The Insider's Edge To Real Estate Investing

You'll gain incredible insight on how to jump in, surround yourself with high performers, and communicate in this conversation with Ryan Tseko. Ryan is the Executive Vice President at Cardone Capital in the Miami metro area and has completed acquisitions with a transaction value of over $2.9 billion, secured more than $1.9 billion of debt financing, and has been actively involved in launching every investment vehicle for the company. He holds a B.S. in Aviation and Airway Management from Utah Valley State University. Growing up, Ryan observed his uncle, who was a builder and gave him a job at the age of 13. While Ryan had an interest in real estate from early on, he decided to begin his career as an airline pilot and continued that trajectory for 10 years. During this time, he also invested in real estate, building up a portfolio of 21 units. He discovered Grant Cardone, a renowned business expert and real estate investor, on YouTube, and wanted to get involved with him to pursue his real estate goals. Ryan called the front desk of the company to ask for a job interview, and soon was working alongside Grant every day. He spent the next years learning the day-to-day work of real estate, as he did weekly calls with properties to track performance, carried out due diligence, and ultimately worked through every vertical. He went on to help build teams and expand the real estate business to move deals faster. "Partnerships aren't just internal—they're external and they're powerful," he says. Over the next years, Cardone Capital expanded from 200 investors to more than 13,000. Amid that growth, Ryan and his team wanted to prioritize investor relationships. "More than 90% of our investors have talked to a real live person in our office," he says. Today, Cardone Capital acquires and manages real estate properties with a focus on both near-term income generation and long-term value creation. It aims to provide everyday investors with access to institutional-grade real estate deals. Since 2016, it has raised more than $1 billion across 22 funds. Its portfolio consists of more than 12,000 multifamily units across 36 multifamily properties along with over 500,000 square feet of commercial office space. Ryan cites parallels between aviation and real estate, including the value of being trainable, having checklists, and following processes and procedures. When flying, he says, "there's a rhyme and reason for everything, and I truly believe the same for real estate." You can connect with Ryan through Instagram, YouTube, and also visit Grant Cardone's YouTube channel, Cardone University, and the company website Cardone Capital. I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at: My website: JamesNelson.com LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You'll gain a wealth of ideas on how to think outside the box and have a positive social impact in this interview with Matt Blesso, a serial entrepreneur and self-made real estate developer. Throughout his career, Matt has sought opportunities that generate outsized returns and has also focused on modeling a healthy environment and community. He has conceived, developed, and managed a diverse and distinctive portfolio of residential, commercial, and hospitality assets in New York, Panama, and Costa Rica. He is the CEO and founder of Blesso Properties, and the mastermind behind Shift Living, a company dedicated to transforming the way people live. Matt's career began when he graduated from New York University and got a job in commercial banking. While the work helped pay the bills, Matt had an entrepreneurial mindset and soon spotted a real estate opportunity. He became, as he mentions on the show, an "accidental developer," when he bought his first apartment one year out of college by using a first-time homebuyers program. He fixed it up and two years later, purchased the apartment next door to it. Realizing the potential in the development space, Matt switched to real estate banking and learned all he could about the industry. He pursued more real estate projects in New York City, including building conversions and innovative designs which often led to returns that outperformed the market. While visiting a friend in Panama, Matt looked for a boutique hotel in Panama City where he could stay during his trip. When he couldn't find one, he spotted the chance to develop a place, complete with a public rooftop space—the first of its kind in the historic district. After doing more projects, Matt felt a pull to connect with nature and carry out sustainable projects with a positive social mission. By this point, he had everything in place to support his lifestyle, but wanted to create a real estate model that would help people improve their lives. His search led him to Costa Rica, where he purchased a former farm and initiated a project to regenerate the land and the soil. His vision includes growing food that residents can eat, and creating an environment where residents can interact and find support for their wellbeing and health. "When I started, my goal was to make money," Matt says on the show. "I've since learned…that it really comes down to having purpose—and having purpose in my work. I'm much happier doing this project than I was doing my earlier projects." You can connect with Matt through LinkedIn, his website Blesso Properties, and his latest project Shift Living. And I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at: My website: JamesNelson.com LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You'll learn incredible insight into getting a feel for a neighborhood and developing expertise in a niche market in this interview with Wendy Berger, principal of WBS Equities, LLC. For more than 30 years, Wendy has been involved in the real estate business as a developer, lender, property manager, broker, and investor. She began her career at American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago in commercial lending. Wendy also spent several years as a principal with Berger Realty Group, an 80-year-old family-owned real estate business, where she focused on residential and industrial property management and development. She was responsible for managing 3,000 apartment units, 200,000 square feet of commercial space, and 250,000 square feet of industrial space. Wendy has also paired her decade of experience in technology startups with her real estate knowledge for successful outcomes. Wendy grew up in a family that was involved in the real estate business in Chicago and has memories of playing at construction sites as a child. She vividly recalls riding through the same neighborhoods repeatedly, as her relatives observed trends in the area and looked for indicators that change was coming. This background helped her establish the value of getting on the ground to find opportunities. "You cannot buy or build real estate sitting at your desk," she says. After spending time in the technology space, Wendy spotted a real estate investment project and purchased an older hotel in Chicago, which she renovated both physically and digitally. Taking advantage of the rising trend in online bookings, she successfully marketed the hotel and increased the number of rooms rented. She went on to sell the property in early 2007 and applied the lessons she learned to her next deals. Through her connections, Wendy was given an opportunity to oversee the construction of a pizza manufacturing facility. After completing the project successfully, she realized a great opportunity in building food manufacturing and food distribution facilities. She has formed a team of experts to help carry out these projects which often involve long-term commitments. She actively invests alongside her partner and keeps terms simple to make returns easy for everyone involved. Wendy serves on the board of directors for Green Thumb Industries and has branched into the cannabis space in recent times. Today Wendy regularly mentors young women who are interested in the real estate industry and encourages other to make courageous career moves. "Think big and don't worry about whether it's possible or not," she says. "Big thinking precedes great accomplishments." You can connect with Wendy at LinkedIn or at her website WBS Equities, LLC. And I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at: My website: JamesNelson.com LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

