Ep. 11 - Rythms of Real Estate: Connecting Through Creativity with Justin Levine
Download MP3What does a college radio DJ, a Blackstone investment banker, and a retail real estate developer have in common? In this case — they're all the same person.
In this episode, we sit down with Justin Levine, founder of JAL Strategic Holdings, to unpack one of the more unconventional paths we've seen in CRE. Justin shares how a lifelong obsession with music — from vinyl crates in high school to DJ sets in New York — quietly wired his brain for the two skills that matter most in real estate: active listening and pattern recognition.
💡 What you'll hear in this episode:
- Why a spreadsheet can only take you so far — and what you miss when you never leave the office
- The mindset shift that happens when it's your capital on the line
- Why necessity-based retail is more resilient than the headlines want you to believe
- The Adam Grant framework Justin lives by — and how it's shaped every deal and relationship he's built
- What the JAL Meditations are and why he's building something far bigger than a newsletter
Justin's story is a reminder that the most interesting investors aren't just chasing deals — they're chasing a life worth living, and letting the deals follow.
▶️ If you're interested in learning more about Jason, check out the following links:
▶ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinadamlevine/
▶ Website: https://www.jalstrategies.com/
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▶️ Check out my Website: https://creconnection.transistor.fm/
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▶️ For business inquiries: creconnectionpod@gmail.com
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• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samy_souss/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samy-soussan/
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#CREConnection #CommercialRealEstate #RetailRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #CREPodcast #HoustonRealEstate #RealEstateDevelopment #CREInvestor #Entrepreneurship #RealEstateMindset #PatternRecognition #JALStrategicHoldings #StripCenters #NecessityRetail #CreativityInBusiness #ActiveListening #RealEstateRelationships
Creators and Guests
Host
Samy Soussan
Connector in Chief and Founder of The CRE Connection Podcast | Madison Title, Business Development
Guest
Justin Levine
Justin A. Levine is a real estate operator and finance executive with more than 20 years of experience across acquisitions, asset management, capital markets, and institutional fundraising. Prior to forming JAL Strategies, Justin served as President of Levcor, where he oversaw operations, developments, acquisitions, financings, and investor relations. During his tenure, he helped invest and manage approximately $600 million across 26 assets totaling 4 million square feet. Earlier in his career, Justin worked at The Blackstone Group, where he helped raise more than $2.5 billion in institutional equity for global real estate platforms.
