Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio

Founder and Chief Community Builder Edie Weintraub with terra alma joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the process behind creating energized spaces, improving office environments and the company’s exciting South End Norcross project. Weintraub chats with host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. With 20 years of experience, Weintraub specializes in the commercial real estate industry, working with restaurants, boutiques and entertainment spaces where people enjoy gathering and having a good time. Previously working for local and big commercial real estate firms, Weintraub decided a year-and-a-half ago to start her firm, terra alma. Inspired by multiple countries, terra alma means bringing together the best of land and experience. As a woman-owned boutique real estate advisory firm, terra alma delivers intentionality, engaging with local communities to ensure the fulfillment of what consumers and neighborhoods want to see. Weintraub said, “We make sure to offer a holist

SVP of Sales and Marketing Caroline Simmel with Empire Communities joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share 2022 milestones, new products and current Atlanta BeltLine developments. Simmel joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. Recently an empty nester and a new owner of two adorable Golden Retriever puppies, Simmel has 20-plus years of experience within the industry and is currently in her 16th year with Empire Communities. The company is a Toronto-based new home building company that takes pride in creating inspiring places to live. Expanding its United States footprint, Empire Communities has developments not only in southern Ontario but also in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Charlotte. With significant success this year, Empire Communities opened and closed several of its communities. The company is using this in-between stage to ramp up a large pipeline of new communities as a chance to reset and pay attention to market dynamics. Simmel s

Founder and CEO of HDMK Kiel Harton and Co-Owner of HDMK Atlanta Franchise Toussaint Hill join the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the company’s use of technology for home inspections, the importance of same-day reports and the training HDMK provides. Harton and Hill chat with host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. It all began in February of 2022 when Hill and his brother Thaddaeus opened the doors to the HDMK Atlanta franchise. Real estate industry members for multiple years, Hill and his brother decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and start a business together. Wanting to find a company that remained a key player in the real estate industry while also offering diversity, Hill and his brother felt that HDMK was the perfect fit. Hill said, “We’ve been making a lot of connections, meeting agents and trying to serve our clients the best we can.” A member of the home inspection industry for over 10 years, Harton founded HDMK in 2015 with hopes of making a positive change wit

President George McClure with The McClure Company joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast as the seventh Legends of Real Estate guest to discuss the company's founding. He looks at the building industry in the 70s and 80s and his involvement with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. McClure joins host Carol Morgan on the Legends of Real Estate series. McClure is a native of Cherokee County with the humble origins of growing up on a chicken farm. In high school, he got a summer job working for his uncle’s framing crew as a carpenter and found that he enjoyed the work. McClure said, “I loved it a lot. It’s physical, and when you face the end of the day, you have something to show for your work.” After working in the building industry for a few years and following a sports injury, McClure had the tough decision of figuring out what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. After reading up about the career in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he decided to attend college to become an account

Director – Research & Communications Katie Fidler with St. Bourke joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to talk about land development post-COVID, popular community amenities and build-to-rent. Fidler joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A native Atlantan, Fidler has lived in the Peach State her entire life and has been actively participating in the Atlanta real estate market for over 10 years. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2011 and has held various positions throughout her career, from commercial and office leasing to investment and development. An asset management and development company, St. Bourke is headquartered in Atlanta and serves as a one-stop shop for all asset management and development needs. The company’s services cover the full gamut, starting with the project’s funding, due diligence and acquisition to planning and development to the very end with ongoing place management. Fidler said, “We really complete that full cycle. We are experts

Vice President of Economic Development Kelvin Collins with Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to talk economic development, job creation and more. Collins joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment and touches on future affordable commercial space initiatives. Kicking off the episode with a notable statement, Collins shared that “if it’s happening in Atlanta, it’s happening on the BeltLine.” Currently serving as the vice president of economic development for ABI, Collins has been a team member for the past 18 months. His previous experience includes government work across two administrations in New York and a 15 years-long commitment to community service. Collins shared that his career centers around implementing economic development to solve community-centric challenges. Collins said, “The BeltLine is one of the most exciting projects that I’ve been [a part of]. I’m really excited to be here and share more of it with you.” Years ago, the idea of

Chief Lead Converter Rick Storlie with Builder Lead Converter joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss industry predictions as well as the importance of sales and marketing in the homebuilding industry. Storlie joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment and touches on the evolution of lead conversion. Since 1998, Storlie has been making a name for himself in the homebuilding industry. He began as a job site laborer, picking up garbage on construction sites, and worked his way up to sales and general management. In 2006, he founded New Homes Sales Coach offering coaching and marketing services for sales and sales management professionals.  In 2010, Storlie took on a software partner to fill the CRM gap for custom builders, designers and remodelers. The project spent 10 years in development and in 2020, Storlie compiled the valuable knowledge he accrued over the decades to form Builder Lead Converter. Storlie said, “We focus now more on a done-for-you platform where we su