Whether you're interested in active or passive investing, you'll get key takeaways on how to expand your footprint from this episode featuring Charles Carillo, a real estate investor and entrepreneur. Charles has been involved in multifamily and commercial real estate investments since 2006. He is the managing partner of Harborside Partners, a real estate syndication firm, and has invested in more than $200 million worth of investment real estate to date. He's also the host of the Global Investors Podcast, in which he interviews professionals about investing in U.S. real estate and educates listeners about industry-related topics. Charles grew up in Connecticut and watched his father's practices, which included being a multifamily investor and owning about 100 units in the area. The experience helped him learn the inner workings of property management, such as dealing with tenants and making decisions about repairs. He also saw the time flexibility his father was able to have as an investor. During the conversation, Charles advises starting out small, such as with a two- to four-unit multifamily building. That's exactly what he did in 2006, when he purchased a three-unit property and lived in one of the units. He put into play some of the knowledge he had gained from observing his father to manage the building. He then went on to purchase more properties nearby. Spotting opportunities to expand, Charles forayed into other areas of the country, starting with Florida. He saw the synergies that could come from syndications, and established systems to vet deals and operators. Today, having invested in 13 states, he mentions the value of looking for job growth, population growth, and decreases in crime over the past two decades in a region. He also has implemented strategies to create efficiencies, including using AI as a tool to inform investors and cater to their communication preferences. Along the way, Charles fielded questions from those living outside of the U.S. who were interested in real estate within the country's borders. In response, he shared deal opportunities with them and developed resources related to foreign investing. He also uses a referral network to connect investors with required legal work that is involved. He strives to educate those interested in real estate on the importance of studying locations, learning about markets, and working with the right people to get ahead. You can connect with Charles at his website HarborsidePartners.com and his show, the Global Investors Podcast. And I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at: My website: JamesNelson.com LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You'll gain incredible insight in this conversation with George Giannopoulos and Jeffrey Znaty, co-founders of Kings Capital. They share the power of following a regimen, both personally and professionally, which can help you gain an advantage in the real estate world. They advise starting small and taking on bigger deals as you grow, a strategy that has helped them gain an outstanding track record. Kings Capital is a vertically integrated real estate investment and management firm headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. It specializes in value-add creation through the acquisition, design, and repositioning of multifamily, mixed-use and retail assets. It also carries out ground-up development projects in both core and transitional neighborhoods across the U.S. George and Jeffrey both grew up in Brooklyn but didn't cross paths and connect until later in life. George graduated with a finance degree from St. John's University and went on to attend NYU Schack Real Estate Institute. He cofounded a real estate brokerage firm focused on off-market investments in the New York City metro area. Later he started Brickstone Properties, a boutique investment firm focused on value add, redevelopment and development properties. Jeffrey holds a degree in business management from Brooklyn College and has actively handled real estate deals for the past decade in New York City. He has been involved in more than $400 million worth of transactions in some of the most complicated and encumbered deals in New York. A background in brokerage enabled George and Jeffrey to look at many deals and ask investors questions about their projects. George tuned in to buyers who were repositioning properties and looking to add value. Jeffrey started putting his knowledge to work on the investing side and invited George to join in on a deal. The two began taking on projects and eventually formed what is known today as Kings Capital. Looking back on their keys to success, George and Jeffrey credit going the extra mile, following routines, maintaining relationships, and valuing in-person time. They stay in touch with brokers and manage an extensive network, which helps them grow into bigger projects. Being consistent has opened doors to tremendous opportunities and enabled them to gain a competitive edge. You can connect with George and Jeffrey at: LinkedIn: George Giannapoulus LinkedIn: Jeffrey Znaty Website: KingsCapitalre.com Instagram: KingsCapitalre And I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at: My website: JamesNelson.com LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

On this episode of The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing, I speak with Oren Neria, a real estate investor and principal of MY BK Investments. We discuss the competitive landscape for brokerage in neighborhoods around Manhattan and the success of targeting smaller, more efficient areas like Northern Manhattan and submarkets in Brooklyn. We also delve into Neria's experience in acquisitions and how he uses rejection as an opportunity to grow. With an eye on Brooklyn and smaller value add deals, Neria believes there are discounts to be had with a bullish outlook on the market. We also delve into Oren's personal story, including his experience negotiating his starting salary and the importance of understanding the principal of the company you work for. Oren Neria is the Principal and Founder of MY BK Investments. Throughout his 13-year career, Oren has developed extensive relationships in the Brooklyn market and successfully purchased over 50 investment properties. He currently owns a sizable portfolio of mix-use, multi-family and commercial properties in NYC. Before founding My BK Investments, Oren was the Vice President of Acquisitions for G-way Management. He worked directly with the firm's founder on acquiring, developing, and managing the existing portfolio. Over three years, Oren led the acquisition team in purchasing over 40 buildings with a total value exceeding $100 million. Oren began his career in the real estate sector as an investment sales broker specializing in Upper Manhattan multifamily sales. He successfully closed deals valued at over $150 million during his tenure. Oren graduated with a BA from Boston University in History and Philosophy. Guest: Orien Neria Website: mybk-investments.com Linkedin: Oren Neria Instagram: Oren Neria — Host: James Nelson My website: JamesNelson.com LinkedIn: JamesNelsonNYC Instagram: JamesNelsonNYC Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

You are going to get a tremendous benefit from this conversation I had with Alex Budney, who shares how to start off in real estate investing and ultimately build your own platform. Alex is the founder of Ennismore, a real estate investment, management and consulting firm. Since its beginning, Ennismore has advised on or sponsored more than $2.1 billion of active real estate projects. In addition to implementing Ennismore's principal investment strategy, Alex counsels various real estate owners and financial institutions on their real estate investments and strategy. A key component of his tremendous track record stems from conviction, as he bought into the market in 2020, shortly after the onset of Covid and at a time when most were on the sidelines. Alex spotted an opportunity and purchased a property that was almost entirely vacant! In this episode, Alex shares his journey into real estate and offers tips for those who want to develop their own area of expertise. He grew up on New York City's East Side and became intrigued by buildings at an early age, including how they were constructed and their history. He studied floor plans as a young teen and thought about what it would be like to live in an apartment or co-op. After graduating with a degree in Business and Economics from Lehigh University, Alex went to work for his father, who had a construction company that served developers, including large multifamily builders. The way deals were put together fascinated him. During this time, Alex spotted a piece of land and put together an idea for it, which he presented to a developer. The pitch opened doors for him, and he landed a job at Related Capital Company, which gave him a chance to learn about the financials of the business. He later shifted to Tishman Speyer, where he showed up early for work every day and got to know his boss. The extra effort paid off, and during his time with the company Alex worked in the London and New York offices as Director in the Acquisitions & Development and Equity Capital Markets groups. The experiences gave Alex insight into various aspects of real estate, including international approaches and development. He eventually branched into his own space and discovered a niche he could fill, which consists of offering advice to owners and financial institutions with real estate interests. Reflecting on his career, Alex credits his success to listening to others, being eager to learn, and moving forward with opportunities. You can connect with Alex on LinkedIn and at his website, Ennismore, LLC. And I'm always happy to connect with listeners—you can find me online at: My website: JamesNelson.com LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter: JamesNelsonNYC My Real Estate Weekly articles: REW-online.com/author/jamesnelson My Forbes.com articles: Forbes.com/sites/jamesnelson

In this episode of The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing, Jeremiah Shamess and James Nelson discusses the importance of having a strong team when it comes to real estate investing and talks about finding trusted professionals to save time and money. James shares insights on financing options for real estate projects, equity distribution, and the different asset classes, such as multifamily, retail, office, and development, including their pros and cons. We also cover the importance of due diligence, building a great investor base, and finding off-market deals. Join us as we explore the intricacies of the real estate market and how to succeed in this exciting and challenging field.

In this episode, we delve into the world of real estate and the importance of having the right team. Jeremiah Shamess and James discuss the importance of building trusted relationships with specialists, finding capital relationships, cultivating an investor base, evaluating properties, and finding great opportunities in the real estate market. James emphasizes the importance of finding a partner to raise capital and create credibility for investors. He provides tips on property evaluations and finding great opportunities off the market. Lastly, James shares insights on financing options, specializing in asset classes and understanding the associated risks and trade-offs. He also emphasizes the need for thorough due diligence and provides tips for closing deals on time. Tune in for a comprehensive guide to real estate investing and learn from the experts in the field.

