John Coe Bio
Founder of Coe Enterprises, a real estate financial advisory firm, and the Iconic Journey in CRE, John Coe pivoted his 45 year real estate career in 2015 from transaction-oriented investment, development and financing in several platforms to focusing on paying it forward to the next generation of real estate leaders through the nonprofit company, Iconic Journey in CRE, that encompasses the Icons of DC Area Real Estate podcast and the membership community of 70+ young real estate professionals.
John began his career in 1979 with Prudential Insurance Company in lending and acquisitions in Southfield, MI; and then had short stints in 1980-81 with ABKO Properties in investment analysis in Wichita, KS; in 1981-82 with Homart Development in regional mall development, and from 1983-85 with Coldwell Banker Commercial Real Estate (now CBRE) in investment property brokerage in the Chicago, IL area In 1985, he moved to the Washington DC area joining the B.F Saul Company in mortgage banking and built a book of business predominantly interfacing between correspondent life insurance companies and owner/borrowers. In 1992 Legg Mason Real Estate Services (LMRES) acquired the mortgage banking division of the Saul Company. In 2003, Northmarq Capital acquired LMRES. In 2004, he joined Ackman Ziff Real Estate in mortgage brokerage leading the DC area office. In 2006 he joined Concord Eastridge leading the financing effort for that development company. From 2010 to 2015, he had short stints with Bald Eagle Partners, CGA Capital and Ceres Capital primarily in financial advisory roles until starting Coe Enterprises.
In addition to professional roles, John was and is involved in many professional organizations including Urban Land Institute, ICSC, CCIM, the Appraisal institute and GWCAR. With ULI, he participates in the Advisory Board, the Mentorship Program, UrbanPlan, TAPs and the Regionalism Council. He believes that joining an organization means involvement.
Show Notes
I was interviewed by Rameez Munawar, Colin Madden and Kevin Dean. Their bios are linked here and each of them share their current roles in the episode. Below is a brief list of highlights:
- Colin, Kevin and Rameez’s introductions (00:03:20)
- Colin, Kevin and Rameez share their connections to John Coe, from childhood to professional encounters.
- John’s childhood and parental influences (00:07:00)
- John talks about his childhood in Michigan, his parents’ real estate ventures, and early influences.
- John’s career beginnings (00:08:30)
- John discusses his early interest in real estate, his college experiences, and his first job at Prudential.
- John’s career transitions and market conditions (00:13:30)
- John describes his transition from Prudential to Chrysler Realty, his move to Chicago, and the market conditions during the 1980s.
- Market environment and corporate mergers (00:17:20)
- John talks about the market conditions, his layoff, and the corporate mergers he experienced in the real estate industry.
- Several opportunities and challenges (24:30)
- John discusses moves from Northmarq Capital to Ackman Ziff on to Concord Eastridge, CGA Capital and Ceres Capital prior to starting Coe Enterprises.
- Navigating Economic Downturns (00:27:45)
- John Coe shares his experiences and lessons learned from economic downturns, including the SNL crisis, dot-com bubble, GFC, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Insights on the Current Real Estate Market (00:32:24)
- John Coe discusses the current real estate market, highlighting trends in asset values, retail, multifamily, and opportunities for investors.
- Transition to Clean Energy Financing (00:35:20)
- John Coe talks about his involvement with clean energy financing and the catalyst behind his transition to focus on the energy side of real estate.
- Key Lessons from a 45-Year Career (00:37:00)
- John Coe shares three key lessons from his 45-year career, emphasizing the importance of building relationships, being of service, and listening.
- Involvement in the Academic Community (00:40:25)
- John Coe discusses his inspiration for getting involved in the academic community, mentoring students, and the development of his career counseling efforts.
- Creation of the Iconic Journey in CRE Platform (00:43:05)
- John Coe explains the inspiration behind creating the Iconic Journey platform, which serves as a successful platform to mentor and educate individuals in real estate.
- Live Tours and Impactful Projects (00:45:45)
- Exploring the impact of live tours and the significance of impactful projects in the community.
- THEARC on Mississippi Avenue, SE (00:46:10)
- Discussing the significance of THEARC, its impact on the community, and the long-term vision behind the project. Highlighting the unique features and significance of the ARC, including the automaton of Frederick Douglass.
- Finance Mastermind Groups and Class-A Asset Tours (00:48:45)
- Exploring the benefits of finance mastermind groups and the educational value of touring class-A assets.
- Reston Town Center Tour and Diverse Experiences (00:50:30)
- Discussing the unique experiences and insights gained from the Reston Town Center tour and the diverse backgrounds of group members.
- Community Tours and Luck Maximization (00:51:00)
- Highlighting the intimate and educational experiences of community tours and the potential for luck maximization within the group.
- Monthly Tours, Ask Me Anything Sessions, and Case Studies (00:54:05)
- Detailing the variety of monthly tours, ask me anything sessions, and case studies, providing valuable learning opportunities.
- Formation of a Non-Profit and Fundraising Efforts (00:57:48)
- Discussing the formation of a non-profit encompassing the podcast and community, along with fundraising efforts and sponsor contributions.
- Networking and Reinforcement of Relationships (00:59:50)
- Emphasizing the frequency of networking opportunities and the reinforcement of relationships through complementary programs.
- Podcast Guest Preparation and Biographical Themes (01:01:08)
- Exploring the preparation process for podcast guests, focusing on biographical themes and personal backgrounds.
- Personal Inspirations and Mentors (01:03:00)
- John reflects on personal inspirations, including the influence of his father and the guidance received from mentors.
- Wins, Losses and Surprises
- Biggest win was financing the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington DC. Losses included layoffs and financial deal setbacks which taught great lessons. Biggest surprise was learning that taking initiative that good things would happen…treat life as an experiment
- Life Priorities: Family, Work, and Giving Back (01:05:18)
- Discussing the speaker’s life priorities, including family, work, and the importance of giving back to the community.
- Career Wins and Losses (01:07:50)
- John discusses his biggest career win, financing the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and shares insights from his career losses.
- Advice for Young Self (01:10:15)
- John gives advice to his 25-year-old self, emphasizing resilience and embracing life as an experiment.
- Billboard Statement (01:13:20)
- John shares a statement for a billboard, promoting kindness and self-belief.
- Conclusion and Contact Information (01:13:51)
- John expresses gratitude and provides contact information for the Iconic Journey and Icons Podcast.
Special Thanks
I want to share a special thank you to Ray Ritchey of Boston Properties who suggested that community members should interview me. Ray is and always has been an inspirational leader and a huge supporter of the community
