The Best Ever CRE Show

Latest Episodes:

JF 3850: Cash Flow vs. Equity, Lessons from Losing $50K, and Mastering Passive Income ft. Emma Powell Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Pascal Wagner interviews Emma Powell, a real estate investor, homeschool mom of six, and chief investing officer at High Rise Group. Emma shares her strategic journey from being a passive LP investor to an active GP and now back to passive investing, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing cash flow over equity appreciation for early retirement. She discusses the pitfalls passive investors often fall into, why fixed-rate debt and risk management matter, and how her experience losing money on a deal reshaped her approach to due diligence. Emma also provides valuable insights on diversification, tax strategies, and why debt investing can be a powerful tool for consistent income. Whether you're new to passive investing or considering transitioning to active real estate, Emma’s lessons are invaluable.

Emma Powell

Chief investing and marketing officer
Salt Lake City, Utah
Say hi to them at:
www.highrise.group
investwithemma.com
www.linkedin.com/in/emmapowell28
https://youtube.com/@passiveincomeadventures

Sponsors:

Vintage Capital

Capital Gains Tax Solutions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JF3849: Water Rights, Industrial Development, and Navigating Entitlements in Today’s Market ft. Sean T Flanagan Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Sean T Flanagan of Flanagan Real Estate LLC & Hydrosource Inc, from Denver, Colorado. Sean shares insights into industrial real estate development, speculative investments, and the complexities of water rights in the Western U.S. He dives into his current industrial project—a 40,000-square-foot speculative warehouse in a prime Denver location—discussing entitlement challenges, leasing strategies, and the importance of institutional-grade features. Sean also reveals lessons learned in capital raising and how oversharing can sometimes kill deals.

Sean T Flanagan

CRE Developer and Water Broker
Based in Denver, CO
Say hi to them at:
Linked
www.hydrosource.net

Sponsors:

Vintage Capital

Capital Gains Tax Solutions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JF3848: Tariff Impact Analysis, Institutional Capital Return, & Market Cycle Positioning in Commercial Real Estate Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of The Horizon, John Chang of Marcus & Millichap and Ben Lapidus discuss how recent economic shifts are creating unique investment opportunities in commercial real estate. They analyze how stock market volatility and new tariff policies are alienating international investors while prompting wealthy Americans to seek alternative investment vehicles. John shares insights from institutional players who are beginning to deploy capital into multifamily properties despite negative leverage, betting on future rent growth rather than immediate interest rate cuts. The conversation highlights why periods of elevated cap rates have historically proven to be excellent entry points for investors, and why commercial real estate remains attractive in uncertain times. Ben also discusses his innovative garage condo development project that's already 60% pre-sold, demonstrating how targeting affluent consumers with specialized real estate products can yield substantial returns even in challenging economic climates.

Sponsors:

Vintage Capital

Capital Gains Tax Solutions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JF3847: Fund Structure Flexibility, Multifamily Acquisition Strategy, & Strategic Market Selection ft. Percy Nikora Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Fairless interviews Percy Nikora, co-founder of Penn Capital, which manages approximately $230 million in multifamily assets. Percy shares insights on their hybrid capital-raising approach, offering both fund and individual deal investment options to accommodate different investor preferences. He explains how they've executed 12 syndications and recently launched a $50 million fund that has already acquired three properties with about $20 million in equity. Percy discusses their market selection criteria, focusing on areas with strong job and population growth like Huntsville, Alabama and strategic locations in North Carolina. He candidly addresses challenges they've faced, including unexpected property tax increases and floating rate debt in a challenging market, while also sharing their impressive track record of 23.5% average IRR to LPs across their five property exits. Throughout the conversation, Percy offers valuable insights on working with institutional investors, including structuring partnerships with major check-writers and maintaining the detailed reporting relationships these investors expect.

Percy Nikora | Real Estate Background

Managing Partner at Penn Capital
Based in: Philadelphia, PA
Say hi to them at:
www.penncapitalgroup.com

Sponsors:

Vintage Capital

Capital Gains Tax Solutions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JF3846: Land Data Intelligence Platform, Multi-Variable Parcel Analysis, & Strategic Acquisition Filters ft. Carter Malloy Mar 16, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Joe Cornwell interviews Carter Malloy, CEO of Acres.com, a comprehensive land intelligence platform that helps investors find, analyze, and purchase land more efficiently. Carter explains how their platform consolidates multiple data sources to provide instant information on any parcel in the United States, including ownership details, comparable sales, mortgage data, topography, flood zones, and more. He discusses how investors can use the platform to quickly filter through thousands of parcels based on specific criteria like zoning, infrastructure access, and minimum size requirements, then conduct deeper analysis on the most promising options. Carter shares insights on land valuation discrepancies, emphasizing how adjacent parcels can vary by 20-50% in price due to factors like topography and access, creating significant opportunities for informed buyers. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the importance of thorough due diligence when purchasing land, warning about hidden issues like seasonal flooding, environmental concerns from previous uses, and the critical role of understanding both macro market trends and micro parcel-specific details before making investment decisions.

