The Crexi Commercial Real Estate Podcast | CRE Insights & Strategies
Will Curtis: Bridging the Military-to-CRE Gap One Veteran at a Time
Why It Matters
The conversation illustrates how military skills can be leveraged for success in commercial real estate, offering a roadmap for veterans seeking post‑service careers. By spotlighting disciplined finance practices and targeted certifications, the episode provides actionable insights for both newcomers and seasoned professionals aiming to navigate market cycles and build sustainable portfolios.
Key Takeaways
- •Military financial training sparked interest in real estate investing.
- •Discipline and debt management outperformed flashy strategies post‑2008 crash.
- •Property‑management skills transferred from aircraft maintenance to CRE.
- •CCIM and CPM designations accelerated career advancement.
- •Veteran mentorship platform fills critical transition gap.
Pulse Analysis
Will Curtis leveraged his Army experience as a command financial specialist to discover real‑estate investing, a path ignited by a senior soldier’s presentation on wealth generation. After the GI Bill funded his real‑estate finance degree, he shifted focus from house flipping to commercial assets such as shopping centers and office buildings. Entering the market in 2010, just after the Great Financial Crisis, gave him a front‑row seat to the fallout and an opportunity to serve clients who survived the crash. His story illustrates how military‑born financial discipline can translate into a sustainable CRE career.
Curtis attributes his rapid rise to disciplined debt management and formal credentials. While many post‑crisis investors chased flashy deals, he emphasized low‑LTV acquisitions, steady cash flow, and proactive asset management—principles echoing military maintenance routines. Pursuing CPM and CCIM certifications filled his early finance gaps, opened a cross‑functional role in acquisitions, and positioned him to oversee hundreds of millions in transactions. These designations not only signaled expertise to senior leadership but also bridged the operational‑to‑investment divide, reinforcing the industry’s demand for professionals who combine analytical rigor with hands‑on property management experience.
Recognizing a mentorship void for veterans, Curtis founded the Vets in Real Estate podcast and partnered with groups like Veterati to create structured coaching networks. He highlights that the military’s culture of peer competition and collective growth can be replicated in CRE to accelerate veteran integration. By offering guidance on licensing, designations, and networking, his platform reduces the isolation many veterans feel during the civilian transition. This veteran‑focused pipeline enriches the commercial real‑estate talent pool, delivering disciplined, mission‑oriented professionals ready to tackle complex asset‑management challenges in today’s dynamic market.
Episode Description
From Army veteran to CRE educator, Will Curtis breaks down office investing, the San Antonio market, and helping vets find purpose in real estate.
The Crexi Podcast connects commercial real estate (CRE) professionals with industry insights built for smart decision-making. In each episode, we explore the latest trends, innovations and opportunities shaping commercial real estate, because we believe knowledge should move at the speed of ambition and every conversation should empower professionals to act with greater clarity and confidence.
Rayelle Calvert, Senior Director of Strategic Accounts at Crexi, hosts Will Curtis (CCIM, CPM), managing director at Browning Commercial and founder of Crossed Sabers Asset Management, to discuss his path from the Army into Texas commercial real estate, where he focuses on office and industrial. Curtis credits a military financial education session for sparking his interest. Entering the industry post-GFC taught him that long-term success comes from disciplined operations, not flashy lifestyles.
He explains how earning the Certified Property Manager® (CPM®) and Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) distinctions helped close knowledge gaps, expanded his responsibilities into acquisitions, and shaped his teaching and mentoring focus. Curtis describes launching the Vets in Real Estate podcast to address veterans’ isolation, lack of structure, and purpose after service, and outlines a planned transition program and book. He also covers San Antonio’s stable market drivers, medical office demand, building a commercial division inside a luxury residential firm, and his views on the long-term upside of office investing
Welcomes And Intro
Will’s Army To CRE Path
Post Crash Investor Lessons
Closing Skill Gaps
Why Credentials Matter
Biggest Personal Turning Point
Vets In Real Estate Mission
First Reality Of Brokerage
Finding Purpose After Service
Mentoring Through Real Estate
How Veterans Are Wired
San Antonio Market Stability
Medical Office Demand Drivers
San Antonio vs Texas Giants
Building Commercial Inside Luxury
Why Teaching Matters
Leadership and Coaching Advice
Rapid Fire Investing Takes
San Antonio Underrated Upside
Final Thoughts and Where to Connect
For show notes, past guests, and more CRE content, please check out Crexi’s blog.
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