Between Two Chairs - Demystifying Commercial Real Estate

A practical, CRE-focused look at why wealth migration is reshaping South Florida’s office, multifamily, retail, and industrial markets—and what comes next.Miami isn’t just adding people—it’s absorbing capital, talent, and corporate gravity. In this episode, we break down the wealth migration into Miami and greater South Florida and what it signals for commercial real estate across the region.

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, what about a picture that has been manipulated by AI? According to an article in Florida Realtors Magazine, real estate fraud hit $275 million last year. Fraud has been increasing rapidly and AI is making it more difficult to detect fraudulent pictures, videos, documents and content. Sarina Ziv, cofounder of Proofmark, explains how rapid AI adoption is making it harder to trust what we see—and why that matters most when money, property, identity, and legal claims are on the line. She describes Proofmark’s origin in a warning-sign moment: receiving media that looked convincingly real to some viewers but “clearly fake” to her, prompting a deeper question—what happens when people can no longer discern what’s real?

From Brickell and Downtown Miami to Wynwood, Coral Gables, Kendall, and Aventura, coworking has become one of the most practical and creative responses to how people actually live and work in South Florida today. What started as a niche option for freelancers has grown into a core part of Miami’s business ecosystem. Tune in to this episode to learn why this office model works so well here. Including:Short‑term commitments instead of multi‑year leasesFully furnished offices with shared amenitiesThe ability to scale space up or down quicklyLocations closer to where people actually liveIn a city where traffic, lifestyle, and flexibility matter as much as square footage, the coworking model fits right in.

In this Earth Day–inspired episode, hosts Fernando Arencibia Jr. and Jennifer Wollman discuss how sustainability, resiliency, and climate strategy are reshaping South Florida’s commercial real estate market, moving the conversation beyond traditional drivers like supply, demand, and capital markets. They explore Miami-Dade County’s Sustainable Buildings Program and other regional initiatives that promote LEED-certified construction, long-term operational efficiency, employee wellness, and climate preparedness, emphasizing how these efforts can reduce costs, preserve asset value, and command higher rents. The episode highlights landmark developments such as 1450 Brickell, Brickell City Centre, and the Miami Design District—recognized as the world’s first LEED Gold–certified neighborhood—to illustrate how innovative design and resilient infrastructure enhance both performance and user experience. Fernando and Jennifer also examine the evolving role of ESG, the impact of stricter building codes and insurance reforms following Hurricane Andrew, and the challenges of retrofitting older buildings, concluding that sustainability in South Florida is ultimately about smart stewardship, durability, and responsibly accommodating continued growth in a changing climate.

South Florida is blessed with a beautiful environment; from beaches, to the Everglades, the wildlife and tropical foliage all contribute to an amazing quality of life. In Miami we have UDB to protect the Everglades, which in turn protects the Biscayne Aquifer. The importance of considering the environment in our developments and buildings is important to maintaining a quality of life and place that is worthy of leaving to our grandchildren and theirs and theirs. "Real estate is not just a transaction. For an owner it is stewardship. It is durability. It is thinking about today for what the building will need tomorrow." DeLeah Becker

In this episode we dive into an Instagram post by Ryan Serhant that starts with "ChatGPT blew up my $50 million deal". We use a lot of large language models to help us automate tasks, give us alternate scenarios that we may not be taking into consideration, but if you are using ChatGPT as a real estate advisor, you need to beware of confirmation bias. Large language models tend to confirm ideas and beliefs we already have so it is going to feed you the information you want to hear. A way to get over that is better prompts, uploading unbiased data or information and make sure you are not asking a question to assuage a fear or doubt you may have.

From 3 - 30%...that is Beth Azor's goal for increasing the number of women who invest in real estate. Is it doable? Absolutely! Through the collaboration and relationships made at the Women Real Estate Investment Summit, women who want to invest are able to network with women who are already investing or who syndicate real estate deals.Tune in to hear some of the highlights of this years summit.

