Deconstruct

Industry experts agree: Converting unused office towers to residential buildings is great in theory, but a moonshot to pull off. Despite the grab bag of obstacles that make these projects so difficult, the developer and office landlord Hines is getting in on the action. The Real Deal breaks down how Hines' Salt Lake City project pencils out and what it signals about the right building for the job....

After the city of Santa Monica failed to submit a state-approved housing plan on time, developers raced to capitalize on the city's failures. Under California state law, developers in cities whose housing plans fall out of state compliance can turn to filing so-called “builder’s remedy” projects that do not require the usual consent of municipal councils or planning commissions. But how did this h...

Investors have flocked to purchase single-family homes across the U.S., as technology has made the asset class scaleable. But, how will the sector fare with inflation, increasing interest rates and a potential recession on the horizon? Deconstruct chats with Doug Brien, the CEO of single-family rental management and investment firm Mynd about why he's still bullish on the asset class.

Ahead of its third quarter earnings, TRD's Deconstruct chats with senior reporter Keith Larsen about where WeWork stands and how it’s going about cutting costs under CEO Sandeep Mathrani. The company faces a difficult road in its effort to bounce back from its disastrous 2019 IPO attempt and navigate a struggling office fundamentals at the same time.

We all know how mortgage rates have shot up over the last few months, as the Fed has hiked up rates to fight inflation. But, home prices remain stubbornly high across the country. So, what's the deal? Deconstruct chats with Redfin's chief economist Daryl Fairweather about discussed the impact of the rate shifts on first-time homebuyers and why a slowdown in sales activity has not coincided with a...

It’s real estate trivia this week. A workhorse of the construction industry is now a disappearing resource. The catch: Few recognize the material is quickly slipping through our hands. TRD’s Deconstruct chats with reporter Kathryn Brenzel about the root of the crisis and how the industry can best adapt.

When celebrity broker Ryan Serhant left Nest Seekers in 2020 — striking out on his own months into a pandemic that had all but shut down New York City’s real estate market — the industry thought he was crazy. Deconstruct chatted with the former "Million Dollar Listing" star about his decision, the state of the housing market and why some residential brokerages are struggling right now.

Cannabis might be legal in New York, but no legal dispensaries are out there yet. State lawmakers have budgeted $200 million to build out 150 dispensaries by 2024, but the first licenses are yet to be given out. So how are landlords navigating all of this to bring in dispensaries as tenants? Deconstruct chats with TRD's Cailley LaPara about the issues both landlords and tenants are facing as the s...

Earlier this year, New York City's Department of Buildings approved Wildflower Studios: a $600 million, vertical soundstage project in Queens. Wildflower Ltd, run by Adam Gordon, is behind the project, with the help of Robert de Niro. TRD's Deconstruct chats with Gordon about his first foray into studio real estate, which has become a popular asset class among investors.

Ever wondered how much the top CEOs of real estate firms make? For The Real Deal's August cover story, reporter Joseph Lovinger sifted through records to find out just how much CEOs of public REITs and brokerages made last year. Deconstruct chats with Joseph about how he got the story and what sort of perks these top earners get.

After an insane year for high-end real estate in New York City, things have finally begun to slow. Kicking off a second season, The Real Deal's Deconstruct looks at the state of the luxury market in New York City with Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman, who discusses the factors behind this shift and how her firm will adapt.

We're back! The Real Deal’s hit podcast “Deconstruct” is back on Aug. 29 for a second season of breaking down the most important concepts and trends in real estate, with bigger guests and bolder ideas. Hosts Isabella Farr and Suzannah Cavanaugh will kick off the second season of “Deconstruct” by interviewing Bess Freedman, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, who will dig into the latest in New York City’...

Multifamily was the most popular asset class for commercial real estate investors in the first quarter. This popularity was fueled by extraordinary rent growth and historically low interest rates. Investors could get relatively cheap capital to buy up apartment complexes with steady cash flow. But interest rates are no longer historically low. So will the market start to cool? You'll hear from Mat...

