Experienced Businessman and Entrepreneur
The Last Blockbuster: What a Video Store in Bend, Oregon Can Teach Us About Real Estate
There's a Blockbuster Video in Bend, Oregon, that still exists. Not as a museum, not as a pop-up art installation, not as an ironic coffee shop, but as an actual, operating video rental store. You can walk in, browse the shelves, pick up a copy of something you...
Sustainability Isn’t Optional: Meeting the Pacific Northwest’s Green Building Expectations
The Pacific Northwest has long led the nation in environmental consciousness, and that ethos has moved decisively from culture into code. For commercial real estate developers operating in Seattle, Portland, and the surrounding region, sustainability is no longer a...
The Pacific Northwest’s Housing Crisis: Why We Need More Mixed-Use Development
The Pacific Northwest is facing a housing crisis that threatens the very fabric of our communities. From Seattle to Portland to Vancouver, BC, home prices and rents have skyrocketed far beyond what most working families can afford. As a commercial real estate...
The Infrastructure Factor: Why Roads, Utilities, and Access Matter More Than Ever
In the high-stakes world of commercial real estate development, the adage "location, location, location" has evolved into something more nuanced: "infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure." As suburban markets across the country experience unprecedented growth,...
LRE & Co Secures County Approval for Major Retail Development in Crescent City, California
LRE & Co, a full-spectrum real estate development, asset management, construction, and hotel management firm, has successfully obtained approval from the Del Norte County Planning Department for a major retail development project in Crescent City. The...
Renting vs. Buying: Rethinking the American Dream
The American dream has long been synonymous with homeownership, the white picket fence, the mortgage payments that build equity, and the pride of owning your slice of the pie. Yet today, 36% of American households rent their home, representing millions of people...
San Francisco Just Hit the Reset Button – Welcome back to a Clean, Confident, and Commercial-Ready City
As a longtime resident of San Francisco and a commercial real estate developer, I’ve seen the city go through dramatic highs and lows. SF has had many years of uncertainty, rising vacancies, deteriorating street conditions, and growing frustration among residents and...
Retail’s Comeback Is Real — And Cities Should Help Us Build on It
By Akki Patel After years of speculation about the “death of retail,” something remarkable is happening in 2025: brick-and-mortar retail is not just surviving — it's thriving. Across the country, retail vacancy rates have dropped to their lowest levels in decades,...
Empowering Mothers in the Workplace: Building Stronger Communities Through Inclusion
At LRE & Companies, we believe that empowering mothers is not only a matter of equity—it’s a foundation for stronger businesses, healthier communities, and sustainable economic growth. As a real estate development firm rooted in community-building, we’ve seen...
The Hidden Power of Hiring: How the Right People Can Make or Break Your Business: Part 1
Hiring the right people is one of the most critical decisions a business owner can make. A strong team can propel a company forward, while the wrong fit can slow progress, create friction, and even set a business back. Over the years, I’ve learned that hiring isn’t...