Episode 193: The Real Estate Behind AI: Data Center Land Deals Explained
Data centers sit at the crossroads of real estate, energy, and technology—and they’re exploding in demand thanks to AI and our always-online lives. In this episode of The Alternative Investing Advantage, host Alex Perny talks with Mike Embry of Embry Companies about how investors and developers can capitalize on the data center boom in the Southeast.Mike explains how power, fiber, water, sewer, and politics all shape where data centers get built, what it costs to entitle land, and why a single site can generate 3x the profit of a residential project. They also dive into gray-water cooling, natural gas turbines, redundancy, zoning battles, and why having a “Plan B” (industrial, multifamily, or commercial) is critical on every deal.00:00 Introduction to Data Centers and Real Estate02:15 Mike Embry's Background in Real Estate03:37 The Evolution and Growth of Data Centers05:41 Key Components for Data Center Development07:22 Due Diligence in Land Acquisition11:39 Engaging with Power Companies14:12 Financial Considerations in Data Center Projects16:52 Exit Strategies and Flexibility in Real Estate21:23 Development and Engagement with End Users24:16 Standardization in Data Center Design26:25 The Importance of Fiber Infrastructure35:11 Navigating Political Hurdles in Data Center Development40:30 The Economic Benefits of Data Centers48:53 Connecting with Experts in Data Center DevelopmentSubscribe to our YouTube channel and join our growing community for new videos every week.If you are interested in being a podcast guest speaker or have questions, contact us at [email protected].Learn more about our guest, Mike Embry:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-embry-2b009521/Learn more about Advanta IRA: https://www.AdvantaIRA.com/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/advanta-irahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/Advanta-IRA/https://twitter.com/AdvantaIRA https://www.facebook.com/AdvantaIRA/ https://www.instagram.com/AdvantaIRA/The Alternative Investing Advantage is brought to you by Advanta IRA.Advanta IRA does not offer investment, tax, or legal advice nor do we endorse any products, investments, or companies that offer such advice and/or investments. This includes any investments promoted or discussed during the podcast as neither Advanta IRA nor its employees, have reviewed or vetted any investments, persons, or companies that may discuss their services during this podcast. All parties are strongly encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with the appropriate professional(s) before entering into any type of investment.#DataCenters #RealEstateInvesting #DigitalInfrastructure #AlternativeInvesting #LandDevelopment #AIInfrastructure #CommercialRealEstate #PowerAndFiber #AdvantaIRA #MikeEmbry