Commercial Real Estate Secrets

This week on Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Brittany Megrath , owner and principal broker at M Square Commercial, to dig into the evolving world of retail real estate and ground-up development. From fast-food drive-thrus to the explosion of Las Vegas, Brittany shares what’s working in retail, why land pricing is more critical than ever, and how developers are adapting to a high-co...

This week, I sat down with Matt Buchalski —head of sales at OwnWell and founder of Deep Blue Capital—to talk about something that’s crushing a lot of investors right now: property taxes . Let’s be real—pricing peaked in 2022, but the tax assessments haven’t caught up. If you’re not actively appealing, you’re probably getting fleeced. Matt and I go deep on how he and the OwnWell team are using AI,...

Want to sell a property and keep more of your profits instead of writing a massive check to the IRS? In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Chassidy Goolsby, a 1031 exchange expert who breaks down—plain and simple—how a 1031 exchange works, how investors can defer capital gains taxes, and why most people don’t learn the real rules until they’re already u...

On this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with my friend, fellow mom, and one of the sharpest brokers I know— Amy Calandrino . She’s the founder of Beyond Commercial and just released her first book, From Perfect to Real. Amy and I talk about the pressure to always have it together in commercial real estate—and how admitting you're not okay c...

This week, I sat down with Rod Santomassimo , founder of the Massimo Group and one of the most influential voices in commercial real estate coaching. Rod has helped some of the biggest names in the business—including Bob Knakal—scale their income and sharpen their focus. I’m proud to say I’ve been working with Rod for over a year now, and his impact on my mindset and business has been game-changin...

This week, I sit down with Topher Stephenson , Head of Operations at Aspire Commercial and author of Chat CRE News—the leading newsletter on AI and tech in commercial real estate. In this episode, Topher breaks down how ChatGPT is becoming a secret weapon for brokers, operators, and owners looking to save time and scale smarter. What we cover: How Topher uses ChatGPT to create bios, draft property...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Justin Ryder , a commercial real estate advisor, investor, and media creator based in Kentucky. Justin is the co-host of Sales Life, a new podcast redefining what it means to thrive in brokerage—with a focus on authenticity, consistency, and human connection. We talk about: How content creation brought him repeat deals and long-ter...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Brent Bowers, land investor and founder of The Landsharks. After deployments and landlord headaches, Brent found a high-margin niche no one was talking about—flipping raw land for massive profits, building passive income, and ultimately, buying commercial properties with cash flow from dirt. 🏞️ We talk about: How Brent turned $285...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Cory Zelnik , CEO and founder of Zelnik & Company. After building his career from walking Manhattan streets for $250 a week to negotiating multimillion-dollar leases, Cory is now one of NYC's leading retail leasing experts. We talk about: Why retail isn’t dead (and how luxury brands are thriving in NYC) How to build lifelon...

Most women don't lack the ability—they lack the confidence and support to fully engage in real estate investing. In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva sits down with Liz Faircloth , co-founder of the Real Estate InvestHER community and host of the InvestHER Show podcast, to explore how women are reshaping the real estate investment landscape. 💡 We talk about: ✔️ Liz’s journ...

If you’ve ever thought investing in real estate was only for insiders or people with massive portfolios — this episode is going to shift your mindset. Too many investors stay stuck in the stock market because they don’t know where to start with alternatives. Tom Dunkel is here to break it down. In this episode, we’re diving into why private real estate deals are more accessible than you think, how...

Legacy. Strategy. Evolution. In this episode, I sit down with Jeffrey Rosenberg , President & CEO of Big V Property Group, to explore the pivotal lessons from over 80 years in the commercial real estate industry. What started with a corner grocery store in the 1940s is now a 50+ center, 14-state retail portfolio—anchored by some of the biggest names in the game. Jeffrey shares what it takes to...

In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Bupp —founder of Sunrise Capital Investors and host of Real Estate Investing for Cash Flow—to unpack the real story behind mobile home parks, parking garages, and what it really takes to succeed in niche commercial real estate. We talk about: The Truth About Mobile Home Parks – Everyone says they’re low-maintenance, cash-flow machines. Kevin calls BS—and shar...

