How AI Is Changing Commercial Real Estate Leasing Forever
In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Liz Hart, President of Leasing at Newmark, to discuss how AI is reshaping commercial real estate leasing, negotiations, brokerage strategy, and the future of the industry.
Key Topics Discussed:
- How AI is changing commercial real estate leasing and brokerage
- Why brokers still matter in an AI-driven world
- How landlords can better position assets in today’s market
- Why move-in-ready space is outperforming outdated inventory
- The future of office leasing, Class B assets, and tenant demand
- How younger brokers are using LinkedIn, AI, and digital tools to win
- The role of resilience and adaptability in commercial real estate success
About the Guest
Liz Hart is the President of Leasing at Newmark, where she leads leasing strategy across one of the world’s largest commercial real estate firms.
About the Host
Aviva Sonenreich is the Managing Broker of Warehouse Hotline, one of Colorado’s leading industrial real estate brokerages specializing in warehouse and commercial properties. She is also the host of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, where she interviews top investors, brokers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders about commercial real estate, investing, leasing, AI, marketing, and business growth.
Subscribe
Subscribe to Commercial Real Estate Secrets on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube for weekly conversations with commercial real estate leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs.
00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,840
How many times when you know,
when you're a broker and you go
2
00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,400
into a meeting, do you start off
and you don't know that much
3
00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,600
about them or you sort of
Googled it on the way in the
4
00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:09,560
door?
You know, like, who am I meeting
5
00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:11,480
with and what's their priorities
again?
6
00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,920
And AI is amazing at prepping
people to be prepared to
7
00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,120
understand that business, ask
the right questions, which can
8
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,280
lead you to a much better real
estate conclusion than we could
9
00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:28,120
have previously.
Elephant in the room AI, what
10
00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:31,520
are we doing incorporating that
into leasing and where do you
11
00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:33,680
see it going in?
The oh, absolutely.
12
00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,640
The next, actually just a very
exciting moment for commercial
13
00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,360
real estate and a really
exciting moment for businesses
14
00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,600
that are willing to transform
themselves and people who are
15
00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,160
willing to lead into change.
And that's something that is
16
00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:46,600
part of our culture here at
Newmark, being that we're very
17
00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,880
entrepreneurial and always about
serving our clients in the best
18
00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:53,400
way that we possibly can.
So this just feels like a moment
19
00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,840
that's been coming for a long
time and we're really excited
20
00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,200
edit about it.
And if I was to breakdown where
21
00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:01,400
I think it's really impacting
the leasing environment, I would
22
00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,360
start by saying, you know, the
amazing ability to 1st
23
00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:06,160
understand your clients
business.
24
00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,560
How many times you know, when
you're a broker and you go into
25
00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:12,400
a meeting, do you start off and
you don't know that much about
26
00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,960
them or you sort of googled it
on the way in the door?
27
00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:18,200
You know, like what who am I
meeting with and what's their
28
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,040
priorities again?
And the foundation of every
29
00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,320
single great real estate
strategy is how do you connect
30
00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:27,160
that real estate strategy to the
business strategy to the people
31
00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,800
strategy.
And AI is amazing at prepping
32
00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:34,440
people to be prepared to
understand that business, ask
33
00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:37,640
the right questions, which can
lead you to a much better,
34
00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,560
better real estate conclusion
than we could have previously.
35
00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,800
And one that's different for
every business, right?
36
00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:44,680
Aviva?
It's not going to be the same if
37
00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:46,920
you're, you know, a financial
services business versus a
38
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:49,960
technology business, high growth
business versus one that's, you
39
00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,200
know, doing something else,
being plateauing a little bit
40
00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,040
more correcting, all of them are
different.
41
00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,240
And understanding that really
helps you drive that leasing
42
00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:57,680
strategy.
It's so funny.
43
00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:01,680
So I remember when I started in
the biz, I started at a small
44
00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,120
brokerage with like no training,
no nothing.
45
00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:09,280
And I remember like I got my
first deal going and I was like,
46
00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,160
Long story short, I had to
figure out how to write an LOI.
47
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:13,880
Oh yeah.
And it was like, well, you got
48
00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,920
to call this guy and he'll give
you the template and, and then
49
00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:18,680
you're like deciphering the
template.
50
00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:23,000
And now with the AI and and this
is a good thing and a bad thing,
51
00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,040
but now with AI, anybody could
just go on, say, write me an and
52
00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,760
LOI hear the terms.
And I'm not saying that's a good
53
00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,640
use case for LOI in our world
because generally it's not.
54
00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:35,560
And you should consult a
professional if you need a
55
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,760
commercial lease.
However, it's interesting what
56
00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:40,720
you said about understanding the
client.
57
00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:42,880
Oh, yeah.
So, yeah, you just touched on
58
00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,040
the data strategy though as
well, right?
59
00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,640
So now it's commoditized the
fact that anyone can prompt just
60
00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:51,080
an LOI, right?
So you can get it in 10 seconds
61
00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,960
flat like that can happen.
But you touched on it exactly.
62
00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,720
Why are you reaching out to a
commercial real estate expert to
63
00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,800
do it?
Well, it's because they know the
64
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,680
data that backs it.
And I'm not saying that the
65
00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,200
data, and you know, there's the
data can be right in the LLM's
66
00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,440
too to get it there.
But it's not at the asset level.
67
00:03:07,640 --> 00:03:10,880
It doesn't understand the asset
level specifics that you need to
68
00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,680
yet in order to choose which
space you're going to.
69
00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:15,560
It doesn't know how high the
ceilings are.
70
00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,120
It doesn't know the core depth.
It doesn't know the three other
71
00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,160
tenants and what they just had a
concession on.
72
00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:25,120
And so this really changes the
value that we deliver to be true
73
00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,400
negotiation.
Understand that business,
74
00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,480
putting you in the right
building, in the right location,
75
00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:31,920
but also how do you, you know,
drive that forward?
76
00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,200
It's really exciting when you
think about that, right?
77
00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,200
It's commoditizing some stuff,
but it's making the rest of us a
78
00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:38,960
lot better than we've ever been.
Right.
79
00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,320
And we're having a lot of
conversations, right, about AI
80
00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,040
as it pertains to our business.
And we're seeing some like, OK,
81
00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,720
it's very natural to talk about
the bad use cases, right?
82
00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,960
Owner a hack appraisal on
ChatGPT and gets one number.
83
00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,200
But then the reality of the it's
like you said, there is not
84
00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:00,760
actually this proprietary data
that is needed to carry a
85
00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,960
transaction through, right?
Like we're enhancing our service
86
00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:08,680
as tenant reps, leasing agents,
et cetera, as opposed to subbing
87
00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,800
it out with a robot and then
pushing the paper.
88
00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,760
So I suppose where I'm going
with that is humans.
89
00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,320
You know we live to see another
day here as commercial real
90
00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,880
estate professionals, as humans
and not as robots.
91
00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:21,920
Absolutely.
And also the relationship
92
00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:23,840
component, right.
So the relationship component
93
00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:26,840
still continues to matter.
But really brokers are the ones
94
00:04:26,840 --> 00:04:29,200
who have the most recent
feedback about what's happening
95
00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,960
in that market, the concept of
live data, what's happening
96
00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,080
right now, What was the bid ask
spread when someone gave you
97
00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,160
that asking rent, which could be
repeated by a large language
98
00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,400
model, Did they actually pay
that asking rent?
99
00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,080
What other sessions did they
get?
100
00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,880
But the great thing is, is for
great brokerages like Newmark,
101
00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,440
our ability to understand how to
negotiate and what are the other
102
00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,520
things, the data that we have to
drive our clients results, it
103
00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,600
compounds.
And how exciting is that, right?
104
00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,480
So the difference between the
great getting greater and the
105
00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,120
commoditized getting more
commoditized will continue to
106
00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,480
spread.
And that's really why in the age
107
00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,560
of AI you want to lean into
being the best that you can at
108
00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:07,480
your trade, right?
If you're if you're really
109
00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,520
leaning into having great deep
market knowledge and deep client
110
00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,160
experience, that's going to
transcend every market cycle.
