The Best Ever CRE Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Richard McGirr interviews Hiten Samtani, founder of ten31 Media and creator of The Promote. Hiten shares how his background running the newsroom at The Real Deal shaped his approach to storytelling, why he built a media company that treats real estate like the character-driven, high-stakes world it truly is, and how entertainment is the secret ingredient missing from most industry coverage. He and Richard dig into niche media strategy, viral growth, CRE culture, and why “knowing your audience” is the only real moat. They also explore Twitter/Retweet’s rise and collapse, the LP Whisperer saga, the structural issues behind traveling HFCs in Texas, and the massive power shift happening as Blackstone and other institutions move aggressively into retail capital. Hiten explains why syndicators face new competition, why pref is dominating the capital stack, and how storytelling shapes who wins attention—and deal flow. Hiten SamtaniCurrent role: Founder, ten31 Media & Creator of The PromoteBased in: New York, New YorkSay hi to them at: https://www.thepromote.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-promote-podcast/id1801355295 https://x.com/hitsamty https://www.linkedin.com/in/hitsamty Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders’ Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Chang shares why commercial real estate data has become less reliable following the DOJ’s settlement with RealPage, and how losing access to more precise rent and vacancy feeds weakens investor decision-making. He walks through the market’s wildly shifting expectations for a potential December 10 Fed rate cut and argues that political pressure and policy uncertainty—not the cost of capital—are what’s really slowing hiring and expansion. John then looks at how tariffs, tight immigration policies, and a softer job market could temporarily dampen household formation and apartment absorption in 2026 across apartments, retail, and industrial, while creating pent-up demand that returns later in the cycle. Finally, he explains why investors who can secure positive leverage today—higher cap rates against moderating debt costs—may be better positioned for the next upswing if they buy before sentiment and competition turn. Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders’ Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Casmon interviews Ed Mathews, a former Silicon Valley tech executive who walked away from a high-flying software career to build a more family-centered, freedom-focused life through real estate. Ed shares how missing too many “18 summers” with his daughters pushed him to leave DocuSign and go all-in on multifamily after seven years of flipping houses and small-building rehabs on the side. He explains how he scaled his Connecticut portfolio by finding “rock star” contractors through trade-to-trade referrals, building tight systems, and using process—not heroics—to let average people perform exceptionally well. Ed details why he prefers long-term residents over constant value-add turnover, how he achieved 4.2-year average stays, and why responsiveness, respect, and presence on site drive both mission and NOI. The conversation closes with his shift away from property management toward asset management, his expansion into AI-powered operations, and the launch of both a debt fund and private equity fund to pursue larger 150-unit-plus acquisitions. Ed MathewsCurrent role: Founder & CEO, Clark Street CapitalBased in: ConnecticutSay hi to them at: Website: https://www.clarkst.com Phone: (860)675-5800] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clarkstinvestorsacademy Podcast: https://www.clarkst.com/podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clark-st-capital Twitter: https://twitter.com/clarkstcapital1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClarkStCapital Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarkstcapital Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders’ Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Faircloth interviews Robert Beardsley, partner at Lone Star Capital (LSCRE), about navigating the current multifamily cycle, surviving 2021–2022 acquisitions, and why the most resilient opportunities today hinge on debt structure, affordability incentives, and supply-constrained submarkets. Robert breaks down how Texas multifamily has shifted from a “prices only go up” environment to a more balanced but still competitive market, where Class B suburban assets with little new supply outperform shiny Class A developments offering heavy concessions. He explains how LS CRE avoided major distress by minimizing bridge debt exposure and shifting early into affordable-housing-driven acquisitions—leveraging tax-exemption partnerships with housing authorities to create stable NOI without risky value-add pushes. The two dive deep into rising treasuries, soft-landing odds, rent-to-income resilience, recession risk, Texas HB 21 fallout, and why hundreds of improperly structured tax-exemption deals may implode when exemptions expire in 2026. Robert BeardsleyCurrent role: LSCRE, Founder/CEOBased in: Houston, TexasSay hi to them at: https://lscre.com Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders’ Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pascal Wagner interviews Bronson Hill, founder of Bronson Equity, about how LPs can invest confidently in today’s noisy and divided market. Bronson shares how raising $50M+ across multifamily, oil & gas, and alternative real estate has shaped the way he vets operators, evaluates risk, and structures deals more conservatively after recent market challenges. He explains why understanding your true investment objective—cash flow, tax benefits, or equity growth—is the key to picking the right deal, and why due diligence should start with the market, then the operator, then the deal. Bronson also walks through his shift toward more control as a GP, including his Altadena modular housing redevelopment project after the California wildfires, and why debt funds and royalties are gaining traction with LPs seeking stability and monthly income. Bronson HillCurrent role: Founder & CEO, Bronson EquityBased in: Pasadena, CaliforniaSay hi to them at: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bronson.hill.37 | https://www.facebook.com/BronsonEquityLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronsonhill | https://www.linkedin.com/company/bronson-equity/mycompanyYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc1KYJL8ZjF3GC3Wh5lYNfgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bronsondavidhillWebsite: https://bronsonequity.com Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders’ Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Thomas A. Kucharski, president and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, about how his organization has helped transform Western New York from a legacy manufacturing market into a growing tech and advanced industry hub. He explains how their team centralizes regional data, builds commercial listing systems, and acts as a neutral connector to incentives, infrastructure, and workforce programs—without taking commissions—so companies can de-risk expansions and relocations. Tom shares case studies ranging from Odoo’s tech expansion and Milk-Bone’s reinvestment to Tesla’s solar facility and large industrial site redevelopments on former steel mill land, highlighting the importance of shovel-ready sites and public–private collaboration. He also digs into cross-border Canadian investment, tariffs, and why developers and local businesses “pay to play” not for sweetheart deals, but to collectively grow jobs, investment, and the regional tax base. Thomas A. KucharskiCurrent role: President & CEO, Invest Buffalo NiagaraBased in: Buffalo, New YorkSay hi to them at: https://buffaloniagara.org Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders’ Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Faircloth sits down with Ben Lapidus for a deep-dive into the origins, evolution, and future of the Best Ever Conference as it approaches its tenth year. Ben shares how a chance Skillshare class with Joe Fairless in 2012 sparked their partnership, how the conference grew from 175 attendees to a premier commercial real estate event, and why it remains intentionally focused on capital-raising and syndication. They walk through standout memories, the impact BEC has had on major companies in the space, and what attendees can expect from the 2026 agenda. The conversation also previews this year’s speakers, Pitch Slam details, and why the event consistently delivers high-value networking. Ben LapidusCurrent role: Coordinator, Best Ever ConferenceBased in: Denver, COSay hi to them at: https://besteverconference.com/ | benlapidus.com/coaching | playground.properties | Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders’ Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices