Start Small: John McNellis on Building a Career in Real Estate Development

In this episode, I sit down with John McNellis, longtime real estate developer, columnist, and author of Making It in Real Estate, Third Edition, whose career began in law before he discovered that he was far more interested in making deals than advising on them.

John shares how growing up with a mother who built a successful all-female real estate brokerage shaped his perspective on women in business. He reflects on watching her overcome the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry while supporting her family and putting four children through college.

He also explains how he transitioned from practicing real estate law into shopping center development, eventually building a career spanning more than 40 years. Along the way, John continued writing, first as a columnist for the San Francisco Business Times and later as the author of Making It in Real Estate, which has now grown into its third edition with 34 new chapters.

We discuss the realities of development, the level of risk involved, and why more women should have access to mentorship, professional networks, and opportunities within the industry. John also shares how he has helped women advance through organizations such as the Urban Land Institute and offered guidance to aspiring developers throughout their careers.

For anyone interested in entering development, John recommends beginning with a smaller project that provides experience with purchasing, financing, contractors, renovations, and sales before taking on something larger.

His advice is a reminder that you do not need to begin with a massive development to start building your experience:

“Start small.” — John McNellis

Connect with Veronica:

https://capstrata.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

Connect with John:

https://www.johnmcnellis.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mcnellis-b6a1674/

Buy his book:

https://a.co/d/0guzJVfd

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