What Is Quant Modeling? (And Why It Matters in CRE)

What is quantitative modeling and what does it have to do with real estate investing? More than most people realize. In this episode, Jeannette Friedrich is joined by finance professor and former Federal Reserve fellow David Leather to break down the world of quantitative modeling - what it is, how it evolved, and why real estate investors should be paying closer attention to it in 2025 and beyond. From office-to-residential conversions to interest rate predictions, this conversation offers a smarter way to think about risk, returns, and real estate strategy.

Guest: David Leather, Assistant Professor of Finance & Real Estate, Chapman University

Key Takeaways:

What quant modeling really means Learn how quantitative finance evolved and how it applies to modeling asset prices, portfolios, and even real estate cap rates in a changing economy.

How real estate is catching up Why improved data availability is making it possible (and necessary) to apply quant techniques in real estate decision-making.

The future of office buildings What signals could indicate a return-to-office trend, and the economic and architectural hurdles behind converting office assets to multifamily housing.

Affordable housing strategies How spatially targeted LIHTC policy could be optimized—and why more conversions aren’t happening without government support.

Refinancing in a tough lending environment Practical advice for investors with development loans maturing in the next few years—and the risks of waiting too long to refinance.

Reading the Fed and the rates What investors should track to anticipate shifts in interest rate policy and private debt market conditions.

A practical alternative to homeownership Why REITs may be a smarter investment than owning a home in high-cost markets like Southern California.

This episode is for any investor who wants to think more rigorously—and more strategically—about what drives real estate performance today.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Quant Modeling

00:18 Meet David Leather: Finance and Real Estate Expert

01:29 Understanding Quantitative Modeling in Real Estate

05:18 The Office Sector and Real Estate Conversions

09:03 Affordable Housing and Policy Recommendations

19:15 Lightning Round and Final Thoughts

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Credits

Producer: Blue Lake Capital

Strategist: Syed Mahmood

Editor: Emma Walker

Opening music: Pomplamoose

*𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘊𝘗𝘈, 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥/𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

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