Affectionately known as Ruben the Cuban, Ruben Ruban is a senior advisor at SVN who specializes in mixed use developments and asset repositioning. He is also the 2026 President of CCIM’s Miami Chapter, as well as the host of the CRE Cafecito Podcast.With his Panama hat and cigar in pocket, he epitomizes the Miami Cuban flair and brings that sense of warmth, culture, and diversity that makes Miami such a great place to live, work, play & invest.In this episode, Ruben leads us through some of the deals he has done, his thoughts on where in the cycle Miami real estate is, and where some of the growth and opportunities are today.

In this episode, we explore what it really means to build generational wealth through commercial real estate—and why the mindset required is fundamentally different from the traditional transaction-driven approach many investors take.The conversation challenges the common short-term investment cycle and introduces a powerful alternative: thinking in decades and even centuries, not quarters or years. Instead of focusing solely on immediate returns, we discuss how long-term ownership of strategic assets—such as land and trophy properties—can create enduring financial stability for families.But generational wealth isn’t simply about acquiring more assets. It requires intentional planning, financial literacy, and thoughtful stewardship. From estate planning strategies to tax-advantaged structures, the episode highlights how families can design systems that preserve wealth while empowering future generations to remain productive and responsible stewards.The discussion also touches on a critical shift for real estate professionals and investors: moving from transactional thinking to legacy building. When commercial real estate is approached with a long-term vision, it has the potential not only to transform family balance sheets, but also to shape communities and support lasting economic impact.Whether you’re a commercial real estate professional, investor, or someone thinking about the financial future of your family, this episode invites you to reconsider your time horizon and ask a powerful question:Are you closing deals… or building something that will benefit generations to come?Generational wealth isn’t built deal by deal. It’s built with a vision that extends far beyond your lifetime.

Tune in to this episode to learn more about the Florida Council of 100's Ambition Accelerated Campaign highlighting Florida's Gold Coast as center for the next generation of growth. Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade have been booming and though outsiders discuss a bust, those of us with boots on the ground are not seeing it largely due to the dedication people like Stephen Ross and Ken Griffin are pouring into the area."Where you choose to build a business determines how much time is spent driving growth versus navigating bureaucracy" - Ken Griffin

If I can invest in the stock market, crypto or gamble my life savings away without having to prove that I have the financial warewithal to do so, why do I have to be an accredited investor to invest in real estate? In this epsiode, we discuss the lawsuit that is challenging the accredited investor rule and how unlocking access to real estate investing would "...fuel life-changing innovation, and prove that America's markets work best when they are open to everyone...."

February’s theme, The Power of People & Place, comes to life in our conversation with South Miami Mayor Javier Fernandez—attorney, former State House Representative, and civic leader guiding a “town going through a period of growth and dynamic change.”In this episode, we explore the social side of development—how cities evolve, how community identity is preserved, and why intentional growth is the difference between thriving and being forced to react.Mayor Fernandez shares a compelling comparison between cities like Paris and London—dense, walkable, mixed-use environments that feel human-scaled and integrated.His insight: If development isn’t intentional, it will eventually be forced by rising land values.“When you don’t invest or allow for investment to happen over time, land becomes more valuable, returns have to be larger because the basis is higher.”

This month’s theme — The Power of People & Place — comes to life through the children’s book A World Wonder by Laura Wiffler. with its message that speaks directly to the heart of commercial real estate: the spaces we build shape the way people experience community.In this episode, we explore how differences in people and buildings create the fabric of a neighborhood — whether we are building, buying, redeveloping, or leasing, what we are ultimately shaping is the community experience.Using Miami as our case study, we connect themes from the book to our own backyard:Ease of Travel & Connectivity Walkable urban cores, transit corridors, our international and executive airports and the ports, all connect us to our community and the world beyond, Diversity of Places & Architecture Miami’s layered identity — historic, modern, waterfront, cultural — reflects the book’s celebration of differences. Landmarks like the Freedom Tower and cultural institutions like the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) anchor community identity and tell the story of place.Community Through Events Events create shared experiences that define cities. Gatherings like Ultra Music Festival and global moments such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup energize neighborhoods, activate real estate, and elevate Miami’s position on the world stage.This episode also serves as a thoughtful companion to our recent conversation with MJ Green of the Miami Downtown Development Authority, where we discussed how intentional development can strengthen the social fabric of downtown.At its core, A World Wonder reminds us that buildings are never just buildings. They are invitations, to gathers and create experiences.If you’re in commercial real estate, this episode will challenge you to think beyond transactions and toward transformation — because real estate decisions ripple far beyond square footage and rent rolls.