The industrial market is hot. If you’re in commercial real estate, you’ve heard this a million times. But, as we approach mid-2022, interest rates are up, meaning acquisitions and development are both more expensive. And Amazon, obviously the largest e-commerce company, has told the world it has too much warehouse space. So what does this all mean for the industrial market? You'll hear from Barbar...

Last month, a two-story home in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, washed away in a storm. We're all seeing rising sea levels, more flash flooding, hurricanes and fires across the country. But are these events of climate change deterring homeowners from buying in certain areas? Deconstruct's Suzannah Cavanaugh chats to Ben Keys, a professor of real estate at The Wharton School at The University of P...

Chances are, some of you New Yorkers listening might be spending this Memorial Day weekend in the Hamptons. Some of you might have even bought a house in the last couple of years, some of you might have been lucky to snag a beachside rental property. On this episode, Deconstruct looks at the housing market in the Hamptons and how the dream of lounging on the beach is unattainable for many. You'll...

Last weekend, more than 4.3 million people flew across the U.S. — about 1 million more people than the same days last year. But has this pickup in travel trickled down to hotels? Deconstruct looks at how hotels in some markets have completely bounced back from the effects of the pandemic — and others haven't. You'll hear from Kevin Davis, the CEO of JLL’s hotels and hospitality division for the Am...

If you’ve tried to buy a house within the past two years, you know first hand how tough it’s been. Inventory is scant, prices are sky-high and if you do find a diamond in the chaos, chances are you’ll have to compete with other buyers to actually secure a winning bid. But now that mortgage rates are rising, are we seeing signs of a housing bubble? The Real Deal's Deconstruct chats with George Rati...

Traded has emerged as a very popular site for brokers, developers and industry professionals to see what has recently, for lack of a better word, traded, and as a way to advertise their own deals. But, who is behind the mysterious account? For this month’s issue of The Real Deal, Joe Lovinger, a reporter at The Real Deal, set on a mission to find out. Deconstruct chats with Joe about Traded and ho...

Over two years into the pandemic, office towers across the U.S. are still struggling with high vacancy rates. Among the nation’s largest metros, one central business district has emerged as a venerable ghost town — downtown Chicago. Deconstruct chats with TRD reporter Sam Lounsberry about how the Chicago office market has fared. CREDIT: ABC7, WGN News, CBS Chicago

Last week, Blackstone announced it was buying American Campus Communities for $13 billion. And it's not the only firm getting into student housing. As colleges and enrollment numbers have grown and admission rates have dropped, investment firms and developers have started investing in and building more and more apartments around college campuses. But when did the asset class become so institutiona...

If you’re a New York renter, chances are if you haven’t been hit with a rent hike yet, you’re bracing for one. But those colossal jumps don't necessarily mean the market has hit it’s peak. TRD's Deconstruct looks at how rents in New York have come soaring back and how experts think more rent rises are to come. You'll hear from Jonathan Miller, the CEO of appraisal firm Miller Samuel, David Kazemi...

In the market for a mansion in Connecticut with a potato shed? How about a Friends-themed two-bedroom home? On social media page Zillow Gone Wild, Samir Mezrahi posts the craziest, wackiest and most outlandish homes found on Zillow. TRD's Deconstruct chats with Mezrahi about how the page has grown over the last two years and some of the wildest homes he's seen. Credits: NBC's "Saturday Night Live,...

Demand for short-term rentals has soared during the pandemic. Companies like June Homes, Blueground and Landing carved out their own niches in the Airbnb-dominated market as renters looked for flexible living during work-from-home periods. Deconstruct's Suzannah Cavanaugh looks at whether these growing rental firms will see continued demand, as companies finalize plans for employees to return to t...

Home flippers in California are taking advantage of high housing prices and demand for turnkey homes. But, they could face a 25 percent tax on properties under a proposed state bill. TRD's Deconstruct looks at how it may become more difficult to flip homes and whether it's still a profitable investment opportunity. You'll hear from Page Turner, a broker and home flipper on HGTV's new "Fix My Flip,...