You are going to be inspired by today's show. Drew Breneman, founder of Breneman Capital, started early. A natural-born entrepreneur, Drew started his first business at 14. He then launched a highly-successful internet business while in high school. His ambition for finding the best investment vehicle for his earnings from his internet business is what led him to real estate, purchasing his first two rental properties at 19 years old. His drive attracted the attention of HGTV, where Drew was featured as an up-and-coming real estate investor. He wanted to share what he had learned and aspired to provide direct real estate ownership opportunities to others. Drew earned his BBA in Real Estate & Urban Land Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Wisconsin School of Business — one of the top real estate programs in the nation. Upon graduation, he worked for three national real estate development firms, each of which focused on different product types, affording him a broad knowledge base for the office, retail, market-rate multifamily, and affordable multifamily sectors. In 2005, he founded Breneman Capital (formerly Rise Invest) and co-founded The Blackhawk Investment Group in 2008, and Dwelle, a Chicago focused real estate investment and property management group, in 2019. He decided to buy a two family property in Madison where he went to school. When I asked him if he had any hesitation, he said no. He told me that he had the money and the numbers made sense. Today Breneman Capital specializes in investing in multifamily in Phoenix, Dallas, and Austin. They have acquired $200M+ of investment property as key/sole GP. To date, he has had a 25%+ average realized IRR on investments sold. Drew's criteria for acquisitions is: Multifamily real estate: $5M-$50M deal size. 1980 or newer. Core-plus and value-add How many times have you overthought an investment or talked yourself out of it? Drew talks about having the confidence, but only after you've done your research. If you're as inspired as I was, make sure and check out his podcast the Breneman Blueprint. You can find out more about Drew and his company at: https://www.breneman.com/ or LinkedIn with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewbreneman/.

On this week's episode, Jamison Manwaring, co-founder and CEO of Neighborhood Ventures, shares about building out his real estate investment firm and his own crowd funding platform. If you're interested in raising from non-accredited investors or how crowdfunding could boost your business, there will be many valuable takeaways. After years as a tech analyst, Jamison realized that everyone had the same information on Wall Street and it was just a matter of trying to outsmart each other. Whereas with real estate, he could gain an advantage. He also did not like the volatility of the stock market and preferred the stability of holding real estate long term. In 2020 he was selected as Phoenix Business Journal's 40 under 40. Before Neighborhood Ventures, he served as the Vice President of Investor Relations at LifeLock and assisted the company in its successful sale to Symantec in February of 2017. Before LifeLock, Jamison was a technology analyst at Goldman Sachs where he participated in over a dozen software IPOs including Tableau, Alarm.com, and LifeLock. Jamison graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Finance. He began his foray into real estate by purchasing a 10 family in Idaho with his father's help, a residential broker in the area. He was hooked. He has gone on to acquire 15 properties in Arizona with his partner, with all of them being sourced off market. For their first deal together, as an experiment, they tried to raise the money all online without using any of their connections. Through a lot of Google ad words and follow up meetings, they have built a huge following. One note is that if you do want to leverage crowdfunding, please consult with an attorney. As Jamison will share, this is a highly regulated space so proper filings and disclosures are essential. What I really like about Jamison's story is how he views his platform as a way for everyday investors to get access to direct real estate investing. You can find out more about Jamison at: https://neighborhood.ventures/ or listen to his podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kiss-my-assets/id1477552013. You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamison-manwaring-a8188625/.

In this week's episode, Brian Ker shares with you his story from humble beginnings as a real estate broker to working for City government to owning and operating an industrial portfolio. His company acquired the New Jersey and Connecticut properties valued at $100 million dollars in less than two years! If you are just getting into investing or looking to get into a new asset class or geography, this conversation will tell you how to do this from the ground up. Imagine amassing such sizeable holdings in such a short period of time? The key if focusing on the fundamentals. Brian Ker is the Founder and President of Snowball Developments and brings over 20 years of institutional real estate transactional and management experience spanning the private and public sector across multiple jurisdictions. He is convinced that by partnering with local experts, sophisticated tenants and astute investors and utilizing new technological applications that there is a modernized and more transparent approach to entrepreneurial real estate investing. Brian talked about his early days at CBRE as a sales broker in Montreal and how he was able to figure out how to convert obsolete office building into residential lofts. He was a pioneer in this space. Becoming an expert in a new area and business plan, will help you attract investment and outperform the generalists who are in the market. Brian talks about studying the data. You need to do the same if you're going to own your space! Lastly, Brian talks about there being no short cuts. It took him 15 years, to become an overnight success. Above all, being trustworthy and a fiduciary to your investors is what Brian attributes the growth of his company. I'm sure you all will agree and get a lot out of this episode. You can find out more about Snowball Developments at: https://www.snowball-dev.com/ and connect with Brian at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-ker-5024899/. Lastly, it has been wonderful to get all the incredible feedback on my book The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. It is incredibly gratifying that it has made an impact on so many of you. I greatly appreciate your sharing the word on this book so others too can discover the incredible world of incredible real estate. As always, you can go to jamesnelson.com to get more information on the book as well as helpful white papers and videos to give you the Insider's Edge.

I had the chance to meet John when I interviewed on his podcast and was happy to have him reciprocate and come on my show. John Casmon launched Casmon Capital Group to help busy professionals invest in real estate without taking on a second job. He has helped families invest in over $100M in multifamily apartments to create passive income, reduce their tax obligation, and foster generational wealth. John hosts the Multifamily Insights podcast. In addition, he is the co-founder of the Midwest Real Estate Networking Summit. As a former marketing executive, John oversaw marketing campaigns for General Motors, PepsiCo, and MillerCoors. He is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, helping everyday professionals invest in apartments in emerging and stable Midwest markets and select parts of the Southeast region. You can find out more information on John at https://casmoncapital.com/. Also, make sure and check out his podcast Multifamily Insights Podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/multifamily-insights/id1269346577?mt=2

Gino Barbaro is a co-founder of Jake and Gino and the Rand Family of Companies, a vertically integrated real estate company that controls over $250 million of real estate assets. He is a best-selling author of Wheelbarrow Profits and The Honey Bee, and have created an educational company that focuses on multifamily entrepreneurs. He has co-founded the Jake & Gino community to teach others their three-step framework: Buy Right, Finance Right and Manage Right®, and how to become multifamily entrepreneurs. Today, he is joined with his wife, Julia, who is co-host of the Julia and Gino Podcast. Julia is a homeschooling mother of six children, wife to Gino Barbaro for 25 years. Julia is a Certified Life & Marriage coach and runs Women of Wheelbarrow Profits®, in the Jake & Gino community. Julia was inspired to become a Certified Life and Marriage coach after witnessing the power of coaching. She felt compelled to give back and motivate others to create a strong marriage, and a healthy family/work balance. Julia is the author of The Cannolis Exploded!, A Gelato Blast!, and Pizza With a Purpose, children's books about decision making and different paths we can take in life. I had the pleasure of meeting both Gino and Julia at one of Ryan Serhant's Mastermind events. I have since become a big fan of their work. I'm sure you'll enjoy this episode. For more information, you can find out about them at: jakeandgino.com

Today it is my great pleasure to have my friend Carl Wright on the show, Founder & President of Wright Partners. Like many of my past guests, I got to know Carl through Bisnow's Escape conference. I have now been going for over 10 years and Carl was one of the first people I met there who I have stayed in touch with and gotten to know him better over the years. He's also a huge fan of this podcast, so it's always great to have someone who understands the value we are offering here. Carl started as a Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and became a licensed Professional Engineer in PA and NJ. He started in the construction trades to work his way through high school and college. After graduation, Carl was hired by URS, a global leader in engineering and construction, leading environmental cleanup projects as a general contractor. Carl then learned the land development business from the inside as a project manager for Nave Newell, a land development engineering company. Carl founded the Wright Partners in 1998 as a way to combine his passions for real estate, engineering and construction. We spend a lot of time in this discussion talking about his early years and how he unlocked the value of contaminated sites to be able to offer them to some of the top retail brands in the world. He talked about finding out fundamental truth and how to avoid problems down the line with his margin of safety. He also talked about his 100-acre horse farm purchase which he was able to entitle and resell giving him his start. As some fun facts, Carl has been interviewed by Darren Hardy, publisher of Success Magazine, and has been a repeat guest on Onward Nation Podcast for how business owners Think, Act & Achieve. In his spare time, he is surfing at the world's best surf spots or training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in which he's a first-degree black belt. He completed Ironman Lake Placid in 2014. Carl has some incredible takeaways here not just to succeed in real estate but in life. He shares about embracing learning, avoiding the trap of comparing, and choosing great partners. I know you will get a lot out of this episode. You can find out more about Carl and his company at: https://www.wrightld.com/ or find him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-wright-a264856/

On today's show, Beth Mercante joins me from StackSource, a tech-enabled commercial real estate loan platform that makes it easier and faster to find the right commercial real estate financing for your property, where she serves as Senior Managing Director. She talked about growing up in a real estate family where her father was an incredibly honest developer. She talked about what lengths he would go to, to make good on a project. Beth has worked in various commercial real estate roles since 1990 after graduating from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction. Prior to joining StackSource as Senior VP, Ms. Mercante worked in New York City for the Quantum Fund (George Soros and Paul Reichmann fund) in acquisitions and asset management. She also spent time at AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp. in their mortgage finance and asset management divisions managing multi-family, office and retail properties. Previously, she was an investment sales broker in Manhattan and won the "Most Ingenious Deal of the Year" award from REBNY. After a successful sales career, Ms. Mercante moved into real estate consulting with Gemini Realty Advisors and then to her own firm where she most recently sourced senior housing and self-storage projects for a partnership including Columbia Pacific Advisors, Wegman Companies and Rembold Companies. Beth spoke a lot about building consensus whether it is a development deal or financing a deal. She also talked about the importance to spending time on the front line as you look to build your business. Lastly, she talks about the future of financing by leveraging data to provide the best solutions. I'm sure you will enjoy our conversation. You can find out more about Beth and StackSource at: https://www.stacksource.com/team/beth-mercante or find her on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethmercante/.

For this week's show I had the chance to catch up with Craig Berger, Founder and CEO of Avid Realty Partners (ARP), a commercial realty firm focused on Hotel and MFU Apartment assets nationwide. Like Sondra Wenger on last week's show, I met Craig at the Bisnow Escape retreat when I had a chance to really get to know him in a relaxed environment. I really appreciated his approach to the business that he started from scratch. After fixing and flipping a dozen homes he tackled a 95 unit apartment building in St. Louis, which was truly baptism by fire. Although he said he wouldn't recommend it, it certainly paved the way for him. That investment to this day remains one of his best. He then went on to improve a 109 unit hotel in Colorado. What amazed me about Craig's story was how he was willing to jump into something entirely new provided he saw an opportunity. Today he has gone on to build a portfolio over a dozen properties with 2,100 units. Before scaling this Commercial Realty business, Craig spent more than a decade as a top sell-side semiconductor equity research analyst at places such as Smith Barney Citigroup where he won several awards from Forbes and Thomson Reuters, and had numerous media and press interactions including more than 70 appearances on CNBC. He has applied that same research and diligence to real estate which has made him the successful investor that he is today. Craig talked about his intense focus on value identification and his hands on approach throughout the process. He talked about always doing right by his investors, even prioritizing them above his interests. I know you will enjoy this episode. You can find out more about Craig and his company at: https://avidrealtypartners.com/management-team/craig-berger/ or find him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-berger1/.

In this week's show, I speak with Sondra Wenger, who is Head of Americas Commercial Operator Division for CBRE Investment Management. Sondra began her career in the commercial real estate industry in 1995 and has sourced, negotiated and closed over $10 billion of transactions in more than 35 cities. Prior to joining CBRE Investment Management in 2021, she served as a senior executive for institutions including CIM Group, General Electric and Equity Office Properties. I had the pleasure of meeting with her at Bisnow's Escape conference where she led our tribe. We engaged in some incredible discussion about the challenges we face in the market, but, in turn, the opportunities. She is in an incredible position to guide her firm through these unchartered waters. Sondra begins by telling her story of starting as an accountant but quickly learning that she did not fit the profile. She transitioned to work on the ownership side for some of the most legendary investors out there, including Sam Zell. She also talks about working for larger firms while staying entrepreneurial and ahead of the curve. I love what Sondra has to say about leadership. She has an open and communicative leadership style which serves her well. She loves giving everyone a seat at the table, which she learned through her experience. She also talks about the importance of saying "yes" when learning to take on hard assignments that no one else wants. "That's where you gain real experience and respect." This also means staying open to new opportunities. I know you will get a lot of this episode. You can find out more on Sondra at: https://www.cbreim.com/people/sondra-wenger or at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sondrawenger/.

This is what Rod had to say.. "On this episode of the Massimo Show Rod sits down with one of the CRE top producers in North America, James Nelson. Now an author as well as being a speaker, investor, amazing broker and long time Massimo member, James is Principal and head of Tri-State Investments at Avison Young. With the launch of James' new book, The Insiders Edge to Real Estate Investing, Rod opens by asking why brokers don't also invest in commercial real estate? Does he see that as a conflict or should they be investing? James astutely remarks on the ethical issues and potential conflicts of being a broker and investor. He personally operates with the beliefs that reputation is everything, full or over disclosure is key and don't invest in an opportunity that you're listing or selling as a broker. Next, Rod explores why James chose to invest in commercial real estate versus other avenues, such as the stock market. James responds by sharing his passion for the business and his desire to acquire all the knowledge he can on the frontlines as a broker. He then postulates, "Why wouldn't you take your expertise and knowledge and parlay that into an investment? Why would we not practice what we preach" about the benefits of buying and long term wealth creation? There are many inefficiencies in real estate, you can use that as opportunities that you just won't see in the public markets. James continues to share that this is a big part of how he came to his book's title, The Insiders Edge to Real Estate Investing, as this insight, or edge, is "one of the main benefits of real estate" investing. His book details that "you can gain the insiders edge to outperform in the market." Whereas with the stock market, everyone has the same information available to them. Rod and James go on to discuss how he got his start as an investor 20 years ago, the main deltas on how a professional investor views a deal versus a broker, tips for how to get started in investing with "sweat equity," and what the ideal investment team looks like. James provides a host of information in his book about "having the right specialists" and how "This is the business that's all about having the right people." With the assistance of James' writing team, he also wrote about how to bring on a well trusted partner for your first investment and the significant differences, with respect to both risk and reward, between a general partner, co-general partner, and limited partners. Lastly, and a big part of the book, James reviews "the most important attribute for a great opportunity, seller's motivation." To close out their podcast, Rod gets James' thoughts, from his broker perspective, for what he sees as opportunities in the market for 2023 and how he's able to find the time to do so many things."