Sponsors:

Vintage Capital

Capital Gains Tax Solutions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JF3845: Fund Creation Strategy, Capital Raising Evolution, & Multi-Asset Portfolio Diversification ft. Jeremy Long Mar 15, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Slocomb Reed interviews Jeremy Long, founder and managing partner of Axia Partners, a vertically integrated investment firm based in Salt Lake City. Jeremy shares his unique journey from door-to-door sales executive to real estate investor, including his experience taking Vivint Solar public and later being acquired by Sunrun. He explains why he and his partner Dave decided to launch with a fund model rather than individual syndications, allowing them to raise capital to a thesis and acquire multiple properties simultaneously. Jeremy discusses their initial investment focus on value-add multifamily in tertiary markets with strong migration patterns, and why they've expanded into RV parks for their consistent cash flow. He also provides candid insights on their challenges transitioning from retail investors to institutional capital, the importance of property management selection in smaller markets, and why they're now narrowing their asset focus after initially diversifying across multiple property types.

Sponsors:

Vintage Capital

Capital Gains Tax Solutions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JF3844: Economic Forecast Analysis, Housing Market Supply Constraints, & Personal Investment Philosophy ft. Dave Meyer Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Next Level CRE, Matt Faircloth interviews Dave Meyer, Head of Real Estate Investing at BiggerPockets and host of multiple BP podcasts. Dave shares his expert analysis on why mortgage rates haven't dropped despite Fed cuts, explaining how bond yields and inflation fears are keeping rates elevated. He predicts residential real estate will continue seeing price appreciation due to severe supply constraints, with homeowners "trapped" by their low-rate mortgages unwilling to sell. Dave also discusses his international living experience in Amsterdam, his personal investment approach focusing on long-term rentals rather than active operations, and why he believes investors should prioritize finding clarity in their goals over chasing door count. Throughout the conversation, both investors emphasize that meaningful success comes from enjoying the journey and being deliberate about your investment strategy rather than pursuing someone else's definition of achievement.

Sponsors:

Vintage Capital

Capital Gains Tax Solutions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JF3843: LP Survival Guide: Avoiding Sponsor Red Flags, Verifying Track Records, & Building Multi-Deal Success with Hans Box Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of The Passive Income Playbook, Pascal Wagner interviews Hans Box, co-founder of Box Wilson Equity, who has invested in close to 100 real estate deals as both a general and limited partner. Hans shares his journey from recovering CPA to real estate investor, including the pivotal story of taking over his first deal as an LP when the original sponsor underperformed. He provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating investment opportunities, emphasizing the importance of assessing sponsors beyond just projected returns. Hans explains how to verify a sponsor's track record by examining NOI growth rather than IRR, why transparency is non-negotiable during due diligence, and why single-asset deals rarely have audited financials. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes finding deals with genuine value-add components that provide a margin of safety, and advises passive investors to look for "singles and doubles" rather than home runs to build sustainable wealth.

Sponsors:

Vintage Capital

Capital Gains Tax Solutions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JF3842: Boutique Hotel Investment Strategy, Alternative Asset Monetization, & Creative Arbitrage Approaches ft. Adam Dailey Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Adam Dailey, Managing Director of Bronco Surf, based in San Diego. Adam shares his journey from sports event organizer to real estate investor, focusing on boutique hospitality assets that offer unique value-add opportunities. He discusses his strategy of identifying properties where he can potentially triple the income through creative repositioning, explains the challenges of managing a small RV park with long-term tenants, and provides insights on operating boutique hotels versus using master lease structures. Adam also addresses the complexities of California's short-term rental regulations, the importance of finding the right property management partnerships, and why he's remained focused on the San Diego market despite its competitive nature. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes his "zone of genius" in spotting undervalued properties and implementing initial transformations, while acknowledging his need to outsource operational aspects to maximize both property performance and his own effectiveness.

Sponsors:

Vintage Capital

Capital Gains Tax Solutions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JF3841: Retail Investing Advantages, Office Market Opportunities, & Commercial Tenant Selection Strategies ft. Ash Patel Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of The Horizon, John Chang interviews Ash Patel from the Best Ever Conference 2026. They talk about his contrarian investment approach focusing on retail, office, and medical properties while avoiding residential tenants. Ash shares insights on why he prefers commercial tenants who treat properties professionally, explains how suburban office spaces in walkable areas are outperforming urban core locations, and reveals strategies for finding value-add retail opportunities with limited competition. The conversation explores recent market trends showing increased office absorption nationally, the surprising demand from national retail tenants actively seeking space, and why medical office remains a reliable investment with strong tenant stability. Ash also offers practical advice on evaluating markets, avoiding overhyped locations, and why buying properties at significant discounts in challenging asset classes can lead to substantial long-term returns despite current economic headwinds.

Sponsors:

Vintage Capital

Capital Gains Tax Solutions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices