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The Crexi Commercial Real Estate Podcast | CRE Insights & StrategiesAuthor: Crexi
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Pablo Barreiro: Building Preschools and Solving the Childcare Desert Crisis
Episode 180
Wednesday, 6 May, 2026
Pablo Barreiro of Fortec on childcare real estate, daycare deserts, preschool development, and the investment case for early education CRE. The Crexi Podcast connects commercial real estate (CRE) professionals with industry insights built for smart decision-making. In each episode, we explore the latest trends, innovations and opportunities shaping commercial real estate, because we believe knowledge should move at the speed of ambition and every conversation should empower professionals to act with greater clarity and confidence. Pablo Barreiro started in real estate at 18 and spent years learning the business before co-founding Fortec: a Miami-based developer focused exclusively on early childhood education real estate. Since 2020 he has led more than $240 million in preschool developments across 14 states, building the case that childcare real estate deserves its own institutional asset class. In this episode, Pablo joins host Shanti Ryle to talk about what a childcare desert actually is, why 51% of the US lives in one, how Fortec underwrites and scales preschool developments nationwide, and why finding the right investors matters more than finding the right deal. Pablo Barreiro's background and path to founding Fortec Getting licensed at 18 and learning real estate before the degrees Why he pursued law and economics alongside development From general CRE to spotting the childcare niche in Hollywood, Florida What early childhood education real estate actually is Greenfield builds, retrofits, and repositioning mom-and-pop centers Why he went exclusively national instead of picking one market The social economic case: 40 jobs per preschool, community infrastructure Hiring local GCs and architects to earn community trust Spending on entitlements before acquiring the property The new $30M fund and the goal of becoming the institutional player What a childcare desert is: 3x demand for every available seat 51% of the US lives in a childcare desert 88% of employees late to work cite childcare issues How reducing rent helps reduce tuition for families The 5% tuition increase versus 8% cost increase problem The biggest investor misconception: this is not a standard triple net Children, jobs, and community impact — what makes this asset class different Where the need is greatest: follow the housing buildout Multifamily developers calling Fortec to handle the school component Permit timelines: 12 to 14 months total, six to eight of actual construction Construction costs: slight decreases giving some breathing room How to enter the childcare real estate space — capital network comes first The real risk: doing four deals and running out of investors What success looks like for Fortec in 10 to 15 years Rapid fire: invest in the company over any single deal Worst advice: find the deal first, find the money later Contrarian belief: preschool beats every other retail asset class About Pablo Barreiro: Pablo Barreiro is the chairman and co-founder of Fortec, a Miami-based real estate developer focused exclusively on early childhood education real estate. He has played a pivotal role in helping define and scale this emerging sector, leading more than $240 million in developments over the past five years and drawing on more than two decades of commercial real estate experience as the niche has rapidly gained momentum nationwide. Under his leadership, Fortec has emerged as a category-defining platform in education-focused development, earning recognition as Best Developer by Aventura Magazine and ranking among the South Florida Business Journal's fastest growing companies. Pablo has also been individually recognized on Worth Magazine's Worthy 100 list for his impact and leadership in business. His work addresses critical infrastructure gaps such as child care and daycare deserts, while advancing a scalable investment model that aligns real estate performance with long-term community impact. A University of Miami graduate, Pablo holds multiple undergraduate degrees and a master's degree and earned his Juris Doctor from Florida International University. He has been a member of The Florida Bar since 2017, bringing a rare blend of legal and real estate expertise to complex, high-value transactions. His market insights and commentary have been featured in leading outlets, including CNBC, Bisnow, The Real Deal, and other real estate and business publications. For show notes, past guests, and more CRE content, please check out Crexi’s blog.Looking to stay ahead in commercial real estate? Visit Crexi to explore properties, analyze markets, and connect with opportunities nationwide. Follow Crexi:https://www.crexi.com/ https://www.crexi.com/instagram https://www.crexi.com/facebook https://www.crexi.com/twitter https://www.crexi.com/linkedin https://www.youtube.com/crexi About Crexi:Crexi is reimagining commercial real estate with an AI-powered platform built to deliver smarter, more efficient solutions at every stage of the deal lifecycle. From real-time data and market insights with Crexi Intelligence, to targeted property marketing and seamless deal management through Crexi PRO, and a transparent, time-bound bidding experience with Crexi Auction— Crexi enables users to evaluate opportunities, maximize exposure, and close with speed and confidence. To date, Crexi has subsidized over $2.74 trillion in property value, 26 billion square feet listed, and supports a growing community of more than 23 million yearly users.
