Ten with Ben

In the latest episode of Ten With Ben, Ben discusses the renewed momentum across Chicago’s commercial real estate market, from increased leasing and investment activity to landlords investing in upgraded amenities and large spec suites. He also shares why it’s time to move beyond the term “return to office” as office buildings across the city continue to see growing activity and collaboration.

Ben Azulay sits down with Bradford Allen’s Neil Bouhan, senior vice president, research, for this episode of Ten with Ben to unpack what’s shaping Chicago’s office market as 2026 begins. The conversation highlights encouraging year-end signals, including improving leasing momentum and how vacancy trends are evolving. They also discuss how shifting tenant priorities are influencing leasing decision...

Ben sits down with teammates Nathan Meisner and Lauryn Sussman for a year-end review of team milestones and key shifts in Chicago’s office market. From rising downtown foot traffic to changing landlord strategies and major Loop developments, they share what defined the year and how those trends are setting the tone heading into 2026.

In this episode of Ten with Ben , Ben shares the mic with his brother and commercial real estate colleague, Jon Azulay from CBRE. A former Chicago broker now working in Los Angeles, Jon explores the unique differences between the two commercial real estate markets. From payment cadence and RTO office trends to broker culture, he explains why the Chicago market remains one of the most competitive m...

Ben is joined by Kathleen Bertrand of Transwestern for a wide-ranging conversation on the current state of the Chicago office market. They reflect on their parallel 20-year careers in commercial real estate and how market cycles — and downtown activity — are shifting again. They discuss how deal momentum is returning, particularly among smaller tenants, and how Gen Z is helping fuel the shift back...

Ben is back with another episode of Ten with Ben, exploring the recent momentum in the commercial real estate market. Leasing velocity is up, transaction volume is rising, and distressed assets that once seemed stagnant are now trading hands. Post-election stability and renewed business confidence have fueled this shift, as companies gain clarity on their long-term office strategies. The return-to...

On this episode of Ten with Ben, Justin Kessler, Nathan Meissner, and Lauryn Sussman join Ben to reflect on a productive 2024 for the tenant rep team at Bradford Allen. The team discusses the uptick in tenant activity, surprising stability in office space needs, and the late-year momentum in deal-making. They also highlight how flexibility from ownership groups has created opportunities for tenant...

In the latest episode of Ten with Ben, Ben Azulay reflects on the year so far, highlighting consistent deal flow and how companies are renegotiating leases to take advantage of current market conditions. He discusses the recovery of distressed properties, with lenders and landlords working out solutions, and questions the real value of amenities in office buildings. Looking ahead, Ben is monitorin...

In the latest episode of Ten with Ben, Ben Azulay dives into the world of hotel real estate with Aghfar Arun, Director, Hospitality at Bradford Allen. Aghfar discusses his journey into hospitality and the intricacies of acquiring hotel properties, emphasizing the importance of brand affiliation with major players like Hilton and Marriott. He also explores the specialized challenges of converting p...

In the latest episode of Ten with Ben, Ben welcomes Jimmy Sarnoff, Managing Partner at Sarnoff & Baccash, to discuss the intricacies of property taxation in Chicago. They dive into how recent changes by the City’s Assessor have impacted property assessments and taxes, particularly highlighting the triennial reassessment cycle and various tax-saving strategies. Jimmy offers insights on leveragi...

This episode of Ten with Ben features Aaron Letzeiser, co-founder of Obie, who discusses the innovative ways his company is simplifying the insurance process for real estate investors and owners. Aaron shares insights on how Obie leverages technology to offer rates instantly and provide transparent insurance options, making the process more manageable and empowering for investors. Aaron’s journey...

 In this special episode of Ten with Ben , Ben is joined by Justin Kessler, Nathan Meisner, and Lauryn Sussman for a compelling conversation on their unique team dynamics and experiences in real estate. The episode focuses on the team’s strong bond as they navigate various aspects of the industry together. Justin shares insights from a notable microbrewery deal, while Nathan reflects on adapting s...

Ten with Ben is back to showcase the "power of the ask." Today's market is all about seizing opportunities through creative negotiation. Current conditions present unique opportunities for tenants to renegotiate leases and for landlords to showcase their financial stability as a major strength. Ben offers actionable insight to both tenants and landlords on how to navigate the market...

In this week's episode, Ben reflects on his two-decade-long journey as a tenant rep broker, shares current market conditions, and identifies recent challenges the industry is facing. From the bustling Fulton Market district to new activity throughout the Loop, get an expert view on what's shaping Chicago's office landscape. Post-pandemic, the deals may be smaller, but leases are bei...

Ben sits down with Bradford Allen's head of asset management, Brian Dovalovsky.

In our latest Ten with Ben , we sit down with longtime property manager Rob Healy, Vice President and General Manager at CIM Group, L.P. to discuss the vital role of property management and why they’re too often an unsung hero in getting deals done. As a former property manager at the BMO Harris Bank building, Rob also shares his thoughts on the planned revitalization of LaSalle Street and the cha...

In our latest Ten with Ben, we sit down with BA’s own Dan Fernitz and Justin Kessler to discuss the state of the market. What were the big trends in 2022? Will they carry over to 2023? What’s next for the flight-to-quality, the return-to-office, supercharged amenities, suburbs vs downtown, foreclosures, and distress. With over a century’s worth of cumulative market knowledge at the table, the conv...

This week, we meet with Eric Janssen, president and founder of Chicago Real Estate Resources (CRER), a full-service commercial real estate firm with a focus on investment, retail, and office leasing and a fellow Chicago affiliate of TCN. Eric is an award-winning and well-traveled real estate professional with a multitude of diverse experiences under his belt and has been working in the Chicago mar...

On Ten With Ben, we regularly speak with experts in their respective fields, but rarely has a guest come with such an immense amount of market knowledge. Ross Ford is a fourth-generation commercial real estate professional. And with nearly a quarter-century at the helm of TCN Worldwide, a consortium of independent commercial real estate firms, Ross has seen the ups and downs of several market cycl...

Today we are joined by Michelle Jones, Director of Interiors at Shive-Hattery. With over 20 years’ design experience, Michelle has always been driven by creating something new and bringing it to life — the office is an art form. With so many facets, there is always something to be learned throughout each project while staying on top of trends. But in today’s ever-changing world, the biggest questi...

Real estate is a relationship business, but it’s not often you get to work with a lifelong friend. In this Ten With Ben episode we’re joined by Aaron Zaretsky, Leasing Director at Urban Innovations, an integrated real estate development company. Aaron’s path crossed with Ben’s more than 40 years ago, decades before either had closed a lease deal. As these long-time friends catch up on the state of...

In our latest episode, Ben sits down with Tim Brigham, all-star mortgage broker and BA client. With a competitive spirit and laser-sharp focus on his customer’s needs, Tim’s found a winning combination for success in real estate, and in life. In addition to managing Union Home Mortgage’s Chicago office, Tim runs the Superhero Collective, a non-profit that brings comic-book heroes to life for child...

With 30 years of experience in commercial real estate, today’s guest knows what the fundamentals of the business are all about. Meet Laurence Elbaum, Principal and Co-Founder of Bradford Allen. When he began Bradford Allen with business partner Jeffrey Bernstein in 2003, he was certain of just one thing: BA would succeed, because failure was not an option. That mindset has translated into a philos...