Director of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Debbie Frank with Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to chat about new projects and developments, the transit company’s biggest challenges and more. Responsible for TOD planning and implementation around stations, Frank assists in the development of mixed-use communities for MARTA users. During Frank's six-and-a-half years with the organization, MARTA has experienced an economic impact of nearly $1 billion in new real estate at or near one-third of the 38 stations in its network. A considerable aid to the transit system's efforts, Frank's resume highlights include 25 years of planning, development, real estate and redevelopment initiative experience for non-profits, for-profits and quasi-governmental agencies in Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio and now Georgia.  Before working with MARTA, Frank was a managing partner for Urban Blueprint, a real estate development and planning consulting firm based in N

President and CEO DeAnn Golden and President and Executive Luxury Strategist Lori Lane with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties join the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to chat about the company’s brokerage and new home services, navigating the real estate industry as women and upcoming projects. Golden and Lane join host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. Both recently promoted, Lane now heads the New Homes Division and CITY HAUS Luxury Collection, with Golden taking over the Georgia Properties division of the residential real estate services company. Click here to learn more about Golden’s impressive promotion! Golden shared that her relationship with Lane first started when she relocated to Atlanta and Lane sold her a house. This impactful moment in Golden’s life led to a professional relationship spanning 18 years, morphing from client to friend. Golden is celebrating 26 years in the industry, with 18 spent at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Golden said, “That’s

Founder and President Kay Cantrell with Cantrell Properties joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast as the sixth Legends of Real Estate guest to shar her vibrant history in the homebuilding industry. Cantrell joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment and touches on her role as the second female president of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and first female president of the Home Builders Association of Georgia. Growing up under the shadow of Williams Brothers Lumber Company, Cantrell begged her father at 12 years old for a summer job at the successful lumber business. Firmly believing in hard work, her father gave her a position. Throughout several summers, Cantrell developed a love for the homebuilding industry and was fascinated by all the moving parts of the business. Every afternoon on the way home from work, her father would pass through subdivisions to speak with clients, this allowed Cantrell to learn how the housing market functions. Cantrell said, “It really

Founder Bill Jones with the Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land (STPAL) joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to talk about the organization’s mission, community involvement and the upcoming anniversary event. Jones joins Carol Morgan on the Around Atlanta segment. A 10-year venture for Jones, the Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Atlanta. The organization’s original broad mission was to build more parks in convenient locations for larger groups of people. Today, STPAL specializes in passive-recreation parks that provide an outdoor space for people to show up at their convenience to hike, mountain bike, bird watch and more. The Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land owns 36 pieces of land across the state of Georgia that average at a few hundred acres each, with a few in North Carolina and Tennessee. Each piece of land has a management plan based on the property's capabilities, environmental status and more. With access to green space playing a vital

Vice President of Construction Lending Eugene James with Quantum National Bank joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to talk about the economic health of our country, current market concerns and the controversy surrounding the build-to-rent market. James joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A highly qualified and respected member of the industry,  James has over 30 years of experience working in the real estate and home building industries. Twenty of those years are as a real estate appraiser and consultant. James also has experience working directly with builders, in real estate brokerage and as a building advisor. James said, “Now, the best gig of all is I’m in banking! I literally get to give money away to people.” James joined the Quantum National Bank team in May of this year. Prior to that he worked in land acquisition for a premier Atlanta home builder. Quantum National Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank that has been a fundamental player in the At

Brad and Michael Cooper with Blue River Development, LLC  join the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to chat about the development of 1,000 lots in Henry County, including Symphony Park, the company’s brokerage service and what’s next! The Cooper brothers join host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. An industry member for over 20 years, Brad started his career working for President of Touchstone Homes Bryan Cohen in land acquisition. After leaving his first position, he co-founded Capital Partners Development Company and forged partnerships with Marty Kennedy and other industry groups. After unwinding Capital Partners Development Company and working for NAI Brannen Goddard, Brad co-founded Blue River Capital Development nine years ago. Michael Cooper said, “We grew up in Gwinnett County, and we’ve been native to Atlanta for our entire growth of entrepreneurship.” A former member of the United States Navy, Michael Cooper completed a tour at Top Gun Naval Airstrike Warfare Center and gain

James Marlow, the new President of  Southface Institute joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to talk about Southface, the importance of the EarthCraft program, sustainable development and upcoming 2022 news. Marlow joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A Georgia native, Marlow grew up in the little town of Lincolnton, settled between Athens and Augusta. An Atlanta resident since 1986, Marlow possesses an extensive travel background to support his career in technology, working with big names such as IBM, Yahoo and Lotus Development. A Co-Founder of Radiance Solar, Marlow conducted solar installations across the Southeast and beyond during his time as CEO. While possessing a colorful resume that spans several decades, Southface Institute was a part of Marlow’s life long before became president. While still a resident in Lincolnton, Marlow wrote the company requesting additional information about solar energy to feed his growing interest in sustainability. Following his mov

