Rethinking Real Estate

Technology is revolutionizing the way real estate is designed, operated, and valued. It is democratizing access to capital and information, changing the way tenants use space, and eroding the power of regulation. Billions of dollars are funding these new real estate technologies and operating models. Value is shifting away from the assets themselves toward those who understand the needs of specific end-users and can use technology to deliver comprehensive, on-demand solutions. With all of these developments, there is an urgent need for a resource that helps industry practitioners think differently about their investment, customers, and competition.Rethinking Real Estate answers that call. It explores the impact of technology on all asset types — from retail projects, through lodging and residential properties, to office buildings and industrial facilities. Based on the author’s two decades of experience working across four continents alongside the world’s leading real estate investors, as well as hundreds of conversations with start-up founders and venture capitalists, this book provides practitioners with key insights, methodologies, and practical strategies to identify risks, take advantage of emerging opportunities, evaluate new competitors, and transform their organization, project, venture, or career. Whether you are an investor, developer, operator, broker, lender, facility manager, designer, planner, or technology entrepreneur, this book will help you navigate the exciting period ahead.           

​Rethinking Real Estate has been announced as recipient of the Gold Award of the 13th Bruss Real Estate Book Award given by The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE). The award is given annually by the nation's top real estate journalists and editors, from publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Bloomberg.From one of the judges: "Poleg's work shows extensive research over decades of study across four continents. Chapter 20 has a particularly engaging title: 'The Liberation of Things, People, and Cities.' Each section addresses the asset in context, the forces shaping it, and how to rethink the asset... His book is organized by segments: retail, office, housing and lodging, logistics and industrial." Another judge indicated that it is an excellent, easy-to-read, yet highly technical book. This judge believes Poleg realizes his goals of writing a book that brings readers up to speed on the possible impact of technology and what will govern the industry over the next three decades - highlighting practical strategies to identify risks and take advantage of emerging opportunities."

Dror Poleg advises the world’s largest investors and organizations on the impact of technology on urban life and the way physical assets are designed, used, and valued. His current and past clients include multibillion-dollar organizations such as British Land, AvalonBay Communities, Dubai Holding, Liberty Mutual, Cushman & Wakefield, National Multifamily Housing Council, INREV, NAIOP, and EPRA, as well as venture-backed companies such as Breather, Venn, Carson, BumbleBee Spaces, and BuildingLink.Over the past two decades, Dror participated in developing over 30 million square feet of commercial and residential space, oversaw the expansion of a $3 billion property portfolio, and participated in hundreds of negotiations and development projects involving some of the world’s largest financial institutions, real estate operators, and tenants, including BlackRock, HSBC, PAG, Frasers, China Construction Bank, GIC, Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, and LVMH.Dror’s work draws on practical experience and formal training at the London School of Economics, INSEAD, and Swinburne University of Technology. His insights have been featured in reports and events by KPMG, PwC, MIPIM Proptech, JLL, PERE, Savills, Estates Gazette, Business Insider, Inc. Magazine, Real Estate Weekly, Propmodo, CRETech, and RICS. He serves as the Co-Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Technology & Innovation Council in New York City.