"Mixed Urban Is A Trend, Not Trendy" The 2026 CCIM Miami Monroe Outlook Conference delivered a clear message: Miami’s commercial real estate market is not collapsing — it’s recalibrating.In this episode, we break down the biggest takeaways from industry leaders including Jeffrey Havsey of Moody’s Analytics, Terry Fraser Reid of Miami Freedom Park, Michael Berkowitz of Berkowitz Development Group, South Miami Mayor Javier Fernandez, Carrie Smith of Franklin Street, Grant Killingsworth of CBRE, Edison Vasquez of ComReal, and Mitash Kripalani of Cushman & Wakefield.Some of the highlights include:Retail: Notable submarkets:BrickellWynwoodCoral GablesCoconut Grove (reestablished primary market)South Miami (Sunset Place redevelopment catalyst)Industrial: 2025 favored tenants, with:Higher concessionsSlower lease-up timesTariff-related pauses mid-yearBut new construction has slowed significantly, meaning fewer deliveries in 2–3 years. By Q4 2026, leverage is projected to shift back toward landlords.A key tension to watch: the disconnect between developer-required land pricing ($2–$2.5M/acre) and owner expectations ($3M+/acre).The Big Picture for 2026: Miami CRE is entering a phase of:Slower but stabilizing fundamentalsModerating rent growthDecelerating supplyImproving sentimentSector-specific leverage shiftsIt’s no longer a frenzy market. It’s a fundamentals market.And in that environment, underwriting, local expertise, and strategic positioning matter more than ever.

Miami Downtown Development Authority Chief of Economic Development and Strategy, MJ Green joins us to talk about Miami's major moment. We dive into the challenges, such as how to bring new business in while keeping the small businesses that help create Miami's culture; the focus of the DDA on individuals: safety, cleanliness, and events and business: incentive programs, networking, permitting assistance; and insights on where we are heading. Glydways, Brightline, Metrorail, Metromover and Freebee are all part of the transportation network that is going to help us get there. Learn how the DDA can assist you in transactions you have within the DDA boundaries. They are amazing partners whether you are a broker or owner!

It is an election year, which means Florida Realtors and the Florida Legislature start their meetings and session much earlier than usual. The conversations this year are all about affordability and potential policies that can make Florida more affordable. Insurance, housing, property taxes, permitting and zoning all affect affordability and legislators are looking at all of these items. Think Bigger is something Beth Azor encourages her women investors to do and we think it is appropriate in this context as well. Thinking bigger allows for a big picture view of how a policy aimed at one sector may affect another, often with uninteded consequences. How can tech help address some of the inefficiencies that lead to increase costs and, therefore, a decrease in affordability. These topics and more are explored in this issue, where we highlight some of the topics that arose during our midwinter meetings.

"The financial economy is built for people on salary, the whole thing," explains Brandon Wright, serial entrepreneur and CEO & Founder of Tongo, Monthly bills assume you’re paid twice a month. Credit scores reward predictable paychecks and penalize irregular income. Yet the majority of real estate agents, brokers, and investors are self-employed.In this episode, Brandon shares how his own entrepreneurial journey revealed the disconnect between modern work and outdated financial infrastructure—and how that insight led to the creation of Tongo. We explore the real financial challenges faced by indepenent contractors and small business owners, from cash-flow volatility to credit access, and what it takes to build tools that actually reflect how people earn money today.Whether you are a real estate broker, agent or investor, this episode will show you how to save more of what you make and free up your time to do what you do best, putting deals together and closing transactions.

