Episodes

How do commercial real estate owners simplify their portfolios, reduce risk, and protect generational wealth as they get older? In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Denver commercial real estate broker Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Rich Vaaler, founder of Vaaler CRE, to discuss how long-time property owners can transition from management-heavy assets into single-tenant net lease investments using smart 1031 exchange strategies. Rich shares how many families unintentionally leave ...

Commercial real estate is flooded with tech promises—but very little of it actually helps brokers close better deals. In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Matthew Smith of RealNex to talk about where technology and AI genuinely add value in commercial real estate—and where they fall flat. Matt shares how top brokers use systems, data ownership, and process to create leverage, why AI should support judgment (not replace it), and how slowing down upfro...

What happens to land and development when costs spike, financing tightens, and projects stop penciling? In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Monica Cataluna, CCIM, a Florida-based land broker and founder of Kores Realty, to break down what’s really happening in land, development, and housing across Florida. Monica explains why many developers are currently on pause, how land banking is replacing shovel-ready development, and why this moment may favor...

What does it really take to build a real estate career that lasts—especially in the most competitive market in the world? In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Nile Lundgren, star of Netflix’s Owning Manhattan, to break down the long game behind his success. Nile shares how he built a durable book of business long before television, why real relationships outperform shortcuts, and how systems, consistency, and market mastery compound over time. What Y...

What makes a client choose you again—and refer you—after the deal closes? In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Marcy Moneypenny, a 35-year commercial real estate veteran and founder of the Moneypenny Collective, to unpack what client experience really means in commercial real estate today. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How top producers build a repeatable commercial real estate client experience Why great client management starts with listening—n...

The Southern California industrial market has changed—fast. Rents surged, new supply hit the market, and now owners and brokers are dealing with a very real reset. In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Allen C. Buchanan to talk through what’s happening in the Inland Empire and across SoCal industrial. Allen shares what the numbers are actually saying, what deal terms look like today, and how brokers can guide owners when expectations are stuck in 2023...

What does it take to build a repeatable commercial real estate content strategy that drives real business—not just likes? In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with James Bean to talk about branding, social media strategy, and why most commercial real estate professionals post the wrong kind of content. They cover how to position yourself as the obvious expert, why consistency beats “perfect,” and how content can create inbound deal flow—especially for industrial real estate , 1031 exchang...

Distress is building faster than most investors realize — and 2025–2026 will be the biggest transfer of CRE wealth since the Great Financial Crisis. This episode is Part 2 of Aviva Sonenreich’s extended conversation with Michael Cohen , continuing the deep dive into CMBS distress , why Denver is becoming one of the most troubled MSAs in the country, and how investors can prepare for the wave of maturities ahead. Highlights: The real reasons Class A assets are stabilizing while Class B properties...

Billions in CMBS loans are coming due in 2026 — and most borrowers still don’t understand how the system really works. In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Michael Cohen , Managing Principal at Brighton Capital Advisors, to break down how CMBS trusts, servicers, and bondholders interact — and what borrowers must do to protect their equity. Highlights: How CMBS trusts actually function (and who really owns your loan) Why calling your servicer is like dialing 1-800-MORTGAGE The biggest...

What would a disciplined commercial real estate investor buy in Colorado right now? In this solo episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich breaks down three industrial properties she believes represent the best combination of simplicity, tenant quality, and long-term upside in today’s market. She compares industrial vs multifamily ownership, explains why warehouses reduce operational risk, and walks through real examples tied to defense tech, advanced manufacturing, and logisti...