111
00:05:13,280 --> 00:05:16,640
That gives me hope.
Glad to do.
112
00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:18,720
It yeah.
How do you see you all
113
00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,640
incorporating AI into the
business in the next year?
114
00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:24,200
2 years.
Five years.
115
00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,680
So I mean, I personally think in
that, you know, maybe 2 years of
116
00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,200
time is a little short, but by
five years, it will touch every
117
00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,160
aspect of our business.
And I think it's very likely
118
00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,160
that it'll touch every aspect of
our business by two years from
119
00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,640
now.
And so when I think about it and
120
00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,480
you know, I was a broker in
Silicon Valley in San Francisco
121
00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,680
for many years.
So I've been thinking about it
122
00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,480
for a long time, a lot longer
than the last six weeks.
123
00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,120
I've been thinking about it
since 2018 or so when, you know,
124
00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,480
open AI and those companies
first started emerging on the
125
00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,000
scene in San Francisco so long
ago.
126
00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,040
But to me, it's, it's just a
really core easy principle is
127
00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,760
you want to automate the stuff
that you don't need to pay
128
00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,160
attention to.
And that's incredibly important.
129
00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,160
And even when it's nerve
wracking because you think it's
130
00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,080
your secret thing, if you know
that it can be automated, you
131
00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,840
know, my view is you want to
take that out and you want to
132
00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:11,400
figure out a way to make that
better, better.
133
00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,120
And then you want to make sure
that you're amplifying people.
134
00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,360
But this is going to take a lot
of change management.
135
00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,080
And that's really going to be
the challenge for the industry
136
00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:22,880
and all businesses right now is
how quickly can your people
137
00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,240
evolve to a new reality where
some of the things we're used to
138
00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,960
doing to fill our time is going
to be automated and others you
139
00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,840
have the ability to amplify to a
new dimension.
140
00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:35,360
How do you solve different
problems, better problems?
141
00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,040
You know, how do you actually
create more value?
142
00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,360
And that challenge is not going
to be something where you can
143
00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,160
rest on what you did five years
ago.
144
00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,280
You need to lean forward into
what's possible now.
145
00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,880
And I think that's like, you
know, human nature doesn't want
146
00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,320
to adapt, right?
You have your cell phone.
147
00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,120
You know, we all loved our
Blackberries, and we didn't
148
00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:54,840
think there was anything on the
other side.
149
00:06:54,840 --> 00:06:57,520
And now we all love our iPhones.
And, like, you would never get
150
00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,800
something other than an iPhone.
I feel that internally with new
151
00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:03,880
technology, the average age of a
commercial real estate broker in
152
00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,240
America is 55 years old.
Really.
153
00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:07,640
Yes, it's.
Interesting.
154
00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:10,640
How do we?
I'm trying to think of a great
155
00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:15,920
way to say, so say you're a 7
figure broker and you're 55
156
00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,880
years old, you don't need AI
from your immediate
157
00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:22,400
understanding and you have that
physical like I don't want to
158
00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,080
incorporate anymore tech into
this.
159
00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,720
What would you say to that
broker when it comes to
160
00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,640
incorporating AI into the
business to encourage them?
161
00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:33,480
Well, I think I'd look back at
the last big change that we had
162
00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,320
and how we adopted to it.
So if I think about when I first
163
00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,840
started in the industry, I was a
very early LinkedIn adopter,
164
00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,120
very early in the social
networking phase because I
165
00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,600
started in 2005, the company was
brand new.
166
00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,040
It was in my home market and
that's how I actually, you know,
167
00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:51,120
met a majority of my clients
back then because I didn't have
168
00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,480
a network in commercial real
estate as a 22 year old entering
169
00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:56,320
the industry.
So what did I do?
170
00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,720
I got on LinkedIn, I crafted my
little messages and I sent it to
171
00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:01,480
people in a connection.
There weren't even messaging
172
00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:02,880
back then.
You just had to figure out how
173
00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,520
to get in front of people.
And that was a way I did it.
174
00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,480
I even, you know, I emailed
people, I cold called people,
175
00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,520
but I really leaned into that
social networking impact in my
176
00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,200
early career because that was
the wave when I was starting in
177
00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,600
the business.
And I recall a lot of people
178
00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,560
that I was working with in the
time that were more senior
179
00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,640
brokers who were like, you're
doing what on what network and
180
00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:22,120
you know, how is this going to
work?
181
00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,640
You're never going to get a
client from it, but we all know
182
00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,440
results, you know, they show.
And so if we look at what
183
00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:31,160
happened then and apply it to
now is I think it's a tremendous
184
00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:34,760
opportunity for anyone who
adopts AI, but particularly that
185
00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:38,400
next generation of brokers that
are entering the industry that
186
00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:41,880
can think differently.
How can we do it to solve my own
187
00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,880
generation's problems or the
generation that's coming right
188
00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:46,800
after me?
How is the workplace going to
189
00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,080
evolve because of this?
And what do I understand more
190
00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,520
natively because of where I'm
coming from it and
191
00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,640
simultaneously going back to the
people that are the average age
192
00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,000
that you talked about, I think
for them, overtime, they get it.
193
00:08:58,000 --> 00:08:59,880
Who's not on LinkedIn now,
right?
194
00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,840
It's like there's always this
technology curve of early
195
00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,960
adopters and laggards.
And my view is like, if the
196
00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,480
laggards are doing great and
they're producing, then they can
197
00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:10,520
take their time to adopt at the
period.
198
00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:12,560
That's right for them.
At some point it will happen.
199
00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:14,400
People told me they'd never be
on LinkedIn.
200
00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,000
Now there's people posting every
other week.
201
00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,680
It's just how it goes, right?
So just a matter of time and
202
00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:20,360
finding what's right for you.
That's funny.
203
00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:24,200
You're like, I see you, Todd,
you're in LinkedIn.
204
00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,920
No, it's you're preaching to the
choir when it comes to social
205
00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,080
media and integrating it into
our business.
206
00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,160
And I continue to encourage all
commercial real estate
207
00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,680
professionals to do so.
But let's let's let's get into
208
00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:39,000
it in 2026.
What is the differentiator
209
00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,960
between a property that's
leasing and a property that is
210
00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,720
not leasing?
Great question.
211
00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:47,840
And it's definitely a market in
which you're finding winners and
212
00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,200
everybody else isn't there.
So but you know who's winning
213
00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,720
might be evolving a little bit.
So I mean, look, we cover all of
214
00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,440
North America.
So there's a lot of nuance to
215
00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,360
that question, but I'll dive
into a couple specifics.
216
00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,360
So you know who's winning right
now?
217
00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,560
Trophy is continuing to win and
we have talked about about it.
218
00:10:04,560 --> 00:10:07,320
So, you know, we could talk
about it again for a very long
219
00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:08,760
time, but we know that Trophy is
winning.
220
00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:10,720
Why?
Because it's aligning to great
221
00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,720
talent strategies in great
cities that have great talent
222
00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,160
and great amenities.
And they're offering something
223
00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:17,960
that's driving that business
forward.
224
00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,600
People aren't just leasing that
space because, you know, they
225
00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,240
think it's going to do nothing
for their business.
226
00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,200
They consider the real estate a
performance enhancer that's
227
00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,160
really going to make that
revenue RIP, right.
228
00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,000
And their earnings RIP and they
they think it's something they
229
00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:30,880
should invest in because of
that.
230
00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,600
And so trophies, certainly, you
know, something there.
231
00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:36,480
The other winner, this is like,
this is my contrarian viewpoint,
232
00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,800
right, is in San Francisco at
the end of last year, end of
233
00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,000
2025, we saw something that will
surprise everybody because it's
234
00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,400
not what we've been talking
about for a while, which was
235
00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,000
that Class B started to pop.
And everyone's like, oh, we
236
00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,280
thought that there was winners
and then there was stuff that's
237
00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:54,320
getting converted.
And you know what else is there?
238
00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:56,200
There's nothing, right?
It's just that's going to sit
239
00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,080
there forever.
But we started to see it and
240
00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:01,000
what it was really about was a
very specific thing within Class
241
00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:02,880
B.
How ready is this space for
242
00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:04,160
occupancy?
