The CRE Project

Is the economy heading toward a recession… or are we already in one and just don’t feel it yet? In this episode, retail real estate economist Garrick Brown breaks down the current economic climate and its ripple effects on consumers, developers, and investors. He tackles quirky contradictions in the market: why retail sales are holding steady despite sky-high credit card debt, how tariffs haven’t...

How do you build a multi-million-dollar real estate empire from the ground up, especially without a family background in the industry? Stephen Bittel’s journey—from law school to founding Terranova, one of the Southeast's largest third-party investment and management firms—is filled with valuable lessons on navigating challenges, embracing fear, and making strategic investments. In this episode, S...

From running a bar & failing at it to raising $90M for multifamily projects to eventually dominating the self-storage space? In this episode, we dive into Joe’s incredible entrepreneurial journey learning about the multiple pivots and detours that finally  landed him into the self storage industry. Joe shares the challenges of running a bar, the tough lessons learned from the 2008 crash, and t...

In this insightful episode of the CRE Project Podcast, host Clayton King delves into the intricate world of commercial real estate with seasoned attorney Richard Crouch. As they explore Richard's background, listeners gain a unique perspective on the challenges facing real estate attorneys, including the importance of mentorship, the learning curve, and client communication. The conversation cover...

Curious to know how a landscaper and residential real estate agent became the founder of a successful commercial real estate firm? Discover how Grant's diverse career path, from selling houses to cold-calling for hotels, ultimately led him to establish Stoic Equity Partners. Tune in as he unveils his journey and the crucial experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial success. Join us as Grant...

Is there a kinder, more effective way to succeed in the cutthroat world of commercial real estate?   Join the conversation with Jonathan Keyser as he shares his journey from a missionary upbringing to becoming a top producer in Arizona, who turned away from ruthless tactics to embrace a philosophy of service and genuine care for clients?   Jonathan shares his unconventional path into the commercia...

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the world of commercial real estate law? Join Clayton in an intriguing conversation with Linda, a seasoned attorney with a wealth of experience navigating the intricate landscape of commercial real estate transactions. From her journey spanning New Mexico to California and back, Linda shares valuable insights into the nuances of lease agreements, due...

Ever wondered what it takes to thrive in the competitive world of commercial real estate? Join Clayton in this latest episode of the CRE Project as it delves into the intriguing career trajectory of Trae Anderson, a seasoned professional in the industry. From unexpected beginnings to navigating mentorship and mastering the art of deal-making, Trae shares invaluable insights into building successfu...

In this episode Clayton speaks with Will Pender, a seasoned general contractor in the commercial real estate space.  From wanting to become a lawyer initially to being a leader in one of the most successful and thriving contracting firms in Texas, Will’s journey has been a fascinating one to hear. Will sheds some light on the evolving role of general contractors and the importance of hiring experi...

In this episode Clayton speaks with industry veterans Scott Jessen and Scott Morse. From their humble beginnings in the '80s to forming a successful partnership and establishing a regional firm in 2012, the duo shares invaluable insights into specialization strategies, hiring challenges, and the core values that have sustained their partnership. Gain a competitive edge as they discuss the futu...

In this episode, Clayton speaks with Dale Dekker, one of the founding partners of Dekker, Perich Sabatini or popularly known as DPS. An architect and planner rooted in Albuquerque, exploring his journey from a young apprentice influenced by his father to becoming a rainmaker at his own architectural firm.  The episode delves into the origins and growth of Dekker Perich Sabatini, shedding light on...

Show Notes: In this episode, we delve into the world of commercial real estate with Paul, an industry veteran with a wealth of experience. Paul shares his journey, from early jobs in construction cleanup to becoming a successful developer, highlighting the importance of hiring the right people and understanding one's strengths and weaknesses. He discusses the key qualities of a good developer...

Clayton King sits down with Raphael Collazo in this episode of The CRE Project podcast. This podcast dives deep into social media & how Raphael grew his presence being younger in the CRE world.  Raphael Collazo is a licensed commercial real estate agent specializing in retail and multi-family properties. Transitioning from a career in software, Raphael brings a strong technical background...

