Between Two Chairs - Demystifying Commercial Real Estate

From office space to living space, the conversation over converting unused office space has been a topic of conversation since COVID. In this episode, we look at office to residential conversions in South Florida via two distinct projects: The Hazel in Doral and The Hyve at Dadeland . The conversation highlights how highest and best use, land size, zoning changes, construction costs, floor plate c...

As part of a commercial real estate sale, you will most likely do a Phase I and maybe even a Phase II Environmental Assessment. In this episode, Nicholas Moran of Moran Rocks goes through the steps required to protect the buyer from environmental issues that may arise or already be present due to previous owner or tenant activities. Before you put in a offer, make sure the due diligence period wil...

The beginning of the year predictions that interest rates would drop, has not happened and the current inflation rate actually indicates that there will probably be a rate increase before the year end. The war with Iran and the mid-term elections all add continued uncertainty in the market. That being said, retail vacancies are still low, shopping centers are in high demand with investors, Class A...

What do a military family, the Women's Investment Summit , and self storage have in common? Lauren Rothlisberger of Everett & Harvey and Serious Storage . In this episode Lauren shares her investment journey from residential rental properties into self storage and the nuances of being a General Partner. Her path hasn't been easy, because let's be real, real estate deals aren't easy, but it has...

The World Cup starts today, June 11 and Miami will host our first match on June 15. Planning for this event, that will put Miami on the world stage again - we just wrapped up F-1, started as soon as Miami was awarded the 2026 World Cup four years ago. From fan transportation to and from the games and events, to the logistics of moving players, equipment, food and beverage to the stadium and events...

What do Scrooge McDuck , The Square Grouper , Goldman Sachs, commercial real estate and taxes have in common? The answer is Jon Hilley , founder of 1031 Specialists . In this episode, we dive into why so few sellers do 1031 exchanges, what differentiates 1031 Specialists from other intermediaries and the Golden Strategy. Jon brings his wide range of experience, curiosity and his "Client Happiness...

What’s really driving Miami commercial real estate right now? In this episode, we break down the forces behind the market’s momentum—from record tourism and global events to tech growth, international investment, and shifting consumer demographics. Using the latest tourism trends and real-world examples, we explore how major demand drivers like Formula One , the World Cup , Art Basel , and eMerge...

In real estate it is all about location, location, location... In this episode we sit down with Bob Gillespie , Managing Partner of REACH Commercial at Second Century Ventures, to talk about what really drives success in PropTech. Bob shares his journey from computer science and startup operations to venture investing, and explains how REACH Commercial identifies technologies that can make commerc...

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...

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. Includi...

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...

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 tha...

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 an...

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...

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 ye...

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...

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 p...

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...

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 buildin...

"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,...

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 ass...

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 Big...

"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 e...