Episode 407: Building Wealth and Community with Jude Bernard

This week, Candice and Malessa sit down with Jude Bernard, a NYC-based real estate investor, broker, and general contractor who built a significant portfolio of brownstones and rental properties across Brooklyn and Harlem. Jude shares how combining construction, brokerage, and investing gives him control over the full lifecycle of a deal, the risks and realities of operating short-term rentals in one of the most regulated cities in the country, and how value-add strategy has been central to growing his portfolio. He also opens up about the mission behind The Brooklyn Bank, his financial literacy and real estate education platform focused on helping underserved communities close the racial wealth gap through property ownership. Plus, the hosts unpack one of the biggest forces keeping housing inventory frozen: the lock-in effect. With nearly 60 percent of American homeowners holding mortgage rates under 4 percent, sellers aren't selling — and the ripple effects are pricing out first-time buyers and stalling the market. They explore what it would take to break the gridlock.   Filmed as part of the Mastery of Real Estate (MORE) Network, powered by Brown Harris Stevens. Guest: Jude Bernard Sponsor: Brian Scott Cohen of Guaranteed Rate, providing the best mortgage experience possible. | https://www.grarate.com/ Hosts: Candice Milano | @candicemilano https://www.bhsusa.com/real-estate-agent/candice-milano Malessa Rambarran | @malessa_innyc https://www.bhsusa.com/real-estate-agent/malessa-rambarran Subscribe the The Build Up: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-build-up/id1716615268 Brown Harris Stevens is one of the largest privately owned real estate brokerages in the country, with more than 40 offices across four states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida. https://bhsusa.com/