On this week's episode, I am speaking with Will Ingraham, a partner at GDC Properties. Back in my Massey Knakal days we sold Will's company a loft conversion in Brooklyn. I have stayed in touch and have guest lectured for him at Fordham University where he teaches a class on affordable housing. I love how Will is a big picture thinker. When I asked if his knowledge base was his Insider's Edge, he said it was quite the opposite. He said as a generalist his value is knowing who to bring into complex situations whether for entitling land or figuring out how to capitalize affordable development. Will recounts his early days as a house painter in Manhattan, when he stumbled across a development opportunity. As he had followed real estate from an early age, he was able to assemble the site and essentially flip the contract to score a big profit launching him into the real estate business. He then went on to spec homes in Milford, NY where he ultimately met Martin Ginsburg a founder of GDC properties. They were not only the largest developer in Westchester, NY but went on to amass 3 million SF of shopping centers nationwide, as well as developing hotel projects. Will's past roles at the company include president and chief investment officer. He has been responsible for developing and implementing the company's strategic vision, overseeing acquisitions and dispositions of property and leading new development activity. Mr. Ingraham is also managing member in the Peregrine Opportunity Zone fund. He holds a master of science degree in real estate development from Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. I know you will get a lot out of this episode especially the students out there. Will's advice is to learn a hard skill so you can add value. He is also a big believer in being a problem solver.

On this week's episode, I interview my friend and client Scott Zwilling who is co-founder of Spirit Investment Partners. Scott focuses on acquisitions, equity and debt relationships, and firm wide strategy. Spirit has completed over $1 billion in transactions including 34 assets totaling 5,676 multifamily units across 11 states. I know you will get a lot out of this interview. I am calling it the Differentiator as Scott not only talks about not following the herd when investing, but also developing your own approach. In the case of Spirit, it was investing in the Midwest when no one else was looking there. He also wanted to have the best design in their product and materials. He was certainly ahead of the curve. Scott then speaks about how to choose the right institutional partner and how to cultivate relationships. This starts with getting to know them first as opposed to just rushing into a deal. He also talks about the importance of having great deal flow, as opposed to just having a good investment pedigree. Prior Scott was the director of northeast acquisitions for JPI, a national multi-family developer and an acquisition manager with Crescent Heights where he was responsible for over $1.0 billion of property located throughout the northeast. In addition, he served as adjunct professor of real estate finance at Columbia University. Prior to JPI and Crescent Heights, Scott was a real estate investment banker at Wells Hill Partners, Ltd., where he participated in numerous assignments, including residential, hotel and office assets and as a consultant in the real estate audit groups of Arthur Andersen and Ernst and Young. Scott is a former certified public accountant who graduated from The Ohio State University and received a Masters in Real Estate Development from Columbia University. Lastly, Scott spoke about the importance of working with great mentors and knowing yourself! He talks about why he knew he could go off on his own and start his own investment platform. You can find out more about Scott and his company at: https://spiritinvestmentpartners.com/.

On this week's show, I interview Anthony Scandariato, co-founder of Red Knight Properties, and host of the Discovering Multifamily Podcast. I had the pleasure of speaking on his show so was happy to reciprocate. We start off the conversation by talking about how podcasts can leverage your presence in the market and help build great relationships. Maybe you'll consider starting your own podcast after listening! Anthony graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor's degree in Applied Economics and Management . While at school, he had the entrepreneurial drive so co-founded Ridgeview Partners that sold college apparel at over 110 retailers within the first-year operations. After a year, he decided he was looking for something more permanent so learned the real estate business at Vision Properties, where he was an Acquisitions & Asset Manager VP for their nationwide Class A office assets. He later said that his experience in those markets would help him branch out to build his own nationwide portfolio. Anthony recounts how he started with a 2 family and ultimately built up a 70 unit portfolio with his partner Brian Leonard, who played 8 years in the NFL. After they established a track record, they brought on outside investors for their first large scale acquisition of a 51 unit apartment building in Northern NJ. After selling, they have now parlayed it into a 1,000+ unit portfolio in NJ, NY, PA, FL, Ohio, and Alabama. There are some great lessons to learn from this podcast from the importance to being hands on to keeping your investors updated on a monthly basis. He states that there may never be a perfect time to start your own portfolio, but planning is essential to hit the ground running. You can find out more about Anthony and his company at https://redknightproperties.com/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonymscandariato/.

For this week's show, I share with you several discussions that I had with past guests and a current team member. The focus was on how they got into and learned the business. What became apparent is there wasn't a " book" that was all encompassing to set them on their way. That being said, they all shared that there was no substitute to learning by doing and having great mentors along the way. I'm hoping for those looking to get into the business today or those looking to step up their game will find my book helpful as a foundation for their success. Here's the background on who joined me for this compilation: Christopher N. Okada is the Founder and President of Okada & Company. Over the past 15 years of his New York real estate career, he was able to consummate over $1B in sales, represent several Fortune 500 companies, and amass a portfolio of office, multi-family, & retail properties. Eric Brody is founder of ANAX Real Estate Partners. He is a prolific builder and developer in NYC for the last eighteen years with over $950 million worth of real estate development and just over $500 million in total construction costs representing approximately 800 units built and occupied with in NYC. Formerly COO of Wonder Works Construction Corporation, Eric started a Proptech/Contech Venture firm in 2021 and is host of the Real Tech Talk Podcast. Next, we have Avison Young's own Alexandra Marolda. Alex is an Associate Director on our Tri-State Investment Sales Team. Prior, she spent over five years on the principal side overseeing a real estate portfolio consisting of 1,200 residential units and 50 retail units within Manhattan and the Greater New York City area. She has been honored by Real Estate Weekly as Rising Star and by the New York Real Estate Journal as One to Watch. Finally, I speak with my friend Chad Cooley who is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of AWH Partners, a privately held investment firm focused on the hotel space. Prior he was a Vice President at the Related Companies. He is co-chair of Colgate's Real Estate Council, a group that is near and dear to my heart. I hope you get a lot out of this episode. As always, please visit Jamesnelson.com for show notes as well as the chance to pre-order my upcoming book, The Insider's Edge To Real Estate Investing.

On this week's show, I interview Brian Adams, who is the President and founder of Excelsior Capital. He has 10+ years of experience in real estate private equity previously co-founding Priam Properties. According to his firm's website, Excelsior Capital now has $200m of assets under management for a total of 1.1M SF, but Brian was quick to say its not about the statistics. He is more passionate about their track record of serving their 200+ active investors. We spent the majority of our time discussing his fund-raising process as they do not operate as a fund. They raise capital for every transaction. He talks about how he cultivated this investor base and even admits to scaling too quickly by going into too many markets as once. He also talks about bringing a lot of their operations in house including bookkeeping and accounting. By listening, you'll learn about what worked, and what didn't. What I find most impressive about Brian is his continued dedication to continually expanding his investor base. This means 5 meetings and 10 cold calls per day for him, which has now led to a database of 6,000 potential investors. He believes that most sponsors are really great at finding and repositioning deals, but very poor with this equally important component – raising capital. I know that you'll get a ton out of this episode! You can check out excelisorgp.com to learn more about Brian and his platform.

