How do real estate investors find the money they need to make deals happen? And how can AI help them save time and work smarter?

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, host Bruce Bean talks with Maxim Shapiro of Novateur Capital about raising money, finding lenders, and using AI in commercial real estate.

Maxim has worked in real estate since 2006. He started in private equity, moved into lending, and later opened his own business in California. Today, he and his partner help real estate owners and developers across the country find the debt and equity they need for their projects.

Finding Money for Real Estate Deals

Maxim explains why getting a bank loan can be harder in California than on the East Coast. He shares how private lenders and debt funds help fill that gap, especially for projects that need more work or carry more risk.

He also talks about what happens when older loans come due at higher interest rates. While some investors worry about a wave of troubled properties, Maxim believes many lenders would rather work with borrowers than take properties back.

Using AI to Save Time

One of the most interesting parts of the talk is how Maxim uses AI tools like Claude to run his business.

AI helps his team build loan packages, create financial models, track emails, and manage replies from lenders. Work that once took hours can now take much less time.

For a small business, that means more time to help clients and find new deals.

Looking Ahead

Despite higher interest rates and changes in the economy, Maxim is hopeful about the future of commercial real estate. He sees plenty of money looking for good projects and investors who are ready to move forward.

Whether you own property, develop real estate, or just want to learn how deals get funded, this episode offers a useful look at today's market.