Kristi Kandel

Real Estate Developer & Mentor | Podcaster | Empowering Locals to Lead Community Development Hi, I’m Kristi Kandel, and I’m reshaping who gets to lead real estate development, because building thriving communities shouldn’t be reserved for big developers or industry insiders. With nearly 20 years of experience and over $450M in completed projects, I’ve led everything from national retail builds to adaptive reuse, neighborhood revitalization, and clean energy infrastructure—including hydrogen development. As a former planning commissioner and the founder of I&D Consulting (est. 2015), I advise cities, entrepreneurs, and mission-driven organizations on how to bring overlooked properties back to life. Today, through 1:1 strategy calls, mentorship, and the Local Real Estate Developer podcast, I help others do the same. I believe the future of development belongs to locals who are truly invested in their communities. Whether you’re a broker ready to become an owner, a flipper looking for something more sustainable, or just tired of waiting for someone else to fix your town—you’re in the right place. Real change happens when locals take the lead. I’m not just running a company. I’m leading a national movement to transform who controls real estate development in America. Our Local Real Estate Developer Podcast is a weekly show that pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to lead your own project in the community you already know and care about. Watch Here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgKpTF3d5DZ1Mf6tpbxC3Uq9Lz899uohD&si=Tb530nMJfEQjR49E On the pod, you’ll find: * Weekly interviews with local developers sharing real projects * Real-time minisodes of people navigating their first deals * Deep dives into zoning, funding, permitting, and more * Strategic insights from brokers, architects, engineers, and lenders * Free access to our Developer Vault + Local Developer Community Whether you're a broker ready to build, burnt out from flipping, or just someone who's tired of waiting for someone else to fix your town—you're in the right place. What we offer: 🧭 Development Mentorship Program: https://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/dev-mentorship 🛠️ Free Developer Vault: http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin Ready to build something with a huge impact? 🌐 Watch a live case study on a new housing development project: https://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/dev-mentorship-app PS - our other show.... :) The Real Estate Pessimist: The good, the bad, and the truth about real estate investing Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealEstatePessimist/videos