In this episode of The SoCal Edge, Art Dicker and co-host Alessandro Rinaldi sit down with Sumeet Parekh, founder and managing partner of HP Investors, to discuss the current state of the San Diego commercial real estate market.

Sumeet shares insights from his background in investment banking and private equity, including how those experiences shaped his approach to real estate investing. The conversation dives into how data drives investment decisions, how market trends are shifting across San Diego, and why location-focused strategies can outperform broader approaches.

They also explore the impact of interest rates, the challenges facing commercial real estate post-COVID, the role of AI in the industry, and what’s really happening in downtown San Diego today — including why now may be the time to start leaning back in.

00:00 – Introduction to Sumeet Parekh and HP Investors
02:00 – Lessons from investment banking and private equity
04:00 – How data drives real estate investment decisions
07:00 – Balancing risk, diversification, and local market focus
10:00 – The current impact of AI on real estate
12:00 – How real estate deals are sourced and executed
15:00 – The state of commercial real estate and capital markets
18:00 – What’s happening in downtown San Diego today
20:00 – The future of San Diego real estate and development strategy

About the Podcast

The SoCal Edge features conversations with founders, investors, and operators shaping the business and technology landscape across Southern California.