In this show we sit down with Beth Azor and discuss a plethora of different topics including the state of the market, prospecting do and don't and how to utilize online platform to procure transactions.  Affectionately known as ‘ The Canvassing Queen™ ’ Beth Azor is the founder and owner of Azor Advisory Services (AAS), a leading commercial real estate advisory and investment firm based in So...

The 1031 Exchange is one of the most effective and commonly used tools in the the Commercial Real Estate world. In this episode we talk about how to effectively and safely navigate a 1031 exchange. We discuss the timelines and the appropriate way to identify property to keep you safe from paying tax on a CRE transaction.  Leonard Spoto oversees all of the sales and marketing operations for As...

In this episode we sit down with a true commercial real estate Pioneer, Ed Cross. Ed is an influential developer out of the Texas market that is know for being an innovative and creative multifamily developer. Ed has accomplished some amazing things and his career and he shares his lessons learned over the years. DISCUSSION TOPICS How Ed Got Started - 1:38 Ed’s First Development Deal – 8:42 Ed’s F...

In this episode we sit down with the two most dominant and well known multifamily and industrial developers in the New Mexico and Texas markets. We discuss how Ben and Kurt got started in the business and how they grew to one of the most prominent real estate firms in the Southwest. DISCUSSION TOPICS - “Ben’s First Development Opportunity” 4:55 – 8:45 - “How Ben got his First Project Financed” 9:0...

Mark Ritter is the CEO of MBFS and an expert in credit unions and business lending. His primary role at MBFS is overseeing the strategy of helping credit unions assist members with business needs and consulting with credit unions on planning the delivery of services to their membership. In 2002, Mark started Members 1st Federal Credit Union’s business lending program as “one person and a desk” wit...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Flight, the founder and CEO of Liberty Fund and host of the Nothing but Net Podcast. We dive into the world of crypto and the impact that it is starting to make in CRE. We learn about how you can invest in NNN properties using security tokens as a vehicle for investment.  Below are some highlights on Michael's career.  34 year commercial real est...

Tyler Cauble is Founding Principal and President of The Cauble Group. He's a native Nashvillian that has not only been a witness to the city's tremendous growth, but is also involved in it through his developments, renovation projects, and volunteer work. As President of The Cauble Group, Tyler helps bring together buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants in retail, office, industrial, and multi-fa...

In this episode, we sit down with John Black, which is a synonymous name with Commercial Real Estate in Albuquerque, NM. We discuss John's history with taking his 1,000 plus acre ranch and developing it into one of the largest retail trade areas in the State of New Mexico. We discuss what he learned and experienced throughout the years and also how he feels about today's market. John F. Black has...

John Riser started his commercial real estate career with Marcus & Millichap in 2001 and quickly achieved the status of Senior Director. In 2004, John earned his first membership into the Chairman’s Club and entrance into the firm’s Seven-Figure Club. He was the Top Multi-Tenant Retail agent (2004 & 2005). John left Marcus & Millichap in 2008 to start the independent boutique brokerage...

This is an awesome show! We sit down with Dan Lebensohn to talk about how he went from a high power real estate attorney in New York to becoming an active investor and developer of CRE. We talk about some of his war stories and lessons he has learned over the course of his career.  With an expertise in complex distressed and workout scenarios, Mr. Lebensohn oversees the Deal Sourcing, Legal a...

In this episode we sit down with Josh Simon of Simon CRE to discuss some of lessons he has learned over the course of his career. He describes what it is like to grow a team and take risks!  Joshua began his career in commercial real estate in 2004, and it wasn’t long before his headstrong attitude allowed him to forge ahead and start SimonCRE in 2010, during some of the toughest of economic...

In this episode we sit down with real estate manager's for McDonalds and El Pollo loco to discuss corporate site selection. We talk about the correct way to present sites to corporate real estate managers and the process behind them reviewing sites.  Lisa Walker has over 30 years of corporate restaurant real estate experience.  She joined the National real estate team at McDonald’s in 20...