Claim OwnershipThe Best Ever CRE Show
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Welcome to the Best Ever CRE Show, the world’s longest-running daily COMMERCIAL real estate podcast. Founded by Joe Fairless, a co-founder of Ashcroft Capital who went from buying $35,000 homes to controlling more than $2.7 billion in real estate assets, the Best Ever CRE Show provides commercial real estate expert insights, education, and timely information to our community of active and passive investors who want to build wealth, build a legacy, and do more good in the world.
So if you want the real stories behind the good, the bad, and the worst ever deals — plus, insights into what really goes on in commercial real estate investing — you’re in the right place. Our hosts interview commercial real estate experts every day to uncover secrets and strategies YOU can use to become a better, more informed investor. This is the Best Ever CRE show.
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4163 Episodes
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Ryan had grown up around the real estate industry with his family being investors. He had a financial analyst role with his dad’s company when he realized the business needed a better way to keep track of everything. He built software to solve the issue, he grew that to 140,000 users. Ryan also purchases real estate with his wife, having more than 175 different assets across 30 states. If you enjoyed today’s episode remember to subscribe in iTunes and leave us a review!
Best Ever Tweet:
“Focus on the value of income more than income as value” - Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith Real Estate Background:
Co-founder of Elevation Capital Group, focusing on Manufactured Housing Communities and Self-Storage
They have more than $500 million of combined acquisition value, 175 assets across more than 30 states
Based in Orlando, FL
Say hi to him at http://elevationcapitalgroup.com/
Best Ever Book: Right Away & All At Once by Greg Breneman
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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
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On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, host Slocomb Reed interviews James Harhi, CEO of JFH Technologies, about his unique investment approach spanning both multifamily properties and amusement businesses. Harhi shares insights on managing a portfolio that includes 600+ apartments in Indiana alongside water parks and amusement facilities in the Northeast. He discusses the financial advantages of operating water parks (projecting 300% returns over 10 years versus 12-16% annually on apartments), his "follow the deal" investment philosophy, and how he structures management teams that allow him to scale across different business models. The conversation reveals how Harhi raises 100% private capital for his park acquisitions through sale-leaseback arrangements with REITs, avoiding traditional bank financing while providing his investors with consistent cash flow opportunities.
Sponsors:
Vintage Capital
Capital Gains Tax Solutions
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On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, host Slocomb Reed interviews Marcin Drozdz, managing partner of M1 Real Capital, about navigating today's commercial real estate market. Drozdz, who entered private equity during the 2008 financial crisis, shares insights on his transition from syndications to a fund model approach that allows him to secure significant discounts through ready capital. He explains his current focus on multifamily development in the Southwest, particularly Arizona and Texas, noting how construction costs are becoming more favorable while planned deliveries for 2026-2027 remain limited. The conversation covers investor education strategies in today's more cautious environment, the importance of creating win-win GP/LP structures, and how understanding capital flow patterns provides a competitive advantage in identifying emerging opportunities across market cycles.
Sponsors:
Vintage Capital
Capital Gains Tax Solutions
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On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, host Joe Cornwell sits down with his business partner Anderson Morgan to discuss how investors can leverage construction expertise to enhance their real estate investments. Morgan shares his journey from a live-in flip to developing a successful construction company, offering insights on building reliable contractor relationships, managing expectations between GCs and investors, and why controlling the construction aspect of real estate investing has been crucial to his success. This episode is part one of a two-part series, with the second part focusing on a specific redevelopment deal case study.
Sponsors:
Vintage Capital
Capital Gains Tax Solutions
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On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show, JP Newman, CEO and founder of ThriveFP, discusses navigating the current market cycle in multifamily real estate. With over 20 years of experience and 20,000 units under his belt, Newman shares why his firm strategically reduced their portfolio from 10,000 to 1,500 units to position for upcoming opportunities. He predicts 24 months of market distress ahead, projecting another 10-20% price decline unless interest rates decrease significantly, while emphasizing the importance of having dry powder and maintaining strong investor relationships to capitalize on deals. Newman also provides insights on how institutional capital has changed the multifamily landscape, making it harder to find significantly dislocated opportunities compared to five years ago, though he remains optimistic about multifamily's long-term fundamentals due to the continuing supply-demand imbalance.
