Author

Phil McAlister

Phil is the founder of The Macro Meets Real Estate Newsletter, a refreshing and entertaining take on real estate investing and financial markets.

A Chicago-area native and real estate investor, Phil’s career has spanned investment banking, commercial lending, and real estate, with extensive transaction experience from multiple sides of a deal.

Experience

Working for a large national sponsor, Phil has been in charge of the underwriting, financial modeling, and valuation of over $6 billion in commercial real estate, including multifamily, medical office, self-storage, hospitality, and senior housing assets. Phil leads a team in evaluating commercial real estate deals nationwide and across multiple strategies including core, core-plus, and value-add, with an occasional ground-up development sprinkled in.

Phil is also involved in evaluating and negotiating multi-million dollar joint ventures with various strategic partners. In addition, Phil has been tasked with evaluating projects in Qualified Opportunity Zones, a new and exciting frontier in commercial real estate.

Phil’s passions include family, football, American history, and real estate investing, in that order. Phil resides in Naperville, Ill., with his wife Kristin and three (sometimes) perfect children, Anna, Ryan and Charlie.

Phil holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Elmhurst College.

Phil is the founder of The Macro Meets Real Estate Newsletter, a refreshing and entertaining take on real estate investing and financial markets.

Experience

Phil holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Elmhurst College.

BiggerPockets Daily 7 min read

Dec 16, 2021Mar 22, 2023 Phil McAlister

If You Want to Be a Savvy Investor, Be Wary of These Inflation-Related Myths

There are plenty of myths surrounding how inflation will affect real estate, and if you aren’t careful about what inflation-related real estate opinions you buy into, the wrong opinions could…

BiggerPockets Daily 7 min read

Aug 11, 2021Mar 27, 2023 Phil McAlister

Here’s Why I’m So Freaking Bullish on Real Estate

Real estate has some special and important characteristics that make it more attractive than any investing alternative right now. Here's what you should know.

BiggerPockets Daily 6 min read

Jun 28, 2021Jan 29, 2024 Phil McAlister

How Will Institutional Investors Affect the Single-Family Housing Market?

The trend of large institutional investors moving into single-family isn’t new, but it is picking up steam. How will this affect individual investors?

BiggerPockets Daily 4 min read

Jun 07, 2021Mar 29, 2023 Phil McAlister

Is the Housing Boom Just Getting Started?

Are we in a bubble? Here are the factors in play that might impact the future, and the potential outcomes—and the probability they'll occur.

BiggerPockets Daily 6 min read

May 19, 2021Mar 29, 2023 Phil McAlister

Why Is the Economy Doing So Well—and Will It Last?

The financial media has been inundated with strong economic news lately. Now would be a good time to take a step back, put it all into context, and think about…

BiggerPockets Daily 7 min read

May 08, 2021Mar 29, 2023 Phil McAlister

How to Avoid Getting Pummeled at the Top of the Real Estate Cycle (2021 Update)

You can't predict the market. But it's a mistake to hope for a crash to pick up cheap properties. Here's how you can grow your portfolio and protect yourself from…

Commercial Real Estate Investing 3 min read

Apr 29, 2021Nov 06, 2023 Phil McAlister

Cold Storage: The Next Red-Hot Real Estate Market?

Great investors identify big-picture trends taking place and use them as a tailwind. This strategy allows you to really win big if you get the asset and execution right—and also…

REITs & Passive Investing 3 min read

Apr 16, 2021Nov 06, 2023 Phil McAlister

Data Center REITs Are On Fire—Should You Invest?

The COVID-19 crisis and associated move from physical office space to digital work have greatly accelerated the need for more digital space to accommodate working and communicating from home. Here's…

Land & Development 4 min read

Apr 16, 2021Nov 06, 2023 Phil McAlister

Consider Farmland: A Stable, Sustainable Investment

There’s something wholesome or even downright romantic about the idea of owning a farm. Farmland is an often-overlooked asset class within real estate, frequently overshadowed by the sexier investments. However,…

Real Estate 4 min read

Feb 25, 2021Feb 08, 2024 Phil McAlister

Outdoorsy Investors — Or Anyone Looking for Stable Returns: Consider Timberland

Investing in timberland isn’t just about buying nice boots that pair well with flannel. There is something alluring, or even romantic, about the idea of owning a forest. If you…

Real Estate 5 min read

Feb 18, 2021Feb 08, 2024 Phil McAlister

Are There Opportunities in Hotel Investing Post-COVID?

In every economic crisis, the pain that is caused also creates opportunities. This is the silver lining of any recession. Far from “taking advantage” of the situation, investors who are…

Real Estate 4 min read

Feb 12, 2021Feb 07, 2024 Phil McAlister

What Is Quantitative Easing—And How Does It Affect the Real Estate Market?

From a macro perspective, Federal Reserve policy and the potential effects of fiscal stimulus are the most important factors in determining the direction of the economy. Learn more about their…

Real Estate Trends 5 min read

Dec 22, 2020Nov 11, 2022 Phil McAlister

Home Sales Increase, But Pending Sales Decrease—What Does It Mean for You?

Seasoned investors understand how real estate statistics vary with … well, the season. But in a year as strange as 2020, it’s hard to know if variances are simply standard…