You can’t build a successful real estate portfolio if you don’t understand the fundamentals first. That’s why strategy, stability, and tax advantages are key to long-term success. In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Stewart Heath , CPA, CEO of Harvard Grace Capital, to dive deep into: 🔹 How Stewart Heath transitioned from CPA to real estate investor 🔹 The impact of...

🔥 The Industrial Real Estate Revolution (And Why Cold Storage Is the Future) Industrial real estate has gone from being the “Rodney Dangerfield” of commercial real estate to one of the hottest asset classes. And this week, we’re talking to the man who’s been in the game for 40 years— Cliff Booth , Founder and Chairman of Westmount Realty Capital. In this episode, we break down: ✅ How industrial...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Dave Wolcott , Founder and CEO of Pantheon Investments, to break down the unconventional wealth-building strategies used by the top 1%. Dave shares his journey from serving in the Marine Corps to becoming a successful investor and reveals how to achieve financial freedom beyond traditional stock market investments. We talk about: T...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Neal Sherman, founder and CEO of TageX Brands. With nearly four decades in the industry, Neal has established TageX as a leading force in managing the lifecycle and liquidation of restaurant equipment through strategic warehousing. We talk about: 🔄 How TageX Brands utilizes warehouses to effectively manage equipment assets nationw...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Jack Bosch , co-founder of Land Profit Generator. After immigrating to the U.S. with no real estate experience, Jack built a business flipping land and has now completed over 5,000 deals. We talk about: 🚀 How Jack went from immigrant to land-flipping expert 💰 The simple strategy behind land flipping (even with no money) 📍 The be...

In this episode, I’m joined by George McCleary , CEO of Defender Networks, for an eye-opening conversation about squatting, title fraud, and protecting property owners from financial ruin. George, who went viral with his video I Stole a House, shares how squatters exploit legal loopholes, how title fraud is on the rise, and what landlords can do to safeguard their investments. We dive into the vul...

It’s Our 100th Episode—And We’re Celebrating Big! In this special episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I’m joined by Bob Knakal, Chairman and CEO of BKREA, and one of the most legendary commercial real estate brokers of all time. We dive into Bob’s career, his mindset for success, and the lessons that shaped his path. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN: • Why passion, expertise,...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Matt Spagnolo, Fund Co-Manager at Colony Hills Capital. With a background that spans equities trading to hands-on real estate sales, Matt reveals how his innovative co‑GP model is reshaping multifamily investing—helping investors enjoy passive returns while capitalizing on significant deal flow. We talk about: 🚀 How the co‑GP stru...

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Greg Mohr , founder of Franchise Maven and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Real Freedom: Why Franchises Are Worth Considering and How They Can Be Used for Building Wealth. We talk about: 🚀 How franchising can be the ultimate shortcut to business success 💡 Why buying a franchise can reduce risk while still offering flexi...

Curious about passive real estate investing but not sure where to begin? Many investors feel stuck juggling their active careers while wanting to build wealth and financial freedom through real estate. Passive real estate investing offers a way to diversify, create cash flow, and grow equity—without taking on the time-consuming role of a landlord or active investor. In this episode, I sit down wit...

Have you heard of turnkey investing but aren’t sure if it’s the right fit for you? For many investors, managing properties on their own or trying to identify the best markets for strong returns can be overwhelming. It often leads to burnout, missed opportunities, and stagnation in growing their portfolios. Imagine if you could bypass these challenges—accessing high-performing markets while leaving...

Are you paying more taxes on your real estate investments than you should be? Ignoring cost segregation could mean paying tens of thousands—or even millions—in unnecessary taxes. But there’s a solution that real estate investors use to protect their cash flow and reinvest in growing their portfolios. In this episode, I chat with Joe Viery, Founder of US Tax Advisors Group Inc. Joe shares his journ...