Join us as we break down a small strip center listing we had in a transitioning market. How does pricing affect the number of offers you get? How do you work with multiple absentee owners, owners who don't want to counter any offers, what happens when you are circumvented after an NDA is signed. One thing about commercial real estate is that no two deals are ever the same and we learn something with every transaction. Pull up a chair and see if you learn anything as we dissect this deal.

Grease traps, storm drains, and septic tanks may not be glamorous—but ignoring them can derail a deal, delay an opening, or lead to major unexpected costs.In this episode, we get down and dirty with the experts at Day & Night Septic to uncover why these systems deserve serious attention during the due diligence phase of commercial real estate transactions—not just for purchases, but for leases as well, especially NNN leases where maintenance and repair obligations may fall squarely on the tenant.Section 21-49.2 of the Code of Miami-Dade County requires the seller or lessor to provide the purchaser or lessee with a FOG Generator Disclosure (Fats Oil & Grease)

The commercial refrain since 2022 or 2023 has been "Survive 'til '25". The extremely rapid rise in interest rates brought a lot of uncertainty to the market, especially for those assets with loans coming due at a time when rents were lower, vacancy rates were higher and, as a result, valuations were lower. Well, '25 is in the rear view mirror and the 4th quarter in South Florida, at least at our company, was strong in terms of both leasing and sales. Is this a sign of a 2026 CRE resurgence? Tune in to hear from ULI and The Counselors of Real Estate predictions for this year. We wish you a healthy and prosperous 2026 with new deals, relationships, and opportunities for growth.

Merry Christmas! We wish you a very warm (we are in South Florida after all), healthy, and happy holiday season full of memory making! In this episode we highlight Black Friday and retail sales at this time of year. Year end sales tell us a lot about the commercial real estate market, the health of the economy and give us a glimpse of where we are heading at the beginning of next year. We give a brief overview of Visit Florida's 2024 report to get a glimpse of how tourism affects our local cre markets. We also do a lot of name dropping! Beth Azor, DeLea Becker, John Crossman, Spencer Levy and Mrs. Claus, and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer all get a shoutout.

2025 was the first full year of real estate under the new NAR rules, it was also the year when AI really took off. Changes overall are happening rapidly so what does the Broker of the Future look like? Join us in this episode where we discuss some of the challenges and opportunities for real estate brokers.

In this episode of Between Two Chairs, we sit down with Jennifer Gerson, Director of Community Engagement at Dade County Federal Credit Union from Dade County Federal Credit Union (DCFCU) to explore how a long-standing financial institution is driving community empowerment throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Fernando and Jennifer are passionate about the power of community—growing it, nurturing it, and helping people and small businesses thrive—and DCFCU embodies that mission through financial literacy, accessible lending, and deep local engagement.Listeners will learn what makes credit unions unique, who can become a member, and how DCFCU's programs—including the RISE Small Business Loan initiative—are unlocking opportunity for underserved entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Fernando gives us an overview of the economic data and policy topics presented at the National Association of Realtors Annual Convention. He touched on Lawrence Yun's presentation on the national commercial market and the economics behind it. He touched on the office market, retail demand, industrial and multi-family markets. We compared it to our local Miami MSA and touched upon the national issues with flood/hazard insurance and federal tax policies.

Melissa Kirsch, the deputy editor of Culture and Lifestyle at The New York Times, wrote an article about the Chain of Gratitude. The “consistent and intentional effort to acknowledge the good things in your life” is so important for our health, emotional and mental well being. In her article, Melissa challenges us to take gratitude a step further by tracing the origin of that gratitude. In this episode we dive into our chain of gratitude and count you, our listeners among our blessings. Wishing you a warm Thanksgiving full of new memories, good food, and time to spend with family and friends.

In this episode, we sit down with Andrea Davis, CCIM—broker, educator, and author of SimpLEASEity and Simply Own It! The American Dream. With decades of experience helping business owners and investors in Metro Phoenix, Andrea brings a rare combination of clarity, practicality, and inspiration to the world of commercial real estate (CRE).Andrea breaks down why owning commercial real estate remains one of the most accessible and powerful paths to building wealth—and why it continues to be a core piece of the American Dream. From buying her own office condo for Davis Commercial AZ, to guiding countless clients through leasing and ownership decisions, Andrea offers a step-by-step roadmap for anyone looking to understand or enter the CRE space.We also dive into one of the biggest economic drivers in the western U.S. right now—the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) plant in northern Phoenix. Andrea explains how this massive project is reshaping demand, pricing, and investment opportunities across the region.Whether you are a business owner, getting started in real estate as an agent or investor, or a seasoned pro, you will gain valuable insights on the process, potential and pitfalls of CRE.

