What does it actually look like to run an AI-powered brokerage in 2026? In this candid conversation, Buildout CEO Helen Calvin sits down with top broker Jimmy Castellanos of Marcus & Millichap to pull back the curtain on how leading CRE professionals are using AI and automation to compete — and win.

This isn't a theoretical discussion about where the industry is headed. It's a practitioner-level look at the real workflows, tools, and operational decisions that separate high-performing brokerages from the rest. From prospecting and pipeline management to marketing execution and deal close, Helen and Jimmy explore where AI is genuinely transforming brokerage operations — and where it still falls short.

The conversation tackles the fragmentation problem head-on: why stitching together disparate tools creates as many problems as it solves, what an end-to-end AI-enabled workflow actually looks like in practice, and how brokers can build a technology foundation that scales with their business rather than against it.

Whether you're a brokerage leader evaluating your tech stack, an operator looking to reduce friction, or a broker trying to understand where the industry is heading — this session delivers real answers from two of the sharpest minds on the front lines of CRE's AI transformation.

Key Takeaways
1. Fragmented AI creates fragmented results: AI layered onto disconnected systems doesn't create workflow automation — it creates isolated automation. The real efficiency gains come from unified platforms where data flows seamlessly across the entire deal lifecycle without manual re-entry or handoffs.
2. The best brokers are letting AI execute, not just suggest:
Top performers aren't using AI to generate to-do lists. They're using it to complete repeatable operational tasks — drafting marketing materials, managing pipeline updates, tracking deal progression — so they can focus on relationships and revenue.
3. Prospecting, pipeline, marketing, and close need to live in one system:
When CRM connects to listings, listings connect to marketing, and marketing connects to deal tracking, data entered once carries forward automatically. That continuity is what eliminates the operational drag that compresses margins.
4. Automation isn't a threat to broker relationships — it's what protects them:
The brokers seeing the greatest results are using technology to remove administrative burden, not to replace judgment. AI handles the workflow; the broker handles the client.
5. Future-proofing means rethinking the stack now:
2026 is a turning point. Brokerages that move from a collection of tools to a true operating platform — one designed for the property-centric, collaborative nature of CRE — will be positioned to scale profitably. Those that don't risk falling behind as AI becomes table stakes.

This webinar is brought to you by Buildout, the AI deal engine for CRE brokerages — trusted by over 50,000 brokers to automate every step from first contact to commission. To learn more, visit www.buildout.com.