E29: Rebecca McLean: Bridge the Gap: The Reg CF Revolution for Everyday Investors

Mary sits down with Rebecca McLean to unpack how the JOBS Act and Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) opened a new lane for everyday investors and community focused entrepreneurs to fund real estate; legally, transparently, and at scale. Rebecca traces National REIA’s 40-year mission to promote, protect, and educate the industry, including advocacy that helped unlock today’s crowdfunding rules. They dig into attainable housing, revitalizing blocks “one address at a time,” and why local collaboration + policy + partnerships matter just as much as capital. 

From accredited vs. non-accredited realities to Reg D vs. Reg CF, from rehabs and rentals to syndications and the role of REIA groups in education and support, this episode is a practical roadmap for raising community-first capital and doing deals that actually move neighborhoods forward.

Key Takeaways: 
• Why Reg CF matters: It took the JOBS Act (2012) and SEC rulemaking (2016) to enable compliant crowdfunding, discoverability, and open solicitation,finally making smaller, local deals visible. 
• Community is the edge: Local knowledge + national networks = smarter underwriting, better comps, and safer deals especially in neighborhoods banks won’t touch. 
• Attainable > “affordable”: Small investors can deliver workforce/attainable housing via rehab and value-add where large builders can’t pencil starter homes. 
• Education & protection: National REIA’s 120+ local groups provide training, legislative updates, due-diligence checklists, cost-saving benefits, and partnerships with community entities. 
• Build wealth on purpose: Flips create income; holds and syndications build durable wealth. “Do a couple rehabs, hold one” beats buying yourself another job. 
• Cycles are coming: Many new investors have only seen “up.” Community experience and disciplined capital stacks help you survive the next blip. 
• Action > anxiety: “Just do it but not blindly.” Use community, education, and compliant platforms to navigate the regulated process. 

Chapters: 
• 00:00 – Intro: Meet Rebecca McLean & National REIA at 40 
• 01:32 – The JOBS Act, Reg CF & opening the door for small investors 
• 02:41 – Advocacy journey: from Reg D limitations to true democratization 
• 08:21 – Why community-first crowdfunding works in real estate 
• 09:14 – “Building Better Communities”: block-by-block revitalization 
• 12:27 – Purpose-driven deals: teachers, veterans, sober living & stability 
• 15:38 – Education that sticks: local REIAs, data, and due diligence 
• 18:13 – Attainable housing vs. new-build economics; cost controls & benefits 
• 22:34 – From first flip to syndications: real success paths 
• 26:10 – Closing the wealth gap: why Planet Wealth leans into real estate 
• 27:35 – Policy + partnerships + local wisdom: the other half of capital 
• 29:49 – The power of diverse roles on a deal team (and on-the-ground intel) 
• 30:46 – Market cycles: why community experience keeps you steady 
• 33:19 – Final advice: “Just do it, get educated and plug into community” 

Resources Mentioned: 
• National REIA: 120+ local investor associations; training, benefits, legislative updates, market data, and best practices 
• Topics: JOBS Act (2012), SEC rulemaking (2016), Reg CF vs. Reg D, accredited vs. non-accredited investors, community revitalization, attainable housing, syndications, due diligence, cost-saving vendor programs 

Connect with Rebecca / National REIA: 
• Search “National REIA Rebecca McLean” to find the national site and your nearest local group. 

Explore Planet Wealth: 
Learn how compliant Reg CF raises help community-first real estate projects get funded: planetwealth.com

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