Dear Street is a perfect book for Miami at this point in time. Miami has been booming and, though we don’t have 4 seasons here, we do have a lot of people who have been grumbling lately about Miami. Some of the things they grumble about include: traffic, affordability, construction, climate (heat, humidity,), traffic...This book reminds us: 1) to appreciate our community2) the acts of one person can have a positive effect on the community overall3) find the positives in an area, property, person, eventIf you are finding a lot of negative issues in your community or deal, figure out how you can fix, address, or offset the negatives. Not only will you solve the issue, you will feel good about doing so. Resolving issues is always better and more productive than grumbling about them ;-)

Spoiler alert: We’re starting this one at the end — because our guest, John Crossman, closes with a challenge that perfectly sums up the spirit of this episode: “Be more like Robin Webb," a broker, CCIM, and amazing human that we lost earlier this year.In an industry often seen as competitive, commercial real estate is, at its best, deeply collaborative. And few people embody that more than John Crossman — CEO of CrossMarc Services, industry thought leader, and passionate advocate for faith, leadership, and community.In this episode, John, Fernando and I talk about: The importance of impactWhy the retail asset class is not just about shopping centers, but about serving communities.How the classic film “It’s A Wonderful Life” beautifully illustrates the connection between community and commerce.The power of keeping your head in a space you can impact, and why perspective is everything in both leadership and life.John’s insights remind us that real estate — like life — is about far more than transactions. It’s about transformation.If you’ve ever wondered how faith, purpose, and community fit into the world of commercial real estate, this conversation will leave you inspired to lead with both heart and impact.

In this episode, we break down how the DISC assessment —a simple yet powerful behavioral tool—can transform the way you manage your commercial real estate business. Whether you’re leading a brokerage team, negotiating deals, or nurturing client relationships, understanding DISC can help you communicate more effectively, close more transactions, and build stronger partnerships. This episode will help you increase your emotional intelligence, gain incredible insights into yourself, your clients, people you work with, even family members. We describe traits of the 4 different personality types to help you identify them and discuss how to leverage this information.

Repurposing underutilized buildings is something a lot of value add investors are familiar with. But what about repurposing an entire neighborhood? Thea Goldman was a part of the team that revitized Wynwood and changed it from a run down, tired, industrial district that ran into hard times into a vibrant arts and culture neighborhood. From Joey's Pizza, the catalyst to igniting this neighborhood, to the Wynwood Business Improvement District, Thea takes us on a tour of how Wynwood became what it is today and provides a rough blueprint for the long, arduous process it takes to make "a place go from not to hot".

Real estate involves a lot of money, unknowns, and a significant time commitment, so all of those things lead to FEAR. Fear Of Missing Out and Fear Of Making A Mistake, are both real fears, but with different behaviours associated with them. FOMO is related more to impulsive behaviour whereas FOMM is related to hesitation and both play a huge role in investing. Being able to identify which one of these you lean towards, will help you become more aware and keep you from making an investment mistake (by being too impulsive) or of missing out on an investment (due to fear of making a mistake). Google AI came up with “FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) drives impulsive actions due to the perceived fear of others' success or better experiences, while FOMM (Fear of Making a Mistake) causes paralysis and inaction due to the fear of making wrong choices, especially in investment or purchasing decisions. FOMO can lead to buying high or overspending, whereas FOMM can result in missing opportunities and delayed decisions”. Know yourself, analyze the investment and if you feel you may be looking at an investment from either FOMO or FOMM, institute one of the lifelines from "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" to help you through.

