The Real Estate Espresso Podcast

On today’s show we are talking about the law of supply and demand. This is one of those principles that I treat with the same reverence as a law of physics. It’s a little like gravity. If you try to fight gravity, you’re probably going to come out on the losing end of that battle.  Back in the 1950’s we had explosive population growth in North America. This was the so-called baby boom. Demographic...

On yesterday’s show I speculated on some of the reasons why the Fed might have pivoted. These reasons all sounded pretty plausible. Then I listened to an interview with Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee, who was on the Fed’s rate-setting committee this year. He spoke with the WSJ’s Take On the Week podcast host to discuss why “all things are on the table” when it comes to interest rates, inclu...

On today’s show we are talking about why the Fed made a surprise announcement last week which involved the potential for several 0.25% rate cuts in 2024. This seems like a dramatic about face compared with the rhetoric from the Fed only a few weeks earlier.  So the question is, what did the Fed see that caused them to change their tune?  ----------------- Host: Victor Menasce email: podcast@victor...

On today’s show we are taking a look at a new report issued by the staff at the US SEC to the SEC and to the Congress. The law requires the SEC to undertake a review of the accredited investor definition, at least once every four years to determine whether the requirements of the definition should be adjusted. This 53 page report is packed with tons of interesting data. Based on the findings, I&#3...

On today’s show we are talking about the shrinking influence of governments around the world. Politicians act as if they can control what happens within their borders. They act as if the national economy is under their control, and that if they set the rules for the nation, they can control what happens within their borders.  But the fact is, we have a globally interconnected world.  It’s becoming...

Dr. Neel Chadha is a practicing physician in Ottawa Canada and is also a part-time developer of senior housing, assisted living and memory care facilities. On today's show we're talking about designing service offerings. You can connect with Neel at neel@lanarklifestyles.ca ------------- Host: Victor Menasce email: podcast@victorjm.com

Richard Crouch is based in Richmond Virginia where he is with the law firm of Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black. On today's show we are talking about some of the common pitfalls when structuring agreements. To connect or to learn more you can email Richard at richard.crouch@wrvblaw.com or visit their website at https://wrvblaw.com/ -------------- Host: Victor Menasce email: podcast@victorjm.com

On today’s show we are talking about a concept in project management that is rarely discussed. When we think about the items that determine a project’s timeline, there are all of the text book steps in developing a project plan. More advanced project management means identifying those project constraints that are critical in nature. This is taken from the theory of constraints work by Eli Goldratt...

On today’s show we’re going to the dark side to listen to Jim Cramer from CNBC and try to learn why the DOW skyrocketed over 500 points in the wake of yesterday’s interest rate announcement by J Powell.  ----------- Host: Victor Menasce email: podcast@victorjm.com

On today’s show we are talking about the latest CPI data announcement. This data is important going into the final FOMC meeting for the year, where the Fed held interest rates steady again for the third meeting in a row.  The month over month data showed an increase of 0.1% in consumer prices compared with a month over month increase of 0% in the month of October.  -------------- Host: Victor Mena...

On today’s show we are talking about geopolitical stability and the vulnerability of nations. The idea behind globalization was that by creating economic interdependency, the world would become a more peaceful place. Many wars have an economic underpinning. But if both sides in a conflict would be harmed by economic disruption, the incentive for confrontation should be reduced.  It turns out that...

If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you will know that I’m a proponent of the laws of supply and demand. If you ignore the laws of supply and demand, you do so at your peril.  It’s always been the case that a new building will go through a process of offering leasing incentives for some of the first tenants and then remove the incentives at certain occupancy thresholds, and eventu...

Ed Mathews is based in central Connecticut where he runs Clark Street Capital. On today's show we are talking about what forms of marketing are effective in today's environment. To connect with Ed, visit Clark Street Capital on all the social media platforms or check out his podcast at Real Estate Underground. -------------- host: Victor Menasce email: podcast@victorjm.com

Ryan Smith is based in San Diego California where he specializes in SBA financing for business across the US. On today's show we are talking about the nuances of the different SBA programs. You can connect with Ryan at thinkSBA.com ------------ Host: Victor Menasce email: podcast@victorjm.com

On today’s show we are talking about why we are seeing long term interest rates falling, even though short term rates have held steady since mid summer.  We can see clearly what has happened in the market. Long term rates went up from June to October, peaking at nearly 5% for the 10 year treasury. The rates have dropped by nearly a full percentage point since the end of October. The yield curve ha...

Today’s question comes from Omar.  I’m working the design of a new building and the electric utility is forcing me to change the design of the electric meters from a wiring closet inside the hallway of a residential building to the building’s exterior. This is going to require the running of conduit for several hundred units from the transformer vault to the exterior of the building and then from...

Today's question comes from Richard who asks: "I’m considering an investment in a boutique hotel vacation property in Costa Rica with 18 rooms on the beach. For investors looking beyond their local markets, what considerations and challenges should they be mindful of when venturing into international real estate investments?" ------------ Host: Victor Menasce email: podcast@victorjm....

Today's show is a very special segment with Dallas based CPA Mike Pine. We're talking about depreciation and how it can be advantageous for investors of all types. ------------- Host: Victor Menasce email: podcast@victorjm.com

On today’s show we are talking about staffing. We’re reading daily headlines of staffing cuts at companies across the economy. Just in the past week we’ve seen headlines of 1500 people let go at Spotify, 3000 at TD Bank, 1000 Track maintenance workers at Union Pacific Rail, 1200 at Broadcom in the SF Bay Area just to name a few.  The question is, how does a business owner know when is the right ti...

Derek Vickers is based in Orlando, Florida where he invests in mobile home parks in Florida and the Carolinas. On today's show, we're talking about how to create value in mobile home parks. New parks are not being permitted in many communities and a turn-around on existing parks can be a good affordable solution in the market. You can connect with Derek at derekvickers885 on all of the soc...

Greg Mohr is based in Lincoln Nebraska where he is a national franchising consultant, helping potential franchisees find the right business to undertake. To learn more and to connect with Greg, visit franchisemaven.com ------------- Host: Victor Menasce email: podcast@victorjm.com

“Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It" by Chris Voss is an insightful and practical guide to negotiation, drawing on the author's extensive experience as a former FBI hostage negotiator.  ----------- Host: Victor Menasce email: podcast@victorjm.com

The COP28 summit just got underway in Dubai, a region known for oil production. On today’s show we’re going to look at a recently published paper  coauthored by Kelly Shue of Yale SOM and Samuel Hartzmark of the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. This paper shows categorically that the penalties imposed on high polluting firms actually don’t have the desired effect and in many cases c...

On today’s show we are talking about how a $40 tool can save you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars in energy costs. As real estate investors we often spend the bulk of our time in the relative sanitized environment of the office and spreadsheets. Your buildings are literally throwing money out the window. Energy costs are a primary line item in your expenses for any investment propert...

On today’s show, we are talking about one of the implications of artificial intelligence that is not being widely discussed in the main stream media. There are billions of people in the world. Designing and tailoring products for individuals has been largely ignored as even a remote possibility. It takes far too much effort. To develop custom products for each individual on the planet. We have liv...