Episodes

Selling a successful business can create life-changing wealth, but the check is only part of the story. In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Kory Mitchell, founder of Iconic Founders Group, to unpack what he learned growing a family environmental services company to 37 offices, 1,400 employees, and hundreds of millions in revenue before selling it. Kory shares the emotional side of exiting, why he kept the real estate, how leverage changed the way he...

What does a commercial real estate reporter notice that most investors, brokers, and owners miss? In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with BusinessDen reporter Matt Geiger to go behind the headlines and uncover how CRE stories actually get found. Matt shares how he tracks transactions, permits, financing records, and development activity, why the people behind a property often tell a better story than the building itself, and what greater transparency me...

How much does it actually cost to rent a warehouse in Denver, and what should tenants budget beyond the advertised rental rate? In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich uses a real 16,000-square-foot industrial property in the Denver market to break down base rent, triple-net expenses, and the true all-in occupancy cost, including why smaller warehouse users should consider underwriting roughly $14–$16 per square foot all-in as a starting point. Aviva also shares five ...

New construction often gets criticized for being lower quality than older homes, but is that reputation actually deserved? In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Zach LeMaster, founder and CEO of Rent to Retirement, to explain why today’s building codes and construction standards can make new properties more resilient and attractive investments. Zach also shares how he evaluates builders, invests in markets across the country, builds reliable local tea...

Flex space is attracting growing attention from investors, developers, and businesses, but what exactly makes the asset class work? In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Hamza Ali to break down what flex space is, who leases it, where development makes sense, and why demand is growing from trades, recreational users, startups, and other emerging businesses. Hamza also shares how he went from his first flex development to building a $50 million project...

You can be one of the smartest people in your industry, but if nobody knows it, opportunities can pass you by. Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Mitch Roschelle to learn how he went from commercial real estate expert to a recurring national media commentator on Fox Business, Bloomberg, and beyond. Mitch reveals how he made himself valuable to producers, learned to speak to what audiences actually care about, and turned media exposure into greater credibility with investors and business relationshi...

Most warehouse owners don't think about security until after a break-in, stolen equipment, or vandalism. By then, the damage is already done. The real question isn't whether you have security cameras—it's whether anyone is actually watching when something happens. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Mendel Brafman, Founder of Guardian Vale, to discuss how live remote monitoring is helping warehouse owners, property managers, and developers prevent crime before it happens. They expl...

How do you build a successful real estate portfolio while working a demanding full-time job? In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Dr. Bharat Sangani, cardiologist and founder of Encore Enterprises, to discuss how he built a multi-billion-dollar real estate company while maintaining his medical career. Bharat shares why building the right team was critical to scaling, along with his approach to buying, managing, and exiting commercial real estate. He also explains how he mitigates ris...

Every commercial real estate investor has the same challenge: there are more deals to evaluate than there is time to analyze them. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich and David Fields, Co-Founder and CEO of Acquios, discuss how AI is helping investors and acquisitions teams underwrite properties faster, organize due diligence, and spend less time building spreadsheets so they can focus on making better investment decisions. If you're buying, selling, leasing, or investing in industrial real esta...

Most commercial real estate professionals think their content should constantly be about deals, listings, and market expertise. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Fly Jamerson to explore why the content that builds the strongest relationships may have nothing to do with real estate at all. They break down how humor, vulnerability, consistency, and simply being more human can help you stand out, stay top of mind, and create business opportunities over time.

Behind every commercial real estate deal is one thing that matters most: capital. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Peter Zabierek, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager at Easterly Funds, to discuss how REITs work, what public real estate markets are signaling about the future of commercial real estate, and why sectors like industrial, senior housing, and data centers continue to attract institutional capital. If you're an investor, property owner, broker, or business owner who wants to...

Getting a commercial real estate loan is about much more than credit scores and financial statements. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with commercial lending veteran Sanat Patel, Chief Lending Officer and Co-Founder of Avana Companies, to reveal what lenders really look for when evaluating borrowers. Learn how banks assess risk, why experience and character matter, and the biggest mistakes investors make when seeking financing. Whether you're buying, building, or investing in commerc...

Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS) is one of the fastest-growing and most misunderstood sectors of commercial real estate. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich explains what IOS is, why these properties are so valuable, and who actually uses them. You'll also learn how sale-leasebacks create value, why zoning can make or break a deal, and the five biggest lessons every IOS owner should know. Whether you're an investor, owner, or simply curious about industrial real estate, this episode will change th...

A government map update nearly derailed Andrea's latest Airbnb investment—and it happened after the property was already under contract. In this episode, Andrea shares how she went from buying $25,000 homes to building a luxury short-term rental portfolio, the due diligence lesson that saved her from a costly mistake, and why she believes successful Airbnb investors are really in the hospitality business. If you're investing in real estate, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the bigg...

Retail is far from slowing down. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Tori Nook, Founder and CEO of Anchor Retail, to discuss the retail trends shaping 2026, which tenants are actively expanding, and why concepts like Dutch Bros, Seven Brew, Human Bean, and Swig continue to open new locations despite economic uncertainty. They also explore what's driving today's retail market, from grocery-anchored centers and build-to-suit opportunities to the long-term effects of inflation, interes...

Most people think assisted living means large institutional facilities. But what if you could transform a single-family home into a boutique assisted living business that serves seniors while creating a unique real estate investment opportunity? In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Isabelle Guarino to discuss how residential assisted living works, why demand is growing rapidly, what investors should know before getting started, and how this overlooked strategy is helping entrepreneur...

Tired of feeling like the biggest commercial real estate firms are the only path to success? In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Tori Nook, Founder and CEO of Anchor Retail, to discuss why many top-producing brokers are choosing boutique firms, the power of building a personal brand, and how technology and marketing are reshaping commercial real estate. Whether you're an experienced broker, a new agent, or building your own commercial real estate business, you'll learn practical st...

How do top commercial real estate brokers consistently find clients and off-market deals? In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich interviews Rob Velez about the prospecting systems behind his business, including cold calling, LinkedIn outreach, email marketing, CoStar, virtual assistants, and social media. They also discuss why specialization leads to bigger opportunities, when brokers should stop chasing every deal, and how commercial real estate brokerage can become the best education for building l...

What makes one commercial real estate broker the first call while everyone else gets overlooked? In today's market, it's not just experience or market knowledge. It's trust, visibility, and consistently showing up before a client ever needs you. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich joins Jenn Quader, Founder and CEO of Smart Agency, to discuss how content, personal branding, and social media have transformed her commercial real estate business. Aviva shares the strategies that helped her build on...

What if your biggest client took eight years to win? In commercial real estate, the best relationships aren't built overnight. They're earned through patience, consistency, and years of creating value long before a deal ever happens. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Cory Zelnik, Founder of Zelnik & Company, to discuss what it really takes to build long-term client relationships in commercial real estate. Key Topics Discussed: Why it took eight years to win Panda Express as a c...

In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich is asked by Jenn Quader what's really happening in Denver's industrial real estate market and why today's environment represents a market reset rather than a market collapse. She explains why correctly priced properties are still leasing and selling, how the growing bid-ask gap is slowing transactions, and what investors, owners, and tenants should expect as the market continues to normalize. Key Topics Discussed Why Denver's industrial market is experiencing a...

Most property owners assume their insurance company is on their side after a fire, flood, or major property loss. But what if the person adjusting your claim isn't actually working for you? In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with public adjuster Andy Gurczak to unpack one of the least understood professions in commercial real estate and property ownership. Andy explains how public adjusters advocate exclusively for policyholders, why insurance claims are often delayed, denied, or under...

Most commercial real estate professionals still rely on referrals, cold calls, and old-school networking. Tyler Cauble built one of the largest commercial real estate audiences on YouTube—and turned that content into real deals, investors, consulting opportunities, and a national platform. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Tyler Cauble to talk about how YouTube changed his commercial real estate business, why brokers and investors should be building online authority, and how cont...

Most investors focus on finding the next deal. Far fewer realize that one tax decision can determine how much wealth they actually keep. After selling his first property, Dave learned that lesson the hard way when he discovered he owed $30,000 in taxes simply because he didn't know about 1031 exchanges. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich and Dave Foster break down how 1031 exchanges work, why they remain one of the most powerful wealth-building tools in real estate, and the costly mistakes inves...