We have a great show today. I will have the pleasure of interviewing Rob Lapidus, President, CIO, and Co-Founder, of L&L Holding Company. I have gotten to know Rob over the years as we sit on the board of SparkYouth together. He has an incredible story having started as an attorney, moving in house for a real estate developer, and then starting L&L with David Levinson in 2000 and ultimately growing it to a 400 person company with an 8 million square foot portfolio. Prior to founding the Company, Rob was President of Westminster Capital Associates where he placed over $300 million of mortgage financing on multi-family, commercial and retail properties in New York and New Jersey . Before that, Rob was with Bellemead Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the Chubb Corporation, where he learned the business handling leasing, management, syndication and financing of a 12 million square foot portfolio of office space. Rob graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wharton and received a degree from Cardozo Law School. In this discussion, Rob talks about the importance of value and trust by playing the long game. This means sharing core values with your partners. He also talks about challenging your self by surrounding yourself by like minded individuals. This lead to Rob jumping to become a principal at a very early stage in his career. He goes on to talk about managing risk and taking on the right projects. He shares about "Building the Unbuildable" with their latest development TSX Broadway where they raised the historic Palace theater 30 feet in the air as part of a 47-story hotel tower. He also speaks about what went into building what he believes is the best office building in the world at 425 Park Avenue. I know you will get a lot out of the episode! To learn more about L&L's projects, please visit: https://www.ll-holding.com.

For this week's episode, I am happy to share Avison Young's 3rd Quarter 2022 State of the Market for New York City. Even if you invest outside this market, I know you will get value out of this episode. We discuss the decline in sales volume and values (with a few exceptions). There has been a shift in institutional demand to residential over office. I will cover what would be needed to convert office to residential which could be a big answer to this challenge. That being said, we will also look at data that shows that the return to office has not been uniform across various cities. There are huge variations based on submarket, industry, and tenancy. Brent Glodowski, who heads our retail sales group, will then discuss the opportunities that exist in this segment of the market. He will cover how rising interest rates have pushed cap rates up and why 1031 buyers are the best in the market today. Then Scott Singer, our Co-Lead of Tri-State Debt & Equity Finance, will talk about the debt markets and what to look out for the future. He will answer the question of if you should refinance now. He will also compare this cycles to the past to see if we can glean any wisdom. Finally, he will speak about how the Inverted Yield Curve could actually be a surprising opportunity for borrowers To follow along with the discussion please use this link: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:290402e6-1837-321f-a816-469c057d815a

On this week's show, I interviewed Matthew Joseph, founder of Coastal Hotel Properties and West Avenue Realty. Matt reached out to me to share his story. I am approached multiple times per week by potential guests and their PR firms to come on my show. I really try and focus on active investors who I think will be of most benefit to you the listener. I believe Matt is definitely one of those investors! When I asked Matt about his investment experience, he told me that he started as a residential broker in 2005 in Miami where he sold over $300m of apartments. Then, he started working with investors flipping condos in 2009-2013 and then got into selling luxury. He said he realized the only way to get ahead is to own real estate, so he bought land on Biscayne Blvd. for $250k in 2006 and flipped it for $1.2m in 2013. Then he was hooked. He started syndicating and finding deals. He found a motel deal in 2015 on Craigslist, and created a cool niche by taking old roadside motels and making them cool. He'll talk about how he structured his first deal with just a deposit down. Matt now has 18 years of direct real estate investment and sales experience. Today CHP is a privately held, fully integrated, entrepreneurial real estate and hotel management company that develops, acquires, and operates hospitality assets. CHP manages 400 units, 50 million portfolios throughout Florida and North Carolina. CHP is in the process of creating a new extended-stay brand called Coastal Suites. What I really liked about Matt's interview was how he spoke about being a student of the game and the importance of being a constant learner. He also talked about how he looks at assets from the inside out to figure out how best to reposition. I know that you'll get a lot out of this episode. To connect with Matt you can link in with him at linkedin.com/in/mjlists, https://coastalgetaway.com/, https://coastalsuites.com/

For today's show, Dorothy Alpert, Avison Young's Tri-State president, and I discussed my upcoming book, The Insider's Edge To Real Estate Investing – Game Changing Strategies to Outperform the Market. Dorothy has a great perspective to bring to the table. Dorothy had a 30+ year career at Deloitte, where she focused on strategy and operations consulting in the real estate industry, including leading the firms' real estate services practice in the U.S. where she led significant client relationships. Dorothy is also the co-founder of ULI Women's Leadership Initiative, on the Board of Trustees for the American Red Cross and a former Board Member of The New 42nd Street. Dorothy has been honored as one of Real Estate Forum's Women in Influence: Legends, Real Estate Forum's Women to Watch, and Real Estate New York's Women of Influence. We talked about why there was a need for this book now and why someone should consider investing in the market today. We covered the things that someone should consider for their first purchase, as well as what makes for a great partner to start with. I think you'll benefit by learning what is most important when inspecting and valuing a property. We also talked about raising capital and financing the property, as well as the best way to get started. Lastly, you definitely don't want to miss the single most important question to ask when investing. As opposed to most of the "fix-it, flip it" and "get rich quick" real estate books out there, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing gives readers actionable steps from building the right team to sourcing opportunities to raising capital to ultimately closing. It will then instruct readers on how to reposition and profit on their investment and build a portfolio for the future. The book is being published by McGraw Hill and will be available in late January. As one of NYC's top investment sales brokers, I have seen thousands of deals so knows what works and what doesn't. What makes real estate investing so exciting is that by gaining the insider's edge, you can outperform the market. This book will inspire those who have yet to make their first investment and will show veterans how to step up their game. It is a must read for college and masters students focused on real estate as well as those who work in any aspect of the business ranging from brokers to lenders to attorneys. I not only draws on his experience as a broker, but as a partner in two successful real estate funds and as a limited partner in dozens of transactions. I have also gained amazing insight by interviewing over 100 top investors on this podcast, which has now been downloaded over 250,000 times. These are the lessons that I have shared as a guest lecturer at such schools as Columbia, NYU, and Wharton. If you have not done so already, please pre-order your book or arrange for a bulk order at jamesnelson.com. It would mean a lot to me!

This week, I had a great conversation with Adir Levitas, founder and chief executive officer of Hoboken, NJ-based Faropoint, a vertically integrated, tech-enabled real estate investment manager that leverages data and deep market relationships to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns. Faropoint has acquired over 400 industrial buildings and over 20 million square feet of property. Since 2018, Faropoint has invested $2 billion in the last mile industrial sector becoming one of the most active investors in the United States. When I asked Adir what his inside edge to real estate investing was, he said it's how his company sources the most qualified opportunities for their investors. He has setup 14 offices across the US each with its own acquisition professional. As a result, the company has cultivated great local broker relationships to provide the best deal flow. I also like how Adir shared about his change in mindset to switch from buying and flipping homes to building out an industrial portfolio which started in Memphis, TN. Adir has focused on building Faropoint into a tech-enabled real estate investment manager, which uses proprietary software for real estate underwriting, due diligence, and portfolio management. Faropoint's technology platform allows the company to target inefficiencies in the marketplace and identify unique, often overlooked investment opportunities Faropoint's team consists of over 100 real estate and technology professionals located throughout the U.S., with an R&D center in Israel. Adir received a BA in Law from the IDC University in Israel, and is a Major in the Israeli Air Force(reserves). You can find him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adir-levitas-0a37bb4b/ and find information on Faropoint at https://faropoint.com/.

