From $16K Homes to Billion-Dollar Developments: How Broccolini Navigates Today's Real Estate Crisis

In this episode, Axel sits down with Michael Broccolini to break down how one of Montreal's most influential real estate families evolved from building single homes to shaping entire skylines. They dive into the realities of today's market, from rising interest rates and frozen condo launches to shifting immigration policies and their impact on housing demand. Michael shares how Broccolini is adapting its strategy by moving away from speculation, doubling down on rental housing, and expanding into new asset classes like self-storage, retail, and data centers. This conversation offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how top developers think in uncertain markets, how they manage risk at scale, and where the biggest opportunities lie over the next decade. Topics and timestamps 🏗️ Origins of Broccolini and early growth (00:01:55) 📈 From homebuilding to large-scale development (00:02:43) 👷 Learning the business from construction sites (00:03:20) 🏙️ New Griffintown projects and urban densification (00:05:01) ⏳ Why real estate approvals and timelines are getting longer (00:06:21) 🇨🇦 Canada vs Ontario development challenges (00:06:44) 📉 Impact of interest rates and immigration on housing (00:07:17) 🏢 Why condo development has slowed dramatically (00:08:38) 🧠 The long-term thesis behind building in a down market (00:08:45) 🏭 Construction strategy and third-party development (00:10:31) 📦 Industrial real estate and the risks of building on spec (00:12:08) 🔄 Strategic shift toward rentals and diversification (00:14:24) 🛒 New retail strategy and grocery-anchored centers (00:15:04) 📦 Self-storage growth and partnership strategy (00:15:48) ⚡ Data centers and Quebec's power limitations (00:17:42) 💰 Raising $2B and scaling with institutional capital (00:21:09) 🚀 Vision to double the business and expand asset management (00:22:10) 🤝 Giving back and the responsibility of developers (00:22:47)   🔗Connect with Michael Broccolini   💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-broccolini-68b86063/ 🏢 BROCCOLINI: https://www.broccolini.com/fr    👤Follow Axel Monsaingeon 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axel-monsaingeon-42577b28/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axelmonsaingeon   🌐 Explore more resources 📊 Market guides, data, and advertising opportunities: https://www.e5pace.com/