benigni a specialist development manager working with international investors to realise long-term value through optimised development strategies. To learn more click this link to our website.
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Great content, thanks for sharing 🤝
Solid roundup Carlo. The bigger question is which of these trends will survive the climate insurance crisis. Costs are doubling and some markets losing coverage entirely...