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 monitoring how these trends will shape the market through the end of 2024and into 2025.
In the latest episode of Ten with Ben, Ben Azulay dives into the world of hotel realestate with Aghfar Arun, Director, Hospitality at Bradford Allen. Aghfar discusseshis journey into hospitality and the intricacies of acquiring hotel properties,emphasizing the importance of brand affiliation with major players like Hilton andMarriott. He also explores the specialized challenges of converting propertiesin the hotel sector compared to other real estate markets. The conversationalso touches on t...
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 leveraging property tax incentives for commercial and residential developments, and the potential benefit...
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 from selling insurance in college to revolutionizing the insurance buying experience for real est...
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 strategies during the pandemic and Lauren speaks to her development within the team’s nurturin...
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 effectively, from securing favorable lease terms to arranging unexpected perks.This week, Ben gets candid about...
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 being signed. Ben also touches on the perseverance of brokers, the importance of location to tenants, and just what...
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 challeneges of redeveloping its infrastructure for multifamily. Catch the full show to learn more abo...
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 conversation was wide-ranging, well-informed, and chock full of insights.
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 market for over three decades. Expertly weathering the challenges in today’s market, Eric’s optimism...
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 cycles across every real estate segment. One lesson that holds true across time is that real estate i...
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 question seems to be, “how do we do the next project better?” Bringing an architect in from the beginnin...
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 the market, Ben and Aaron discuss the importance of nurturing long-term relationships with client...
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 children’s hospitals all around Chicago.Whether he’s swapping a business suit for a batsuit or locking...
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 philosophy that continues to drive the firm today. Listen in as Larry explains why technology will not r...
We’re back with another special guest in today’s Ten with Ben: Andy DeMoss, the firm’s lead downtown agency broker. Having known each other for over a decade, Ben and Andy discuss the past, present, and future of the Chicago market. Listen as they explore the importance of communication between landlords and tenants, what improvements landlords have been making to keep their buildings relevant, and the heavy concession packages tenants have been acquiring. Although a vaccine doesn’t...
“Is today the day we return to pre-pandemic days?”If you’re like Ben, this has been a question you’ve asked yourself more than once over the past year. The what if’s keep us guessing as to what could have happened and what may happen next.This week, Ten with Ben is back to bring some insight into how office leasing has changed due to the pandemic. Ben answers questions like: “Would deal terms be the same if the pandemic never happened?”Negotiating deals in the current environment is giving te...