The Best Ever CRE Show

Latest Episodes:

JF 3870: Strategic Development, Market Shifts, and Build-to-Hold Philosophy ft. Victor Menasce Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Victor Menasce, senior partner at Y Street Capital. Victor shares his transition from electrical engineering to full-time real estate development, focusing on why he pivoted from value-add deals to ground-up development across multifamily, industrial, and land projects. He dives into challenges with rising construction costs due to tariffs, converting historic buildings, and the complexities of repurposing office space into residential units. Victor also discusses the long-term strategy of build-and-hold investing, small-bay flex industrial demand, and insights on markets like Salt Lake City and New York.

Victor Menasce

Senior Partner
Based in: Ottawa, Canada
Say hi to them at
ystreetcapital.com

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JF 3869: Wholesaling to $20M Deals, RV Park Rollups, and Scaling Smarter ft. Ben Simon Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Ben Simon, CEO of Archer Acquisitions. Ben shares his unique path from wholesaling in Boston to scaling a 500+ unit multifamily and 12 RV park portfolio. He breaks down his transition from small deals to $20M+ projects, the strategic value of partnerships, and how RV parks became a major focus after accidentally discovering the asset class. Ben also unpacks one of his toughest deals and a massive win from a 200-unit portfolio refinance, highlighting the importance of being well-capitalized and the power of creative financing.

Ben Simon

CEO
Based in: Boston, MA
Say hi to them at
archeracq.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/benjsimon/
ben@archeracq.com

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JF 3868: Class A Success, Off-Market Deals, and Multifamily Resilience ft. Judd Standage Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews Judd Standage, founder of Aztex Management Group, who shares his journey from an IT career to owning and managing a 1,000-door multifamily portfolio. Judd discusses lessons from his first heavy value-add deal, why he shifted toward stabilized Class A and B+ properties in tertiary markets, and how his partnership with a longtime friend allows them to efficiently manage their entire operation. He also shares creative strategies to boost NOI, such as fenced yard upgrades and joint ventures on renters insurance. Judd opens up about current capital-raising challenges and how their team is navigating a more cautious investor landscape.

Judd Standage

Founder
Based in: Austin, Texas
Say hi to them at
www.aztexmgmt.com

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JF 3867: Stock Market Tumbles, Treasury Yields Drop, Real Estate Stands Firm Apr 06, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of The Horizon, John discusses the sweeping impact of the new U.S. tariff hikes—dubbed "Liberation Day"—and their cascading effects on inflation, unemployment, and commercial real estate. He breaks down the economic fallout from increased tariffs on China, Vietnam, and other major trade partners, highlighting the resulting stock market plunge, potential recession, and shifts in investor sentiment. John explores how real estate might weather the turbulence better than equities, offering insights into asset classes like apartments, retail, office, and industrial properties.

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JF 3866: Tariffs, Treasury Trends, and Multifamily Recovery Apr 05, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless flies solo and dives into the latest Best Ever newsletter with updates and insights on the commercial real estate market. Joe breaks down the impact of new tariffs, treasury rate movements, and the state of multifamily trends across markets like DFW, Florida, and the Sunbelt. He highlights affordable housing challenges, national vacancy trends, and a standout case study of a 2X value-add deal in South Carolina generating 110% annual cash-on-cash returns. Joe also touches on where renters are currently searching most and encourages community engagement through the Best Ever CRE app.

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JF 3865: Garage Condos, Flex Space, and Building a Category of One ft. Ben Lapidus Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Ben Lapidus, a seasoned real estate investor and innovator behind a unique new concept called Playground. They dive into Ben’s journey from self-storage investments to pioneering the emerging asset class of garage condos—flexible, purpose-built spaces that can serve as luxury storage, personal gyms, hobby studios, or workspaces. Ben explains how Playground caters to affluent buyers looking to own, not rent, and discusses why selling individual units instead of leasing offers better returns and faster capital recycling. They also unpack zoning challenges, community-building strategies, and the massive untapped market potential across the U.S.

Ben Lapidus

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JF 3864: LP Red Flags, Market Trends, and Multifamily Wins ft. Andrew Cushman Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Pascal Wagner interviews Andrew Cushman, founder of Vantage Point Acquisitions. Andrew shares his journey from chemical engineer to successful multifamily investor, highlighting how he transitioned from flipping homes to acquiring nearly 3,000 multifamily units across the Southeast. He breaks down his firm's buy box strategy, emphasizing the importance of management value-add, demographic targeting, and property size for operational efficiency. The conversation also explores how LPs can vet operators more effectively, the significance of operator SOPs, and a deep dive into the current trend of preferred equity raises and their implications for passive investors.

Andrew Cushman

Founder/Principal
Based in: Southern California
Say hi to them at
www.vpacq.com
www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcushmanvpa

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JF 3863: IOS Storage, SBA Financing, and the Power of Partnerships ft. Christopher Long Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Christopher Long, CEO of Long Yards. Christopher shares how he scaled Long Yards from a contractor’s solution to a $12 million industrial outdoor storage (IOS) business serving contractors and service-based businesses. He explains the evolution from a franchise model to flexible joint ventures, offering a unique blend of land ownership and lease strategies backed by SBA financing. The conversation dives deep into ideal land characteristics, scaling logistics, and why partnering with Long Yards reduces risks and accelerates success in this niche real estate space.

Christopher Long

CEO
Based in Florida
Say hi to them at
longyards.com

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JF3862: Vetting Sponsors, Multifamily in Tennessee, and Value-Add Plays ft. Brent Barcus Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Brent Barcus, Managing Partner at I-65 Capital. Brent shares how he transitioned from the entertainment industry into real estate, focusing on capital raising and strategic partnerships with experienced operators. He breaks down his process for vetting sponsors, discusses lessons learned from a challenging early deal in Georgia, and highlights a promising new 232-unit acquisition in a Nashville suburb. Brent also explores market trends in downtown Nashville and future opportunities tied to absorption rates and supply dynamics.

Brent Barcus

Managing Partner, Private Equity
Based in Nashville, TN
Say hi to them at:
https://i65capitalinvestments.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentbarcus/

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JF3861: Passive Investing, AI Due Diligence, and Risk Mitigation ft. Sam Giordano Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews Sam Giordano, a practicing gastroenterologist, real estate investor, and co-founder of PassiveAdvantage.com. Sam shares his journey into real estate syndications as a limited partner (LP), highlighting how his meticulous vetting process led him to create an AI-driven platform to help high-income professionals assess passive investments. He discusses the importance of sponsor evaluation, risk assessment, and market diversification, as well as the challenges faced by LPs in today’s economic climate. Sam also provides insights into how his software automates due diligence, offering a transparent, structured approach to analyzing investment opportunities.