No Vacancy with Taylor Avakian

He Went From Del Taco to a $1.5B Empire (Here's How) | Henry ManoucheriHenry Manoucheri, Chairman and CEO of Universe Holdings, sits down for an in-depth conversation on building one of the largest privately held multifamily portfolios in the U.S. From his arrival in America as a teenage immigrant fleeing the Iranian Revolution to scaling a national real estate operation, Henry breaks down the...

What really separates strong real estate professionals from everyone else when markets tighten and capital gets complicated? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Vicky Schiff for a wide-ranging conversation on work ethic, conviction, and how serious operators think about risk, relationships, and capital in today’s real estate market. Vicky shares how she built her career by...

Uncovering the Hidden Power Structures in Commercial Real Estate with Hiten Samtani (Founder of Ten31 Media)Deep-dive conversation with Hiten Samtani, former Editorial Director at The Real Deal and founder of Ten31 Media, on the unseen forces driving commercial real estate in America's biggest markets. From long-term family dynasties and low-basis empires to cultural niches quietly controlling bil...

Join Taylor Avakian on the No Vacancy Podcast as he sits down with Jan Brzeski, a co-founder of Arixa Capital and a leading expert in private credit and real estate lending in California. In this in-depth episode, Jan shares his journey building a massive commercial real estate debt fund, revealing the inner workings of private credit syndication and how lenders navigate today's shifting inter...

What happens when a developer goes head-to-head with California’s most powerful cities, unions, and politicians? In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Leo Pustilnikov — one of the most controversial and influential developers in California’s housing landscape. Leo has become a central figure in the statewide housing reform battle, pushing projects forward using tools like...

In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Luke Morris — Co-Founder of CREXi and Founder of Capitalize.io — to break down how AI is transforming commercial real estate from the inside out. Luke shares the early days of CREXi, how he helped reshape CRE workflow at scale, and why he’s now focused on the next evolution of AI-powered tools for brokers, operators, and investors. Fr...

In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Nagel — CIO & CFO of Decron Properties — to unpack how a multigenerational real estate family built a 10,000-unit empire over 70+ years and why they’re now pivoting billions OUT of California into growth markets like Phoenix & Austin. Daniel shares his grandfather’s Holocaust-to-developer story, the philosophy behind surviving every market cycle sin...

From small beginnings to billion-dollar portfolios — Paul Julian has seen it all. In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Paul Julian, a multifamily investor and operator who built success through persistence, partnership, and purpose. Paul shares how he scaled from early real estate deals to managing large multifamily assets, breaking down the strategies, risks, and mindse...

Brandon Hance did 180+ real estate deals in Los Angeles in just 7 years. Sounds incredible, right? But here's the truth: he wishes he'd done fewer deals and made MORE money. In this episode, Brandon opens up about his journey from tech startup founder to one of LA's most prolific developers - and why the "hustle harder" mentality almost destroyed him. He shares the brutal les...

How do you build affordable housing in a city known for red tape, high costs, and endless delays? In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Mott Smith, co-founder of Amped Kitchens and the Los Angeles Small Developer Collective, to discuss how smart policy, modular design, and process innovation can transform housing development in California. You’ll learn: - Why LA’s housing...

How does someone go from fixing copy machines to owning and operating over 6,000 multifamily units? In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Steve Ludwig, a multifamily investor who turned humble beginnings into a billion-dollar portfolio. Steve shares his path from blue-collar work into real estate, breaking down the strategies, discipline, and mindset that helped him scale...

In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Chris Gray, President of Moss & Company, which manages over 15,000 multifamily units and 3 million sq. ft. of commercial space. Chris shares how Moss scaled its operations, built a strong company culture, and leveraged technology to tackle today’s toughest challenges — from fraud prevention to AI-driven leasing. You’ll learn: - Ho...

How does a professional skateboarder transition into building a $400M real estate portfolio? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Mikey Taylor — former pro skater turned entrepreneur, investor, and city councilman. Mikey shares his unique path from skating the streets to leading one of the most successful real estate ventures in Southern California. You’ll learn: - How Mike...

How do you evolve from small-scale real estate deals to building large, transformative projects? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Marco Vartanian, a seasoned investor, broker, and developer, who shares his journey of scaling in real estate through timing, persistence, and smart strategy. From his early days flipping single-family homes to his current role in large devel...

What does it take to grow from flipping cars in college to owning over 5,000 apartments and 2 million square feet of retail? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian interviews Fred Leeds, a legendary real estate investor and operator. Fred shares his one-of-a-kind journey — from his first duplex purchase to cold-calling strategies, creative financing, and transformative inner-city projects....

How do you continue to find winning multifamily deals in one of the toughest markets in recent years? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian interviews Mark Bolour, a multifamily investor and operator who’s made his mark with smart acquisitions and disciplined asset management. Mark shares how he identifies value-add opportunities, navigates challenging debt environments, and structures dea...

How do you lead $1.5B+ in real estate development while balancing public policy, community trust, and financial returns? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian speaks with Geoff Moen, Director of Development at HACLA, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. Geoff dives into how HACLA is transforming underutilized public land into vibrant, mixed-income communities — and what it tak...

Can you build a thriving real estate career without a team, a cold-calling center, or flashy marketing? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Mike Seltzer, a solo powerhouse who’s transacted over 1,000 units and $300M+ in multifamily real estate. Mike shares how he went from printing flyers and answering Craigslist ads to becoming a go-to off-market dealmaker in Los Angeles....

How does someone go from being a school teacher and police officer to running one of the West Coast’s largest property management firms and the largest cannabis producer in the world? In this episode of No Vacancy with Taylor Avakian, guest Kyle Kazan walks through his remarkable journey. From buying distressed properties in Compton to launching Beachfront Property Management and eventually co-fou...

What does it take to go from working the parking booth in your family’s business to becoming CEO of one of the largest real estate firms in Los Angeles? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Jaime Lee, CEO of Jamison Realty, who leads over 6,600 units and 33 buildings, with 2,000 more in development. Jaime breaks down how her immigrant parents went from medicine to office bu...

How do you build a $100M+ real estate empire starting with a single fourplex in Redondo Beach? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Jerry Marcil, a 72-year-old real estate mogul with over 4,000 units under management, to break down decades of market cycles, mistakes, and multipliers. Jerry shares lessons from losing everything in the 90s, his blueprint for long-term wealth,...

In this episode of No Vacancy with Taylor Avakian, Jeff Palmer, a 40-year veteran of California's multifamily real estate landscape, shares his expert insights on navigating the complexities of the state's evolving real estate market. Discover how historical trends in California's apartment sector, including cycles of rent control and housing regulations, shape current investment opportunities. Je...

Can you go from hauling student storage boxes to wiring $52 million in under a decade? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with entrepreneur and real estate operator Nick Huber to unpack the mindset and mechanics of his rise. From building self-storage facilities to launching 11 businesses, Nick shares how he leverages systems, social media, and international teams to grow fast...

How do you assemble hundreds of units in one of the most restrictive markets in the country? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with developers Alan Nissel, Richie Shamooilian, and Avi Stieglitz, who collectively control over 600 units in the pipeline in Beverly Hills. These three operators break down how they’re: - Navigating entitlement delays and development hurdles - Worki...

What does it take to scale in one of the hardest development markets in the country? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Adrian Berger, Managing Director of Acquisitions at Cypress Equity Investments, who shares how he built his career across four continents and now helps lead ground-up development across Los Angeles. Learn how Adrian and his team are: - Making Santa Monic...