Episode #26
Institutional Real Estate Investing & Housing Development with Sean Burton | EP 26: The CRE Deal Room
On this episode of The CRE Deal Room , host Adam Dunn sits down with Sean Burton , CEO of CityView , one of the West Coast's leading multifamily investment and development firms. Over the past 20 years, CityView has invested in more than 130 projects spanning market-rate, workforce, and affordable housing, while serving as a trusted steward of capital for some of the world's largest institutional investors and pension funds. Sean shares the lessons learned from building a vertically integrated real estate platform through multiple market cycles, why staying committed to long-term fundamentals has driven CityView's success, and how today's capital markets are creating what he believes could become one of the best buying opportunities since the Global Financial Crisis. The conversation also explores California's housing challenges, regulatory reform, development strategy, construction trends, and the future of multifamily investing. Beyond real estate, Sean reflects on his time serving in the Clinton White House, the U.S. Navy Reserve, and leadership roles overseeing some of the nation's busiest airports, offering valuable lessons on leadership, public service, and fiduciary responsibility. Highlights: Building CityView into one of the West Coast's leading multifamily investment firms with more than 130 projects completed Why vertical integration transformed CityView after the 2008 financial crisis What it means to manage capital on behalf of teachers, firefighters, police officers, and pension funds California's housing shortage, regulatory challenges, and where new development opportunities are emerging Why Sean believes the next 12 to 24 months could create exceptional buying opportunities for investors Construction cost trends and what developers are seeing on the ground today Why San Diego, Denver, and Boulder remain top long-term multifamily markets Lessons from serving in the Clinton White House, the U.S. Navy Reserve, and airport leadership The importance of public service, leadership, and long-term stewardship in commercial real estate Whether you're a developer, investor, broker, or capital allocator, this episode offers practical insights into navigating today's market while building a business designed to perform across multiple real estate cycles. "Our investors are trusting us with their retirement. They're counting on us to make good decisions, and we never lose sight of that." – Sean Burton Subscribe to The CRE Deal Room and share this episode with your network.
