The Deal Makers - An Agora production podcast: Recent Episodes
Asaf
TheDealMakers (an Agora production podcast) is a unique platform to recognize top-performing real estate partners in America and honor them for their expertise, achievements and growth. In The DealMakers, we will shine a light on the people behind high-performing real estate deals, unveil behind-the-scenes stories you’ve never heard before, and discuss growth opportunities for real estate investment experts. If you’re looking to learn more about top-performing GPs in America and how they MAKE deals, this podcast is for you!
In this episode of the Dealmakers Podcast, hosted by Asaf Raz, we are joined by Aviva Sonenrich, an Managing Member Warehouse Hotline and host of the Commercial Real Estate Secrets podcast. Aviva shares her journey as a third-generation warehouse broker, the impact of the digital age on her business, and the evolution of the warehouse market. She discusses current trends, the opportunities in the market, and how social media has significantly influenced her career. This episode is filled with valuable insights for anyone interested in learning about the potential of warehouse real estate opportunities.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
04:18 Impact of e-commerce and cannabis legalization on warehousing
05:22 Modern trends and what tenants look for in warehouses
07:27 Investment strategies and opportunities in warehousing
10:05 Institutional buyers vs. smaller investors in the warehouse market
17:19 Shameless Plug: Aviva’s services and opportunities at Warehouse Hotline
Get in touch with Aviva:Linkedin
X
TikTok
Commercial Real Estate Secrets Podcast
Warehouse Hotline
This podcast is brought to you by Agora, a comprehensive real estate investment management platform offering a wide range of services to enable real growth and provide the best real estate investment experience.
Learn more about Agora
In this episode of the Dealmakers Podcast, hosted by Asaf Raz, we are joined by Michael Bull, the CEO of Bull Realty. Michael brings decades of experience in commercial real estate, with an impressive $8 billion in closed transactions. He shares his journey from managing apartments to leading a successful brokerage firm, discussing the current trends and opportunities in the commercial real estate market focusing on contrarian investing and how it can be a powerful strategy for building wealth. This episode provides a wealth of knowledge for anyone interested in the commercial real estate industry.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
04:05 Emerging trends and market dynamics in commercial real estate
05:30 Opportunities in the office sector for owner occupants
07:54 Insights on buying during downturns and contrarian investing
17:11 Shameless Plug: Michael’s services and opportunities at Bull Realty
Get in touch with Michael:
X
Bull Realty
the CRE show
Commercial Agent Success
This podcast is brought to you by Agora, a comprehensive real estate investment management platform offering a wide range of services to enable real growth and provide the best real estate investment experience.
Learn more about Agora
In this episode of the Dealmakers Podcast, hosted by Asaf Raz, Erin Downey, a commercial real estate broker and advisor at High Associates, discusses her transition from residential to commercial real estate and shares insights on current market trends. She highlights the unique opportunities and challenges in the Harrisburg, PA area, emphasizing the demand for smaller office spaces with high-quality finishes and the importance of understanding local market dynamics. Erin also reflects on the resilience of retail spaces and the ongoing shifts in the market post-COVID, offering valuable perspectives for investors and tenants navigating the evolving real estate landscape. This episode is packed with valuable advice for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of commercial real estate.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
05:46 Emerging trends and market dynamics in tertiary markets
08:01 Challenges of investment properties with current interest rates
09:53 Shift in retail and residential trends post-COVID
17:09 Utilizing social media for growth and connections to a broader audience
22:37 Shameless Plug: Erin’s services and current opportunities
Connect with Erin:
X
High Associates
This podcast is brought to you by Agora, a comprehensive real estate investment management platform offering a wide range of services to enable real growth and provide the best real estate investment experience.
Learn more about Agora
Join us in this episode of the Dealmakers Podcast, hosted by Asaf Raz as we dive into the world of commercial real estate with George Abro, a seasoned broker at Altitude Commercial Real Estate. George shares his journey from leasing to investment sales and discusses the current market dynamics, the importance of understanding client motivations, and effective strategies for connecting buyers and sellers. He also highlights the value of community and knowledge sharing within the real estate industry, especially through platforms like X (Twitter). This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in navigating and succeeding in today's commercial real estate market.
