The GoDocs team is back from Las Vegas after attending the three-day Western States CREF Conference 2022. Organized by the California Mortgage Bankers Association, this year’s conference schedule was packed with valuable networking and educational opportunities covering the hottest topics in the CRE space. With about 800 attendees, the overall mood was high, and attendees were positive about the CRE market. If you couldn’t attend this year, here is a quick look at the conference from the team at GoDocs.
Western States CREF Conference 2022
Keynote
This year’s conference featured a very special keynote speaker, Nolan Bushnell, the founder of the classic video game company Atari. Bushnell’s address touched upon the role of technological innovation in the real estate industry, highlighting how technology has changed the market. Over his career, Bushnell has started more than 20 companies. Still, listeners may have been surprised to learn that apart from being a tech pioneer, he is also the co-founder of the popular American entertainment chain Chuck E. Cheese.
In keeping with the technology and gaming theme, conference guests got to try their hand at some Atari classics. Games like Ms. Pac-Man and Missile Command added a bit of extra fun during the first evening’s Welcome Reception.
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Download a detailed walk-through with this Infographic, showing other areas of growth within CRE multifamily housing to potentially offset interest rate increases.
Western States CREF Conference 2022
Industry Panels
Of course, the big draw of the conference was the chance to hear from industry and market leaders. With the current fluctuations in the CRE space, attendees had the opportunity to sit in on a variety of panels and gain some insights into the current market trajectory.
Inflation, The Fed, and Commercial Real Estate
With inflation at the top of mind, Conference Chair Gary Bechtel, CEO of Red Oak Capital Holdings, was joined in conversation for Recalibrating Capital in A Rapidly Changing Climate by Marcus & Millchap CEO Hessam Nadji. The two discussed the impact of the rising interest rate environment and how inflation is affecting real estate economics and investor demand.
Technology in the Commercial Real Estate Finance Industry
Moderated by Jason Berry, COO of Slatt Capital, the conference’s technology panel included GoDocs CEO Steve Butler, along with Mark Prior, CEO of Qualtik, Marc Rutzen, Chief Product Officer at Walker & Dunlop, and John Vecchione, VP of Risk Analytics at CoStar. This lineup of expert panelists discussed strategic technology initiatives, tech adoption, data standards, and their effects on the industry.
When adopting technology, lenders face important decisions about pipeline improvements and boosting borrower satisfaction while maintaining alignment with market changes. In addition, as new technologies move into the commercial real estate space, digital solutions will allow commercial lenders to retain their competitive edge without increasing operational costs.
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Leveraging digital lending technologies to accelerate growth and leapfrog the competition in the private lending market.
That’s a Wrap
Western States CREF Conference 2022 gathered industry leaders, experts, and rising stars to discuss the future of the mortgage industry. Attendees learned about trends, innovations, and strategies for success, as well as how to adapt to change and expand their business.
If you missed the chance to connect with our team during the conference and are looking for a smarter way to close commercial loans, book a private demo today!
Schedule a custom demo to learn more about GoDocs’ digital solution for commercial loans, including Bridge Loans.