The City of Coral Gables is known as The City Beautiful for a reason. Designed by George Merrick in 1925, this City is centrally located, walkable, and a favorite of consulates and global headquarters including FIFA, Diagio, Bacardi among others. Several new projects, inlcuding The Plaza, have low vacancies and high rents due to demand for office and retail in the city center.

This episode provides insights on community, career mobility, and property opportunities from healthcare spouse and agent Joel Mora. Relocating for a job is always difficult for a family, but it happens frequently with workers in the medical field, especially in the early phases of a career. In this episode, Joel Mora, a healthcare spouse, discusses the logistics involved and focuses on the City of Weston, FL. Home to the Cleveland Clinic, this small town is where many healthcare workers live, since is within a 10 mile radius of approximately 6 major hospitals. Learn more about Weston's commercial real estate, their high priority on parks, and their innovative permitting process.

In this episode we summarize the Healthcare & CRE Symposium put on by Miami Commercial at the beautiful St Regis in Bal Harbour. There were several interesting challenges and opportunities for both the medical and real estate communities, so tune in to get a more detailed overview, but here are 3 of them:1- traffic2- affordability3- tort environment/fraud

What is the 2/10 rule of retail?Who are the biggest spenders at grocery stores? What can lessons from malls teach us about retail?Retail real estate is changing faster than ever—and few understand those shifts better than John Crossman, Founder & President of CrossMarc Services. Fresh from his talk at the Florida Realtors annual conference, John shared powerful insights into where the industry is headed. In this episode, we break down his key takeaways and explore what they mean for investors, brokers, and communities alike.

What do Marcus Lemonis, Newt Gingrich, Terri Morrison, John Crossman and Tim Weisheyer have in common? They were all inspiration speakers at this year's Florida Realtors Convention. Tune in to get our takeaways.

In this episode, we are joined by Jerry Staple of Avanti Way Commercial, who shares his expertise on the industrial real estate market in Doral, Florida. The conversation explores Doral's strategic advantages as an industrial hub, its evolution from a purely industrial area to a more developed city, and the current trends in the industrial market, including the rise of distribution over manufacturing. We also touch upon the benefits of investing in industrial real estate compared to other property types, crucial due diligence steps for investors, and challenges like traffic and bureaucracy. Thank you for pulling up a chair!

The process of entitling land in South Florida can be long and complex. Our guest, Luciana L. González, has been on both the government and private sides of the process. Her 15 years of high-level public service experience, especially as project manager for Miami 21, the city’s landmark zoning code, as well as her involvement with some of Miami’s most transformative developments, including Brickell Citycentre, Miami Worldcenter, the Design District, and Riverlanding, give her an incredible perspective. Join us as we dive into the process.

According to Gay Cororaton, Miami Realtors Economist, land sales in SE Florida were strong in the first half of this year, a great indicator for future development.Key TakeawaysSales of residential, commercial, and industrial land in the counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach rose to $3.56 billion in the first half of 2025, up 14% year-over-year.The median sales price per square foot rose at a double-digit pace: residential ($116/sf, +16%), commercial ($85,+ 21%), industrial ($64, +52%).Homestead, The Acreage, and Palm Beach Gardens had the largest sales volume. You can read the full report here.

In this episode, we interview Natasha Falconi,the Founder and President of Falconi Capital, a privately held real estate investment firm focused on acquiring and operating multifamily properties across South Florida. and helps investors do the same. Full disclosure, Jennifer is a partner in one of her multi-family projects.Jennifer met Natasha at Beth Azor's investing conference and was interested in how Natasha sources a deal, focuses on quality of life issues for the residents, and appreciated her attention to detail. Natasha's previous experience as an accountant, chair of a bank and property manager all provide her with an incredible in-depth perspective on how to purchase and operate these assets.Pull up a chair and learn how this woman puts together deals and helps others invest in mult-family real estate to create generational wealth. She is generous and loves sharing her experience to help others."I am always afraid, but I do it." Her "it's okay to be afraid but push through it attitude" should inspire all would be investors to take the leap. She inspired me to take the leap into mult-family investing.