Chapters:
01:19 George Abro's background and current role
3:30 Market talent and industry dynamics
13:18 Successful broker strategies in today's market
16:30 Insights from the Real Estate X Gala
19:56 Utilizing social media for opportunities
21:50 The shameless plug: opportunities at Altitude
Get in touch with George:
X
Learn more about Altitude Commercial Real Estate
This podcast is brought to you by Agora, a comprehensive real estate investment management platform offering a wide range of services to enable real growth and provide the best real estate investment experience.
Learn more about Agora
Join us in this episode of the Dealmakers Podcast, hosted by Asaf Raz, as we delve into the world of commercial real estate with Bethany Babcock, founder of Foresight Commercial Real Estate. Bethany shares her remarkable journey from accidentally landing in the real estate industry to founding her own firm. She discusses the dynamics of property management, leasing, and investment sales, and highlights her dedication to making the industry more accessible and better for all. Bethany also introduces the CRE Launch Program, aimed at educating and preparing the next generation of real estate professionals. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the nuances of commercial real estate and the power of mentorship and education.
Chapters:
00:20 - Introduction
06:16 - The CRE Launch Program & The value of education in the real estate community
13:08 - Current market dynamics: retail, property management, and leasing
19:38 - Managing internal data for better market insights
23:20 - Shameless plug: Tenant representation, investment property sales, and CRE Launch Program partnerships
Connect with Bethany:
Linkedin
X
Forsite Commercial Real Estate
The CRE Launch Program
This podcast is brought to you by Agora, a comprehensive real estate investment management platform offering a wide range of services to enable real growth and provide the best real estate investment experience.
Learn more about Agora
Join us in this episode of the Dealmakers Coffee Break as we sit down with Matt Faircloth, owner of The DeRosa Group, to discuss their strategic focus on providing affordable housing aligned with median incomes. Matt shares his journey from engineering to real estate, emphasizing the importance of cash flow over appreciation in today's market. He explains how The DeRosa Group's recession-resistant model focuses on residential rentals and hard money loans, ensuring sustainable investments. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to learn more about effective real estate strategies centered on affordability and cash flow sustainability.
In this episode of the Dealmakers Coffee Break, we welcome John Casmon, a multifamily investor and syndicator at Casmon Capital Group who shares insights into real estate investment strategies and market dynamics.
Highlighting the importance of understanding market fundamentals and cultivating strong investor relationships, John underscores the importance of selecting desirable locations and assessing factors like population growth, job opportunities, and infrastructure development when making investment decisions.
Tune in to gain valuable insights from John for navigating multifamily investments in today's evolving market landscape.
Join us in this episode of the Dealmakers Coffee Break as we delve into the world of multifamily investments with Craig McGrouther, Director of Business Development at Lone Star Capital. Craig shares his expert insights on navigating the current market dynamics, particularly in Texas. He discusses Lone Star Capital's unique investment strategies, including their approach to tax abatement and affordable housing, and how they're adapting to the challenges of high-interest rates and market shifts. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the nuances of multifamily investments in today's economic climate.
In this insightful episode of the Dealmakers Coffee Break, we sit down with Jeremy Hill, the seasoned expert from JB Capital.
With over two decades in the private debt industry, Jeremy shares his valuable perspectives on the current market trends, the rise in interest rates, and the impending maturity cliff in commercial securities. He delves into the challenges and opportunities this environment presents for investors and lenders alike.
Tune in to hear Jeremy's strategies for 2024 and his unique approach to debt and equity in the evolving landscape of real estate investment.
Maria Zondervan from Blue Vikings Capital is a capital allocator, acting as a bridge between investors and sponsors by selecting how to optimally allocate her investors' capital, vetting deals, and protecting her investors' interests.
With her unique perspective, Maria has a lot of insights to share with GPs on how to manage changed deal expectations, refinancing, common mistakes when communicating with investors, and when to break away from a deal.
This episode is powered by Agora
With nearly three decades of experience in real estate, Ben Reinberg, CEO of Alliance, has a unique vantage point into the upcoming challenges of commercial real estate, and he's not mincing words about it.
In this episode, Ben discusses the effect that rising interest rates, conservative lenders, unemployment, and a wave of maturing loans loom on the horizon will have on commercial real estate. Ben also offers advice on how to ride out the storm and how the current situation presents investment opportunities.
