Beyond the Resume podcast with Sarah Garland (Financing the gap)

Описание: In this episode of Beyond the Resume, hosts Chris Papa and Lisa Flicker sit down with Sarah Garland, Interim Head of Affordable Housing at CBRE, to discuss the evolving world of affordable housing finance, career growth in commercial real estate, and the human impact behind the deals.

Sarah shares how CBRE’s Affordable Housing Group operates nationally across debt financing, investment sales, and investment banking—supporting developers who build or refinance properties with income or rent restrictions. She explains how financing tools like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA loans, and bridge lending help make “Capital A Affordable” housing projects possible.

The conversation explores Sarah’s unconventional path into the industry—from working with a small homebuilder to the Housing Department of Los Angeles and later spending 13 years at Fannie Mae before joining CBRE. Along the way, she reflects on how she discovered her true strengths as a deal structurer and manager, rather than a business originator.

Sarah also shares practical career advice for students and early-career professionals interested in affordable housing and real estate finance. Her key tips include conducting informational interviews, building strong professional networks, and remembering that your first job likely won’t define your entire career.

The discussion dives into the biggest challenge facing affordable housing today: rising construction costs and the difficulty of assembling enough financing to make deeply affordable projects feasible. Despite those hurdles, Sarah emphasizes the powerful mission behind the industry—helping working families access housing they can afford.

One of the most powerful moments of the episode comes when Sarah recounts witnessing a resident win a housing lottery for an affordable unit in New York. Watching someone realize they could finally live in a home they never thought possible reinforced why affordable housing work matters.

From leadership lessons and hiring philosophy to mentorship and industry collaboration, this episode offers an inside look at the people and partnerships that make affordable housing development possible.

If you’re interested in affordable housing finance, commercial real estate careers, housing policy, or mission-driven development, this conversation delivers valuable insights from one of the industry’s leading voices.

CHAPTERS

(02:28) Inside CBRE’s Affordable Housing Platform
(04:19) What Affordable Housing Financing Actually Means
(07:12) Sarah’s Career Journey into Real Estate
(19:24) Career Advice for Students Entering the Industry
(21:42) Biggest Challenges in Affordable Housing Finance
(24:00) A Powerful Resident Story That Defines the Work
(33:42) What Sarah Looks for When Hiring


LINKS

YouTube:    • Beyond the Resume podcast with Sarah Garla...  
Spotify: https://bit.ly/beyondtheresume-spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

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Affordable housing, affordable housing finance, CBRE affordable housing, commercial real estate careers, affordable housing development, housing finance, real estate leadership, affordable housing industry, housing development financing, Beyond the Resume podcast