Understanding investments and loans

Blueprint

Expanding educational opportunities for students in under-resourced communities

The Importance of Investments

by

Who did you meet with today?

We met with Crystal Langdon.

Where do they work? What does the company do?

Crystal Langdon is the Director of Investments at Blueprint, holding many responsibilities in this position. Crystal evaluates if school construction projects are affordable and financially possible. Her role also includes managing a team that finds funding for building schools. The role also oversees investments in school construction projects and monitors them over time to make sure borrowers or tenants follow the agreement, and the project stays financially stable.

What did you learn today? What were some highlights?

Today I learned about different loan types and how interest rates can affect individuals’ decisions on where to get loans from. We learned about how interest rates and loan terms affect the overall cost of a loan, and how to find the best fit that will allow the development of a project.

What insights did you gain into the field of real estate development?

We got insight into the finance and investment side of real estate development. We learned about how important this role is for Blueprint and how this role is important for all organizations since they have to secure funding in order for development projects to even begin.

What did you find the most interesting about the field in the field after today?

After learning about this field, what intrigued me the most was learning about how interesting and important this field is in real estate development, and it has led me to have an interest in pursuing this field.

A presentation slide titled Intro to Finance and Credit by Crystal Langdon, Managing Director of Investments at Blueprint, highlighting the importance of investments, with video call participants shown in a row at the top of the screen.
Interns learning about finance and credit from Crystal Langdon.
A pixel art woman sits at a desk with a vintage computer. Text above says she needs $2,000 for a washer and dryer, highlighting the importance of investments as various bills are shown below. The total owed is $47,654.19.
The interns playing Shady Sham to learn about credit and loans.
A screenshot of a virtual meeting with seven participants in individual video boxes, some with blueprint virtual backgrounds, others in dimly lit rooms, all engaged in a discussion on the importance of investments and their benefits.
The interns learning from Crystal.
A presentation slide titled Intro to Finance and Credit by Crystal Langdon, Managing Director of Investments at Blueprint, highlighting the importance of investments, with video call participants shown in a row at the top of the screen.

The Importance of Investments

March 18, 2026

By Gerardo Castro, Spring Intern

Who did you meet with today?

We met with Crystal Langdon.

Where do they work? What does the company do?

Crystal Langdon is the Director of Investments at Blueprint, holding many responsibilities in this position. Crystal evaluates if school construction projects are affordable and financially possible. Her role also includes managing a team that finds funding for building schools. The role also oversees investments in school construction projects and monitors them over time to make sure borrowers or tenants follow the agreement, and the project stays financially stable.

What did you learn today? What were some highlights?

Today I learned about different loan types and how interest rates can affect individuals’ decisions on where to get loans from. We learned about how interest rates and loan terms affect the overall cost of a loan, and how to find the best fit that will allow the development of a project.

What insights did you gain into the field of real estate development?

We got insight into the finance and investment side of real estate development. We learned about how important this role is for Blueprint and how this role is important for all organizations since they have to secure funding in order for development projects to even begin.

What did you find the most interesting about the field in the field after today?

After learning about this field, what intrigued me the most was learning about how interesting and important this field is in real estate development, and it has led me to have an interest in pursuing this field.

A presentation slide titled Intro to Finance and Credit by Crystal Langdon, Managing Director of Investments at Blueprint, highlighting the importance of investments, with video call participants shown in a row at the top of the screen.
Interns learning about finance and credit from Crystal Langdon.

A pixel art woman sits at a desk with a vintage computer. Text above says she needs $2,000 for a washer and dryer, highlighting the importance of investments as various bills are shown below. The total owed is $47,654.19.
The interns playing Shady Sham to learn about credit and loans.

A screenshot of a virtual meeting with seven participants in individual video boxes, some with blueprint virtual backgrounds, others in dimly lit rooms, all engaged in a discussion on the importance of investments and their benefits.
The interns learning from Crystal.

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