This episode is powered by Agora
The next time you drive past a Wendy's, walk into a CVS, or pull up to a gas station, think of them in real estate investment terms - or, more specifically, net lease investments. This is what Michael Salafia and STAX Equity do and do well.
In this episode, we talk with Michael about his experience in the net lease investment space and Stax's unique use of advanced AI and Machine Learning to analyze and underwrite thousands of properties at scale.
This episode is powered by Agora
Lupei Chou, the Investor Relations Executive at Crown Capital, ventured into real estate multifamily investments together to gain more control over her time after more than two decades of military service as a naval officer. In our episode, she talks about how Crown Capital tackles current challenges and its unique approach to growing its investor community, even when deals are slow, by providing them with educational value.
This episode is powered by Agora
In this "Deal Makers Coffee Break" episode, we welcome Marc Hershberg, Managing Partner and CEO of Topaz Capital and General Partner of Topaz Ventures.
Marc discusses the current state of the real estate market and the shift from equity to debt investments. He also addresses how Topaz is tackling the headwinds of high-interest rates and operating expenses, along with a softening in the rent market, and how they still find opportunities in this market.
This episode is powered by Agora
In this Coffee Break episode, Litan Yahav, CEO and Co-Founder of Vyzer, a tech startup helping LPs centralize their investment management in one platform, gives us an invaluable vantage point into LPs' current state of mind.
This episode is powered by Agora
We're delighted to host the founders of Next Point Socimi, Ofer Lior and Nir Goldberg, on the Deal Makers. Next Point invests in Spain's real estate market with outstanding returns.
In this episode, Nir and Ofer discuss the opportunities it presents and its appeal to U.S.-based investors.
They also share their unique business model and investment strategy, and talk about the roadmap of growing from small-scale flipping to running complex investment vehicles on a large scale.
Many people are passionate about what they do, but after having Erin Hudson on The DealMakers, the word "passionate" feels a bit underwhelming to describe her vibrant energy when she talks about her work at Quattro Capital.
Erin is a Co-founder and Director of Equity Relations at Quattro Capital, and we're delighted to have her on this episode, where she talks about her philosophy for cultivating flourishing investor relationships and shares the incredible story of how Quattro Capital came to be.
This episode is powered by Agora
Shawn Griffith and his wife dabbled in real estate for over a decade as passive investors before starting TWT Multifamily.
Today they're real estate syndicators focusing on multi-family acquisitions, and Shawn's conservative approach to investment keeps his investments safe and his investors happy.
This episode is powered by Agora
Chad is a Managing Partner and Director of Acquisitions at Quattro Capital, a Tennessee-based investment firm that delivers the full suite of services to actualize real estate opportunities that yield strong returns.
In this episode of The Deal Makers Coffee Break edition, he recounts personal stories about their portfolio, shares tips on the current state of economic affairs, and his analytical approach to managing risk.
This episode is powered by Agora
Ahsan Daredia did the corporate America tour: he was in corporate finance, operations and consulting.
Then he returned home to the family's real estate business as Principal of Investor Relations and Marketing in the Dhanani Private Equity Group, a Houston-based company with more than $1B in AUM and an outstanding IRR track record.
In this episode, he shares a glimpse into the unique recipe for their consistent success.
This episode is powered by Agora
Meir Fried isn't a big believer in sitting on the fence as a business strategy. In this episode of Coffee Break, Meir shares his unique perspective on taking calculated risks to find deal opportunities.
This episode is powered by Agora
Tammy Sutton is the master of operational efficiency.
After the PSA is signed, she oversees the takeover, investor equity reconciliation, compliance, and cost check analysis and hands over impeccable dossiers to asset management.
In this episode, she covers the behind-the-scenes activities that are pivotal to smooth sailing when it comes to operational efficiency.
This episode is powered by Agora
Jon Siegel has three decades of experience in real estate investments. Having seen it all makes it easier for him to be cautious of trends, navigate turbulent financial seas, and keep his eyes fixed on the horizon when making investment decisions
This episode is powered by Agora
Gaurang ״Greg" Gala saw his parents immigrate to the US and work hard.
When it was time to invest what they accumulated, they had no network of lenders and people didn’t take them seriously.
Today, he helps new Americans with business acumen to gain access to capital, knowledge and financial services to invest in real estate.
This episode is powered by Agora
Rich Bouchner connects investors with opportunities. He's done it for decades across all asset classes, and he's learned a thing or two. Mainly - if you do your field work, believe in your thesis and take the emotion out, you'll win.
Seth Grossman can arrange for funding in his sleep. For all the rest, he relies on creating a network of business partners and building winning teams around the deals he brokers to have all bases of expertise covered.
Noah Pape took his passion for data and sports and applied it to the world of real estate investment. Hear his approach to leveraging tech and machine learning to centralize, aggregate and analyzes huge swaths of data to identify the best-fitting investment opportunities.
Noel talks about his financing experience in little banks vs. big banks, how he landed a once-in-a-lifetime deal on a commercial flight, and the weight of responsibility he's feeling toward his investors.
Paul Thompson shares his views on the interest rates (hint: everything is relative) and tells the story of how a creek got the state of Texas to fund his residential project.
We're delighted to have K. Trevor Thompson as a guest on The Deal Makers podcast. Trevor is an accredited investor in 15 active deals and a GP on his first deal of 240 doors in San Antonio and has extensive experience in the attraction entertainment industry, which he took into CRE investing.
"I was looking in Austin, I was looking in Dallas, and I was getting nowhere close to paying what other people were paying. I couldn't understand how they could justify the prices. They beat me by a million dollars. So I switched to smaller markets. I'd say all the big boys look at 100+ stores, and all the little boys look for 36 and less. So I switched and started looking for 36-100 to try to find that little sweet spot niche where I could be competitive, at least be able to stand a chance to get to the finish line."
We also chatted with K. Trevor Thompson about his unique career trajectory from working for Ripley's Believe it Or not and running a haunted house to the world of CRE, the differences between passive and active investing, and how he uses his social media presence for networking.
Make sure you tune in!
We've got a great new podcast episode of the DealMakers for you, and this time we have the pleasure of hosting Dovid Preil, CEO and Founder of the YDLP Investments Group. Dovid's background in finance and tech makes him an exceptionally fascinating guest.
"If anything, the deals that have free cash flow are the deals that are going to survive higher interest rates. It won't be as profitable as we hoped, but we'll have cash flow, and we can raise our rates with inflation to offset that to some extent. So, in terms of our investment thesis, we're focusing on cash flow properties now, much less so on appreciation deals that rely on short-term debt and other things."
We also talked with Dovid about his growth journey as a syndicator, how his robust tech stack helps him run his business, and the importance of knowing to vet operators.
We're so excited to have Chad Holden Sutton from Quattro Capital on our podcast. Chad is a real estate investor, business leader, entrepreneur, and so many other things that make him such an insightful and delightful guest.
"2008 was a very different recession than we're going into now. A housing bubble burst, backed by what became poor lending practices. And eventually, it became a liquidity crisis. We are not in that environment today. This is an artificially induced recession, and it's necessary. We are raising interest rates to go back to a normal level of interest rates.
It doesn't mean the supply and demand of the property itself is any less. The business is still there. The people still need places to live. All that's happening is that we're leveling the playing field."
Chad also talks to us about how Quattro Capital combines morals and values with making money, shares his recipe for better efficiency and productivity, and his thoughts on the real estate industry's current challenges.
Don't miss out on this special episode!
Our new Dealmakers podcast episode is live and this time, we had the distinct pleasure of talking with Jorge Abreu.
Jorge does it all - he's a construction company owner, runs an investment group with over $325 million in AUM, and is a member of the Forbes Real Estate Council.
"I keep running into people who think they can raise the equity because people have told them - you've got a good deal, the equity will come. I'm here to tell you that it's not true. And I've seen people lose real money because they couldn't come up with the equity. They're counting on this equity broker that's going to bring the big check, and I tell everybody: You need to plant the seeds. You need to have those relationships built. focus on your $100k investors, your $200k investors. Build the equity there, and then the private equity will come with it."
Jorge also talked about his transition from single-family to multifamily through syndication, what he's looking for in a potential asset, and what makes for a perfect Co-GP.
To connect and learn more about Jorge Abreu and his company, please visit Elevate Commercial Investment Group.
We have a fascinating episode of The DealMakers coming your way! This time, we hosted Brian Briscoe, Director of "The Tribe of Titans - multifamily educational community" and the host of the "Diary of an Apartment Investor" podcast.
"Prices are high, cap rates are low, and rates are going up. Whether or not it's still a good time to buy, depends on your time horizon. If you're looking to turn something in the next year, it's probably not a good time to buy. If your time horizon is eight years or longer, you're going to be okay. You're going to be able to weather the storm."
Brian talked with us about how his love of teaching and real estate manifests in his work for "The Tribe of Titans," his unique career journey, and the current state of the real estate market.
It's our first episode of 2023, and we couldn't wish for a more exciting guest: Meir Fried, Co-Founder, and CEO of Lightwater Capital Investments.
"At a time like now, I think people want stability. And that's why our next couple of deals, we're going to be going to market if we can win at the metrics we need, offering investors long-term stability, it's not going to be the flashiest deal. It's not going to be double or triple your money, but we'll be offering you stability. And a lot of people want that."
Join our conversation as Meir talks openly about his pivot from property management to buying, how and why he scaled from $2 million to $20 million deals, why he's looking for deals outside the tri-state area, and how he makes decisions on which properties to buy and where.
Meir also shares how he navigates through the stormy weather of rising interest rates and volatile market conditions and still manages to turn a profit for his investors. Please visit the Lightwater Capital website to connect and learn more about Meir and his company, or connect with Meir on Linkedin.
In this episode, we talked with Juan Vargas, Managing Principal at GenWealth Capital Group.
Please visit the GenWealth Capital website to connect and learn more about Juan and his company, or connect with Juan on Linkedin.
In this episode, we talked with Levi Benkert, Founder & CEO at Harbor Capital.
Find out how Levi can raise funds for a new deal just from a simple tweet, why he invests almost only in industrial real estate, and what makes brokers get back to him with off-market deals every time.
Please visit the Harbor capital website to connect and learn more about Levi and his company, or connect with Levi on Twitter and Linkedin.
In this episode, we talked with Brennen Degner Managing Partner, CEO at DB Capital.
Find out how a book he read in college sparked his interest in real estate and led his career in multifamily. Why he loves to hire former athletes to his team and who inspires him on his way to success.
Brennen shared with us the importance of not repeating mistakes to overcome challenges.
To connect and learn more about Brennen and his company, please visit DB Capital.
In this episode, we talked with Bruce B Woullet, Founder & Visionary at Bakerson.
Bruce shared his journey with us, from the family bakery to the real-estate industry.
He told it all about his biggest failures, his achievements, and his view of the business world: "business is an art, not a science."
To connect and learn more about Bruce, please visit the Bakerson website, or connect with Bruce at bruce@bakerson.com or on his Linkedin page
In this episode, we talked with Ryan Christopher Nunes, President of Life Changing Capital. Hear about his transition from Wall Street to multifamily, his data-driven and differentiated approach and his biggest failures.
Ryan shares how his upbringing, his Wall Street mentors and moving from success to significance have shaped his multifamily approach.
To connect and learn more about Ryan, please visit www.lifechangingcapital.com
In this episode, Kim Wendland, Co-Founder & Real Estate Asset Manager at Quattro Capital
joined us, and made sure you all get teared up!
Kim is an extraordinary real estate professional, that will stop at nothing to make sure the world is a better place to live in for individuals and communities alike.
Find out why she got into real estate, who has inspired her the most, and what motivates her to make the world a better place.
Learn more about Kim on the Quattro website, you can connect with Kim on LinkedIn and through her email at kim@thequattroway.com
In this episode, Joe Blackbourn from Everest Holdings joined us to reveal his trade secrets for succeeding in this industry for the long term, from the bad times (aka 2008) to the best times. Joe takes us on a ride in the mind of a successful real estate partner and emphasizes the value of protecting investor interests.
Click here to learn about the philosophy of Joe and Everest holdings when it comes to real estate investments
You can connect with Joe on Linkedin, the Everest Holdings website, and through his email
jblackbourn@everestholdings.com
In this episode, Joel Fine from Lakeline Properties joined us as an honored guest to reveal the mindset that pushed him into the industry and his real estate know-how.
For Joel's recommendations for educational resources that will make you a better real estate entrepreneur click here
You can connect with Joel on Linkedin, the Lakeline website and through his email
joel@lakelineproperties.com