Sponsors:
Crystal View Capital
Capital Gains Tax Solutions
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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
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On this episode of the Passive Income Playbook, host Pascal Wagner interviews Michael Blank, founder of Nighthawk Equity, about navigating multifamily investments in today's market. Blank, who manages over $300 million in assets across nearly 2,000 units, provides insights on how the multifamily landscape has evolved since the 2022 market peak, explaining why current opportunities offer better risk-adjusted returns with lower leverage and improved market outlook. He shares lessons from his journey through various investment vehicles before finding multifamily, discusses the importance of geographic concentration for operational excellence, and offers practical advice for passive investors on vetting operators. The conversation provides valuable guidance for LPs seeking to make informed decisions in commercial real estate syndications during this transitional market period.
Sponsors:
Vintage Capital
Capital Gains Tax Solutions
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On this episode of the Best Ever CRE Show's Passive Income Playbook, host Pascal Wagner interviews Sanjay Vora, CEO of Avestor and advisor to over 200 fund managers. Vora shares his evolution from tech executive to fund manager, offering deep insights into private fund evaluation, discussing key due diligence strategies, and emphasizing the importance of diversification in passive investing. Drawing from his experience with over 25 syndications and 100+ debt deals, Vora provides actionable advice for investors on analyzing fund managers, understanding capital stacks, and avoiding common investment pitfalls.
Sponsors:
Vintage Capital
Capital Gains Tax Solutions
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Matt Faircloth and Fred Moskowitz delve into the niche of note investing, exploring its mechanics, profitability, and the differences between performing and non-performing notes. Fred explains how investors can step into the role of the lender, the importance of understanding the secondary market, and the strategies for maximizing returns. The discussion also touches on the reasons banks sell performing notes and the current opportunities in the note investing landscape.
Sponsors:
Crystal View Capital
Capital Gains Tax Solutions
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Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Tim Woodbridge, founder of WCG Communities, who shares his journey in the mobile home park industry. Tim discusses his ambitious goals for scaling his portfolio, the transition from joint ventures to syndication, and the challenges of managing tenant relationships and home sales. He reflects on valuable lessons learned from past deals and emphasizes the importance of partnerships and team dynamics in achieving success in real estate investing.
Sponsors:
Crystal View Capital
Capital Gains Tax Solutions
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Amanda Crusie and Ash Patel discuss captive insurance with Jerry Messick, CEO of Unity Captive Solutions. They explore the concept of captive insurance, its mechanics, ideal clients, and the administrative aspects involved. Jerry emphasizes the importance of education in understanding captive insurance and highlights the challenges and risks associated with it. The conversation also touches on the future of captive insurance and the need for client education in navigating this complex field.
Sponsors:
Crystal View Capital
Altra Running
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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
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Matt interviews Tim Bratz, breaking down why Tim has challenged “traditional” syndication norms—especially fee-heavy structures and LP/GP splits that can leave operators with too little skin in the game. Tim shares how his equity/preferred return approach evolved from his single-family/private money background, and how tighter cash flow post-pandemic has pushed him toward more creative capital stacks (assumable debt, seller carry, accrued pref, and depreciation levers). He also digs into why third-party property management misaligns incentives, why in-house management is a key common denominator among operators who aren’t struggling right now, and how he’s building an AI-powered, all-in-one property management platform to unify ops + accounting + payments + reporting.
Tim BratzCurrent role: Founder/CEO, Legacy Wealth Holdings; CEO, Smart ManagementBased in: Charleston, South CarolinaSay hi to them at: smartmanagement.com | YouTube | LinkedIn (Smart Management)
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Join the Best Ever Community
The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.
Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow.
Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com
Podcast production done by Outlier Audio
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John Chang shares a deep-dive outlook on the major forces shaping commercial real estate investing in 2026. He explains why job growth is expected to slow significantly, how policy uncertainty and AI-driven productivity are restraining hiring, and what that means for absorption and vacancies across property types. Chang also breaks down interest rate expectations, inflation risks, and why pricing is likely to remain relatively flat despite improving liquidity. He closes with a detailed look at institutional capital returning to the market, where that money is likely to flow, and how private investors can position themselves for stronger relative returns in 2026.
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Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at:
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Join the Best Ever Community
The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.
Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow.
Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com
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John interviews Dave Foster, breaking down how investors can legally defer capital gains using 1031 exchanges and why timing, preparation, and the right intermediary matter more than most people realize. Dave explains common misconceptions around the 45-day identification window, how overlapping closings and contingencies can dramatically extend real decision time, and why many investors fail simply by waiting too long to plan. He also covers red flags when choosing a qualified intermediary, limitations of using 1031s in syndications, and practical workarounds for investors transitioning from active ownership into more passive strategies.
Dave FosterCurrent role: Founder, The 1031 InvestorBased in: FloridaSay hi to them at: https://the1031investor.com
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Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at:
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Join the Best Ever Community
The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.
Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow.
Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com
Podcast production done by Outlier Audio
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*Previously aired episode* Pascal Wagner interviews Russell Gray, the long-time co-host of the Real Estate Guys Radio Show and a seasoned LP investor. Russell dives deep into the critical role macroeconomics plays in investment success, sharing his personal crash-and-burn story from the 2008 mortgage crisis and the economic warning signs he missed. He breaks down the shift from Wall Street to Main Street capitalism, the flaws of financialized markets, and the need to value investments based on real income. He also outlines practical strategies LPs can use to evaluate deals through macro, demographic, and geographic lenses, and advocates for a return to real asset investing and productive capitalism.
Russell Gray
Founder and Host
Based in: Phoenix, Arizona
Say hi to them at
www.RussellGray.com
www.linkedin.com/in/russellwgray/
x.com/RussWGray
Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto.
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Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at:
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Join the Best Ever Community
The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.
Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow.
Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com
Podcast production done by Outlier Audio
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*Previously aired episode* Ryan Tseko, Executive Vice President of Cardone Capital, shares insights from managing a 15,000-unit portfolio valued at over $1.6 billion. Drawing from his unique journey from commercial airline pilot to Grant Cardone's right-hand man, Tseko discusses their strategy of combining fixed-rate financing with 10-year hold periods to weather market cycles. He reveals details about their innovative approach of bundling Bitcoin with multifamily investments, their focus on simple fee structures, and their success in raising capital from 18,000 retail investors. Tseko also provides candid perspectives on current market opportunities, particularly in acquiring assets below replacement cost, and explains why they're choosing to buy deals all-cash in today's high interest rate environment.
Ryan Tseko | Real Estate Background
Cardone Capital
Based in: Miami
Say hi to them at:
www.cardonecapital.com
Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at:
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Join the Best Ever Community
The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.
Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow.
Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com
Podcast production done by Outlier Audio
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*Previously aired episode* Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel talk with Casey Mericle about his innovative approach to commercial real estate investing through creative financing. Mericle shares his strategy of acquiring properties at higher prices in exchange for favorable seller financing terms, which he then leverages by moving the mortgages to other value-add properties. He explains how he structures deals to solve multiple parties' problems simultaneously, particularly in helping 1031 exchange investors find temporary parking spots for their capital. The conversation provides detailed insights into using options, navigating seller financing, and creating win-win scenarios in today's high-interest-rate environment.
Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at:
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Join the Best Ever Community
The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.
Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow.
Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com
Podcast production done by Outlier Audio
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*Previously aired episode* J Scott, Partner at Bar Down Investments and Host of the Drunk Real Estate Podcast, discusses the current state of the multifamily housing market, focusing on trends, challenges in new construction, the impact of wages on rent growth, and the dynamics of supply and demand. They explore the implications of low housing starts, the importance of tenant affordability, and innovations in construction methods, including modular housing. The discussion highlights the complexities of the market and the interplay between economic factors and housing availability.
J Scott | Real Estate Background
Partner at Bar Down Investments and Host of the Drunk Real Estate Podcast
Portfolio:
About 1,000 units of SFR and multifamily
5,000 units as an LP
Based in: Sarasota, FL
Say hi to him at:
jscott.com
Best Ever Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Greatest Lesson: The value in holding property for the long-term. That's where real wealth building happens.
Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at:
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The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.
Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow.
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Aaaah yeah.. It's J for real!!
very poor audio quality on your guest voice !! I had to stop listening..