In this week's episode, I interview Alex Jarbo who approached me to share his impressive story. Alex has built up a business of offering short term rentals from scratch. I thought this would be of interest to you either to build your own portfolio or even just how to optimize rentals of your own vacation rentals. Alex Jarbo is a short-term rental developer and manager. He was born and raised in Detroit Michigan. He served in the Marine Corps for 4 ½ years where he was stationed in Washington DC apart of the Marine Corps Honor Guard. He left the Marine Corps at 22 years old to pursue his career as a real estate professional. He is the founder and CEO of Sargon Investment, and he has a goal of developing 650 cabins in the next 3 years. Alex holds an MBA with concentration in Real Estate Development and is currently finishing a Doctorate in Business with a concentration in Leadership. He is the host of the YouTube Channel Alex Builds where he teaches the in and out of short-term development and management. You can find Alex on: Website: sargoninvestements.com | Instagram @magicboyjarbo | YouTube Channel: Alex Builds | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-jarbo-28a940139/

I had the true pleasure of meeting Terry Moore at Blaine Strickland's summit last year. Terry has an incredibly successful track record as a broker which gave him the insight to write "Building Legacy Wealth – How to Build Wealth and Lead A Life Worth Living." I love the book and my conversation with Terry because we not only go into the how but more importantly, the why. He was kind enough to inscribe the book he gave me where he shares "Legacy is a more worthy objective (than material wealth). It is about what people think, say, and do because of your influence. Legacy is built by living out your values by investing in others. These chapters challenge and invite readers to lead lives worth imitating." Terry has helped adults make smart choices about money for more than 40 years. He is a broker and former commercial loan officer at the world's largest bank; business owner, developer, and syndicator; he is the only broker in San Diego to win the Triple Crown of investment brokerage — Deal Maker of the Year, Transaction of the Year, and CCIM Designee of the Year. He has twice been featured in national investment magazines. Published in San Diego Daily Transcript, Our City San Diego, and numerous state and local investment magazines; past instructor for national CCIM, UCSD, National University; former Director of state and local apartment association and San Diego Interfaith Housing. I know you are going to get incredible value and perspective from this episode. You can follow Terry, order his book, and learn more about him at (aciapartments.com/team/terry-moore/, LinkedIn -linkedin.com/in/terrymooreccim, https://www.amazon.com/Building-Legacy-Wealth-Apartment-Investment/dp/1732196907)

I first met Esti at Bisnow's Ascent conference in Miami where I was able to watch her work the room like no other. She has a very interesting background starting as a speech pathologist for 10 years until she realized with a family she needed to pivot. She wasn't feeling fulfilled, so she landed on real estate a "random" choice that allowed her to embrace her extrovert nature. She knew no one getting started. She couldn't even point to anyone who inspired her to get into the business. But she prides on herself on a being a great student and always learning. She started a residential broker and has now shifted into investing and capital raising. Esther Reizes-Lowenbein has redefined the face of real estate by offering professional and on-demand service. Esther services the commercial real estate market, as a realtor, investor and syndicator. She has successfully closed over 300 million dollars in commercial transactions thus far. She is recognized as a "serial net-worker" and has a knack at connecting buyers, sellers and investors. Esther holds a master's degree from Adelphi University. She is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. She takes great pride in her wonderful children. Additionally, Esther, together with her husband are extremely active in their community and run a non-for profit, providing relief for underprivileged individuals. In just 8 months, Esther has successfully raised over 30 million dollars from coGP and JV investors. Esti has also done an incredible job putting out great social media content (see: Instagram @estilowenbein | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-reizes-lowenbein-34992096/ ). I know you'll get a lot out of this episode!

On this week's episode, we are taking a break from our real estate focus as I interview Suzy Myers Jackson, who is the Executive Director of SparkYouth NYC (formerly The Catalog for Giving) a not-for-profit that supports the best emerging youth-development programs in NYC. I have been a proud board member of the organization for over 20 years. You will learn not only about the importance of giving back, but also how to ensure your gift makes the greatest impact. Suzy will also cover how she has grown the organization, which might give you some ideas on how to build your own business. SparkYouth NYC was founded in 1994, inspired by the idea that donors would like to support the best emerging youth-development programs in NYC—local organizations that are transforming young lives. Over the years SparkYouth has funded and provided technical support to more than 75 emerging programs, which in turn have served thousands of young people with programming in arts, sports, academics, mentoring, technology and more. We ignite growth in community-based programs to expand opportunities for the young people of New York City. We believe that creating crucial opportunities for young people transforms lives. For over 25 years we have vetted and invested in the best emerging youth development programs. 94% of these programs continue to grow and thrive. We believe that NYC's children are its most precious resource. Investing in young people from under-resourced communities creates a better NYC for all of us. Suzy was the longtime Executive Director of Opening Act, a theater-based youth development and social justice organization, where she grew the organization's reach from 3 to 57 of NYC's most high-need public schools, increased revenue by 80 fold, developed a national profile for the organization, and supported programmatic impact, becoming a leading organization in Social Emotional Learning outcomes. Suzy has developed multiple campaigns and professional development workshops that have been adopted and implemented by organizations across the country to raise funds, deepen relationships with key stakeholders, and apply the creativity and collaboration of the arts to build a thriving organizational culture. Her unique leadership style is centered around the improvisational tenet of YES AND, which encourages all members of a team to bring their best selves and most innovative ideas to the table, building off one another's strengths to achieve a shared mission. Suzy has been a featured speaker at Columbia and NYU, and a consultant for such organizations and corporations as Harlem Educational Activities Fund, HBO, the Center for Anti-Violence Education, Youth INC, Brandworkers, STEM From Dance, and INCLUDEnyc. For more information on SparkYouth NYC, please visit: https://www.sparkyouthnyc.org.

This week's episode is a continuation of my series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the grand finale of the 12-part series, I share key factors to consider when it comes to refinancing or selling a property. I discuss the role of investors and the business plan in this decision, along with important terms to understand including capital gains taxes and the 1031 exchange. My writing partner, Rachel Hartman, talks with me about market conditions, timing considerations, and how to start building your brand for long-term success. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

This week's episode is a continuation of my series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the eleventh of the 12-part series, I highlight the importance of building partnerships when leasing space to create win-win situations for both you and the tenant. I explain how rents can vary and what to know about rent regulations in certain areas. My writing partner, Rachel Hartman, interviews me as I lay out the different types of leases and the process of finding—and keeping(!)—great tenants. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

This week's episode is a continuation of my series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the tenth of the 12-part series, I relate what differentiates value-add properties from others and how to manage changes to the property. I share hard-learned tips on overseeing construction projects (think "The squeaky wheel gets the oil!") and keep costs under control. My writing partner Rachel Hartman asks me questions as I explain how to mesh the joy of creating a new design with delivering what the market wants. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

This week's episode is a continuation of my series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the eighth of the 12-part series, I talk about the pivoting moment when the investment you've been working toward moves into your own hands. I go over tips to review the title, carry out the diligence process, and ask the seller for information about the property. My writing partner, Rachel Hartman, talks with me about the contract details and what to expect at the closing. (Don't forget to congratulate your team and celebrate after you close—it's a big step and you all worked hard to get there!) In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

The Capital Stack with Special Guest Derek Eakin This week's episode is a continuation of my series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the ninth of the 12-part series, my writing partner Rachel Hartman interviews special guest Derek Eakin, senior director of portfolio management at The RMR Group. Previously Derek was the chief investment officer at River Oaks Investment Corp. and while there, he and I partnered with others to create two real estate funds with a total capitalization of $350 million. In this episode, Derek breaks down the layers of the capital stack, covering debt and equity components along with the risks and rewards to be aware of. He guides us through a sources and uses document, and explains why it's essential to create one when raising capital. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

In this show, I interview Marilee Utter, Global Chair of The Counselors of Real Estate, to debut the top ten issues of Real Estate. ● Inflation and Interest Rates ● Geopolitical Risk ● Hybrid Work and the "Great Decentralization" ● Supply Chain Disruption, Energy: Sustainability, Affordability, & Availability ● Energy: Sustainability, Affordability, & Availability ● Labor Shortage Strain ● The Great Housing Imbalance ● Regulatory Uncertainty ● Cybersecurity Interruptions ● ESG Requirements Forcing Change

This week's episode is a continuation of my series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the seventh of the 12-part series, I discuss what it means to orchestrate the funds and investors involved in a real estate acquisition. From equity and deposits to partner agreements and timelines, I spell out the main factors that you'll want to firmly grasp so you can move forward with confidence (and a greater chance of success!) My writing partner, Rachel Hartman, asks me questions as I share the importance of taking a bid seriously (brokers talk! Others will know if you back out), how to approach lenders, and why you shouldn't overlook incentives. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

This week's episode is a continuation of my series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the sixth of the 12-part series, I lay out some of the beginning financial considerations that will arise as you evaluate a piece of property. What type of return can you expect from a property? Who should you bring in to look at the financial statements? How do you make sure you don't get overleveraged? My writing partner, Rachel Hartman, asks me about these topics and more as I share the techniques that I've developed to understand the costs and returns related to an investment, which is a key component when initiating the bidding process. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

This week's episode is a continuation of my series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the fifth of the 12-part series, I discuss what it means to walk through a listing that you are considering for an investment. I compare what it's like to tour a residential home versus checking out an investment property (trust me, there are some key differences!). My writing partner, Rachel Hartman, asks me questions as I share inside tips to give you the advantage, including knowing who to bring with you, what questions to ask, and how to find out information that will help you decide whether to make a bid. The best part: the chance to reimagine a space and think creatively about how you could repurpose it and add value. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

On this week's episode, I'm continuing a series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the fifth of this 12-part series, I talk about discovering properties that can produce returns which outperform the market. You'll learn why it's a great idea to ask about the seller's motivation, how to find deals that aren't readily listed and visible to the public eye, and ways to build a great relationship with brokers, who are an essential resource and can lead you to hidden deals. My writing partner Rachel Hartman talks with me about pursuing off market opportunities, why neglected property might be a great fit, and how to decipher sales information. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn)

On this week's episode, I'm continuing a series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the fourth of this 12-part series, I delve into one of the most important aspects of real estate investing: your relationships. This is not a game you'll play on your own and having a partner you can count on will help you get great wins, time and again. I lay out the different players you'll need on your dream team, and how each one will contribute to the deal. My writing partner, Rachel Hartman, interviews me as I share ways to get to know others in this space, how to approach them, and the benefits of long-term relationships. Bottom line: your reputation will reign supreme, and others will notice who you keep in your circle. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

On this week's episode, I'm continuing a series that coincides with my upcoming book and name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, the third in this 12-part series, I define and compare the four main property types, which are often called asset classes, in real estate investing. These are: multi-family, retail, office, and land. I cover the advantages and disadvantages for each one, and lay out some important factors, like considering upfront costs and understanding your tolerance for risk when choosing a property. My writing partner Rachel Hartman interviews me as I discuss which asset class I think is a great option for beginning investors, along with the value of starting with a location where you feel comfortable and have an inside edge—like your own neighborhood. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

On this week's episode, I'm continuing a series that coincides with my upcoming book and new name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this show, I compare real estate investing to other investment types, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and retirement accounts. I explain how real estate tends to be an opaque and inefficient space, meaning it's not always easy to readily find information about every available property in your neighborhood. I also lay out why those factors work to your advantage, because if you research and get to know an area, you'll be able to spot great opportunities and build returns on your own terms. My writing partner Rachel Hartman interviews me as I break down two common myths that tend to hold new investors back, which are the lack of capital and lack of experience. I share my investing philosophy which reduces risk, point out ways to raise capital right from the beginning, and explain how I went from having nearly zero knowledge of real estate to becoming an expert in my neighborhood in just 90 days—and how you can too. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn).

On this week's episode, I'm kickstarting a new series that coincides with my upcoming book and new name of the podcast, The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing. In this first episode, I share insights into my background, including where I grew up and how I got into real estate, first as a broker and later as an investor myself. I relate stories about observing my grandfather's tenacity and seeing how that helped guide his real estate investing strategy, along with my gratitude for mentors who showed me how to get into the real estate game and gain the competitive advantage. My writing partner Rachel Hartman interviews me to pull back the layers and point out the lines I draw between my brokerage business and acting as an investor, my early mistakes that taught me valuable lessons, and discoveries that opened my eyes to the opportunities in real estate for those who have the inside knowledge. In addition to helping me with the book, Rachel pens content for Fortune 500 companies and is a regular contributor for U.S. News & World Report (connect with her at LinkedIn). Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-hartman-4a8a516/

On this week's show I welcome Nick Axford, Principal and Global Director of Insight at Avison Young. Dr. Nick Axford is Avison Young's Global Director of Insight, and has over 25 years' experience in leading private sector research and consultancy functions. From 1994 to 2018 he worked for CBRE, including five years as Global Head of Research. In this global role, Nick was responsible for leading and coordinating the activities of more than 650 specialists in countries around the world. Nick is a regular presenter at leading industry conferences and events, appearing frequently in the print and broadcast media commenting on topical issues relating to the commercial real estate market.

On this week's show, I welcome Craig Robinson, Chief Growth Officer at Industrious. Craig is an experienced chief executive, division president and board director for global commercial real estate, outsourcing and tech-enabled service companies. Craig has led business units within both large global public companies and private mid-cap growth businesses. He most recently built and led Powered By We, a hyper-growth business unit at WeWork providing technology, development, and management services to real estate owners and tenants. Previously he was the CEO of Global Corporate Services at Newmark Knight Frank (NASDAQ: NMRK) where he led all sales, operations and platform investments for their corporate real estate outsourcing business. Prior to Newmark, he was President of Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CIGI), U.S. Region, where he was responsible for $1B+ in annual revenue, 5,600 real estate professionals, and 150 offices.

On this week's episode, I welcome a close friend and an industry colleague, David Shorenstein. David is a Principal and Co-Founder of Hildreth Real Estate Advisors and brings over fifteen years of real estate experience to his position. David has expertise in purchasing, operating and representing buyers and sellers of multi-family, mixed-use, office, retail, development and conversion sites. David has successfully assembled and exited a New York City Real Estate portfolio with a value in excess of $300 million in over 250 properties.