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When capital dries up, only the strongest deals and the most disciplined investors survive. In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Podcast, hosts Aaron Cameron and Adam Powadiuk are at the RealREIT Conference and sit down with Justin Smith, President of Hawkeye Wealth, to break down why the toughest financing environment in years is forcing better decisions, stronger underwriting, and smarter capital allocation. Justin explains why saying “no” more often builds investor trust, how disciplined due diligence protects returns, and why today’s market rewards operators who prioritise capital preservation over aggressive projections. 

From fee structures to stress-testing assumptions to the truth behind government housing initiatives, this episode provides deep insights into raising and deploying capital in uncertain times, while revealing why the deals that get funded now are the ones built to last.

What you will learn:

• How to Build Deal Flow Authority by Saying No
• Why Flexible Fee Structures Win Access to Top-Tier Deal Providers
• The Deal-by-Deal Model Beats Fund Structures for Capital Efficiency
• How to Stress-Test Real Estate Assumptions Against Current Market Reality
• Why “Guaranteed Returns” and Unrealistic Time Horizons Are Red Flags
• How to Navigate Government Housing Programs Without Betting the Business

Justin Smith is the President of Hawkeye Wealth, an exempt market dealer specialising in raising private capital for commercial real estate across North America. With a background in banking and real estate development, he’s known for disciplined capital allocation and rigorous due diligence across both equity and debt opportunities. Justin sources and evaluates top-tier private real estate deals for successful entrepreneurs and professionals seeking active investment choice with passive execution, helping them deploy capital confidently. 

The post How to Win in a Tight Capital Market: Insights from Justin Smith, President of Hawkeye Wealth appeared first on Commercial Real Estate Podcast.