Terry Morris, President of Morris & Fellows Real Estate Services, Inc. joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to dive into the rich company history and remark on notable career milestones. Morris joins host Carol Morgan as the fifth Legends of Real Estate series guest. A 1970 graduate of Florida State University, Morris took his first professional leap by starting his career in retail management. After several years and a closer look at his financial goals, Morris began searching for new opportunities when a friend suggested commercial mortgage banking. In 1974, he accepted a position at The Commonwealth Corporation in Tallahassee, Florida as a commercial loan officer, a move that soon coincided with the first recession Morris would weather in his career. The company asked him to obtain his Florida real estate license and formally trained him in appraisals. When not working on a commercial project, Morris assisted the residential lending division of the company with residential appraisals, his fi

Managing Partner Dean de Freitas with Macallan Construction and Executive Director Trisha Gross with Chastain Horse Park join the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share Chastain Horse Park’s history, renovation updates, sponsorship opportunities and more. De Freitas and Gross join host Carol Morgan on the Around Atlanta segment. One of the last remaining urban horse parks in the United States, Chastain Horse Park has been a part of the Atlanta community and metro landscape for almost 90 years. The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is used for various equestrian-related purposes, serving children, teens and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. The organization also provides able-bodied programming in the form of boarding and educational opportunities. Gross said, “Our therapeutic program is our north star. It is our purpose and our mission. Within our program, we provide therapy services [including physical, occupational and speech therapy] all using the horses!” The organizat

Choose a Mortgage Company with a Great Company Culture Senior Loan Consultant Jay Glover with New American Funding joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to talk niche loan products, mortgages and home loan advice. Glover joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. Glover stressed that consumers should choose a mortgage company with a great corporate culture, like New American Funding A member of the mortgage industry since 1997, Glover started his career with HomeBank Mortgage. He transitioned from his position there to the wholesale side and since 2005, has focused his attention on the retail side, specializing in purchase-money mortgages.  New American Funding is one of the nation’s top mortgage service providers and is a direct lender for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A top-rated organization, the company is focused on purchase-money mortgages and helping consumers realize the dream of homeownership. Glover joined the New American Funding team last August. Glover said, “New Am

Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Homebuilding Jay Byce with ResiBuilt Homes joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share the benefits of renting and dive into the Atlanta build-to-rent market. Byce joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. An Atlanta native, Byce grew up in Tucker and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. Holding a strong interest in architecture, Byce later transitioned to banking and started a development company at 28 years old. In 2002, Byce made a name for himself by developing and selling lots to home builders and entered the private equity sector following the Great Recession. In 2011, the company Byce opened an office for in Atlanta decided to aggregate foreclosures. Each month saw the acquisition of 500 to 600 homes during a time when no buyer desired to purchase a home or complete renovations. In this venture alone, around 30,000 homes were purchased across the country. Byce said, “We formed the floor, we stopped

Sales Manager Don Lee with Peachtree Residential joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to provide an inside look at popular communities, new developments and more. Lee joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. Involved in new home sales and construction for over 35 years, Lee has been associated with Peachtree Residential for more than 30 years of his professional career. A builder for 16 years, Lee has incredible building experience and can appreciate what Peachtree Residential does particularly well. A family-run business, the company is headed by one local owner and backed by many loyal employees. Lee said, “I’m not an oddity within Peachtree Residential. There’s over 10 of us that have been with the company for over 15 to 25 years.” Started in 1988 in metro Atlanta, Peachtree Residential Founder Dave Borreson saw a need for a particular niche in the homebuilding business – affordable, higher-end homes. Resilient through the years of market dips and peaks, the company produ

Founder of Right Hand Music Group and Co-Founder of Keep Cool Records Courtney Stewart joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss representing Grammy-winning artists and popular R&B trends. Stewart joins host Carol Morgan on the Around Atlanta segment and shares the inspiration behind Right Hand Foundation. An Atlanta native, Stewart shared how proud he is to see “Hotlanta” grow through the years and expand into the thriving metro center it is today. With fond memories centered around the 1996 Olympics, Georgia Tech and Coca-Cola, Atlanta has grown into a unique city filled with diversity and economic growth in Stewart’s eyes. “[Atlanta] has this flourishing sense of community going back to the Civil Rights Movement,” Stewart said. “The deep culture and roots that Atlanta has had made it such an incredible city. I’m proud to call Atlanta home.” Always a creative kid, Stewart attended North Atlanta High and participated in the performing arts program. Exposed to the early Atlanta music scene