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The Top 5 Online Communities for CRE Debt Brokers in 2025
Networking is a key way to get ahead as a commercial debt broker. Here are five excellent communities you should consider joining.
You know that relationships drive business, especially in commercial real estate. Whether you’re sourcing debt, structuring deals, or staying ahead of what's happening in your market(s), having a strong network makes the difference between a broker who's getting by and one who's getting ahead.
Joining the right communities gives you access to insights, capital sources, and potential partners that can help you close more deals, faster, and with more confidence. Here are five of the best online communities for CRE brokers, along with some key info about each.
1. BiggerPockets Forums
BiggerPockets is one of the largest real estate investment communities, with active discussions on everything from small-scale investing to large CRE deals. It’s a great place to connect with investors and learn about capital sourcing strategies. The size can definitely be a plus, but it can also be a drawback: Because the platform caters to a broad audience, finding highly technical discussions on CRE debt brokerage may require some serious digging.
2. r/CommercialRealEstate (Reddit)
This subreddit is an open forum where CRE professionals, investors, and lenders can discuss financing structures, industry trends, deal strategies, or…just blow off steam about anything related to the industry. It’s a solid resource for quick insights and casual networking. The downside is that content quality varies, and discussions aren’t always closely moderated, so verifying the credibility of shared information is important.
3. CREFC (Commercial Real Estate Finance Council)
CREFC is the leading industry association for CRE finance professionals, providing direct access to capital markets executives, lenders, and policymakers. It offers high-quality networking events, educational resources, and advocacy efforts. However, you'll notice that membership requires a not-insubstantial financial cost, and the best networking opportunities are often limited to those who actively participate in events and committees.
4. Janover Pro’s CRE Debt Broker WhatsApp Community
It may be strange to see a WhatsApp community on this list, perhaps, but if you're after a truly interactive community with fellow brokers around the country, this is a great one to consider. Unlike forums or directories, this extremely active WhatsApp community is for direct, high-level peer connections that can help you in virtually all aspects of working with CRE debt. The main limitation is that it's not an open community — you'll need to subscribe to Janover Pro (which I'd wholeheartedly recommend as a great way to find more and better lenders) to get access.
5. theBrokerList
theBrokerList is a verified online network where brokers can share listings, post deal requests, and connect for co-brokerage opportunities. It’s a great tool for those looking to expand their deal flow and partnerships. However, the platform primarily functions as a listing service, so while networking is possible, discussions aren’t as dynamic as in chat-based or interactive groups.
Which One Should I Join?
Why not join them all? Seriously, there's no need to choose a specific community and focus 100% on that one — no single community on this list (or any other) will tick all your boxes, and that's okay. The important thing is that you're staying informed and finding opportunities wherever works best for you.
Regardless of which ones you choose or don't choose, having access to other professionals who understand financing structures, lender preferences, and market conditions can help you navigate deals more effectively. So go wild. Join one or two. Join all five. You'll be a better broker for it.