The Homestead Sports Complex, a 130-acre project anchored by a 112.5-acre ground lease with VSGS Facilities LLC will feature a 10,000-seat multi-sport stadium, a residential youth sports academy with classrooms, dorms, cafeteria, gym, and training facilities, plus community and recreational spaces. VSGS Facilities is co-founded by i ex-soccer players Darío Sala and Juan Sebastián Verón, former NBA players Manu Ginóbili and Juan Ignacio “Pepe” Sánchez, and former tennis players Juan “Pico” Mónaco and Mariano Zabaleta — co-founded the project with serial tech and sports entrepreneur Emiliano Fernández Balague, founder and former CEO Gastón Remy and Riccardo Silva, the founder of Silva International and Miami FC.Although smaller than the Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy, which was the foundation for what is currently the IMG Academy in Brandenton, on Florida's West Coast, this sports academy in Homestead, will be a game changer for the City. These big name athletes are going to help drive sports tourism to the area, requiring supporting services such as hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Transportation & logistics is a huge industry in Florida. According to Powering Florida, more than $190 B in goods flow through the state every year. In this episode, we focus on Broward County, the $ being spent to improve Port Everglades, Ft Lauderdale Airport and the transportation corridors that feed into and out of them. Port Everglades alone contributes an estimated $28.1 B in economic activity every year. This amount of economic activity translates into a huge demand for commercial real estate.

After a decade of advocacy chipping away at Florida's state sales tax on commercial real estate leases, the legislature finally eliminated it! Starting October 1 of this year, there will be no more state or local sales tax on leases, which will put money back into the pockets of business owners.

Kids are master negotiators, so how better to learn about negotiating tactics than from the children's book, "How To Negotiate Everything" by Lisa Lutz?Key takeaways:Brokers are the neutral party when emotions take over with buyers and sellers, so don't be emotionalBe rational, calm and thoughtfulSet expectations for your clientAcknowledge agreement of terms among all partiesHave realistic ask/trade offDo no harm/don't make things worse

Our guest in this episode is Carmen M. Peters,CPA, who specializes in helping people and businesses implement proactive tax strategies to save you money help you keep more of what you earn. We are halfway through the year, so the time to plan is now, not the end of the yearWhat is your business structure?What can you write off and when?What is the best retirement plan for you?Is a Health Savings account right for you?Taxes as a 1099 vs W-2 earnerFernando and I learned so much and guarantee that you will too! Making money is great, keeping it is even better, but requires strategizing. Give Carmen a call. She is both approachable and knowledgeable and will show you how to plan like the super rich do.

Control the deal. Time kills deals. Too many cooks in the kitchen. All of these seeming cliches come into play when you are brokering a deal. How do you control a deal when there are a variety of parties in a transaction? Transparency and constant, clear communication. Remember the broker can control the process, but the client controls the decision.

2025 has been another year with high interest rates and uncertainty, neither of which is good for the real estate market. However, we are seeing deals getting done and some movement on policies and legislation that can either help or hinder our market. In this episode, Fernando gives us an update on his legislative meetings in Washington D.C.

Underwriting commercial real estate, whether as an investor or lender, involves telling the story of both the property and the investor. An investor who underwrites their deals as a lender would has a better chance of getting the loan. Tune in as Fernando and I go back and forth with how I, as an investor underwrite deals, and how Fernando, with his lending background looks at underwriting a deal.

Everyone is talking about AI, so the topic wasn't top on my list as a podcast episode However, after Fernando and I attended an Inman conference and got a great takeaway from Phil Stringer, I was convinced this episode was worth doing. He said "AI is to your time what compound interest is to your money." The cost of running AI models is dropping, it is here to stay, and it can make us more productive. Phils 3 recommendations: Notebook LM.google, buyerprediction.com and gamma ai. Happy prompting!

In this episode we look at the Counselors of Real Estate 2025 Predictions for the Commercial Real Estate Market and how they are affecting Miami half way through the year.From Aon's first quarter insurance report, to Trepp's loan loss predictions and interest rates, we do a dive how the Greater Miami market is performing so far in 2025. You will be glad we aren't Boston! Tune in for a cautionary tax tale and more insights on our SE Florida market.