Why?
243
00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:07,320
Because there's more new
businesses that are starting
244
00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:09,640
right now that are rethinking
themselves.
245
00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:11,560
Like this is a kind of
interesting stat for you.
246
00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:16,480
When we track our tenant demand
across the country, 72% of the
247
00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:20,440
tenants are looking for the same
or more space, but they're still
248
00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,560
looking on the average when we
look at completed deals at less
249
00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:26,280
space than pre pandemic.
So everyone's like, how do I
250
00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,000
rectify this growth with this
contraction?
251
00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,120
And what I think it's about is
business churn, right?
252
00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,720
So you've got bigger like
businesses they've been around a
253
00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,440
long time that are being
disrupted, they're shedding
254
00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,360
space, they're thinking
differently.
255
00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:42,360
But at the same moment in time,
you have these new businesses
256
00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,280
that are emerging in every
category.
257
00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,680
And it's not just San Francisco
and New York, it's across
258
00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:49,560
multiple different markets that
are emerging and saying we're
259
00:11:49,560 --> 00:11:52,440
starting to grow.
And I think going back to like,
260
00:11:52,680 --> 00:11:54,240
how do you win as a landlord on
that?
261
00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,000
You need to create great space.
That's certainly part of it or
262
00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,320
space that at least meets the
tenant demand in your local
263
00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:00,440
area.
You know, if you're in the
264
00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,800
suburbs, you might need to have
the same amenity packages in the
265
00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:04,840
city because it's a different
set.
266
00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:08,400
But you really that look of
like, is it ready right now?
267
00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,840
Can I move in?
And obviously we work spent an
268
00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,760
amazing contributor to the whole
entire real estate ecosystem by
269
00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,560
how quick their space is ready.
But landlords who are also
270
00:12:17,560 --> 00:12:19,800
competing on that dimension seem
to be winning as well.
271
00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,600
It's funny, I run a portfolio of
Small Bay Industrial in Denver,
272
00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,160
Co Denver's a unique market with
Small Bay because we were the
273
00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,160
first to recreationally legalize
cannabis.
274
00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:34,640
It there's a whole party for
Small Bay and you know, I'm
275
00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,160
going to table the history
lesson, but I have spent not
276
00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:43,280
personally, I'm signing checks
for more money to bring units
277
00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,040
into reality.
And by reality, I mean make them
278
00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:51,680
presentable than in the last
year 18 months than the previous
279
00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:55,560
ten combined.
Because pre pandemic it was you
280
00:12:55,560 --> 00:12:57,640
were just lucky to get a small
base base.
281
00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,720
Take it or leave it.
And post pandemic things are a
282
00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,840
little different and the tenant
expectations are a little
283
00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,840
different.
And you know, I used to rent
284
00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:10,000
horror stories with no bathroom
and nobody cared.
285
00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,160
And now it's like this isn't
getting leased.
286
00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,880
Like I'm not saying I'm not
asking, but it's like you said,
287
00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,960
like if it's not move in ready,
if the tenant can't walk in and
288
00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,160
imagine themselves in the space,
you got to another vacant month.
289
00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,720
And everybody knows.
I always say vacancy is the only
290
00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:26,600
four letter word in commercial
real estate.
291
00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:29,720
That's great, I haven't heard of
that before.
292
00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,920
So it's very interesting.
I'm seeing parallels in our
293
00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:38,080
market and clean up your spaces
landlords, it ain't 2018 anymore
294
00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:42,080
and invest into your asset and
it will feed you.
295
00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,640
It's interesting, I think 2026
is one of the first years in my
296
00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,600
history that I really feel like
retail, industrial and office
297
00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,920
have a lot of commonality
between them.
298
00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,560
You know, the big blocks are
getting leased very quickly.
299
00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,600
Like you said, moving ready
really matters, having more
300
00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:58,080
amenities.
Like there's all sorts of things
301
00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:01,120
that are parallels across all
three dimensions of the industry
302
00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,800
that it's not always the case.
Sometimes one's going up and
303
00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,240
one's going down, but they feel
very stabilized right now in the
304
00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:10,360
market with very consistent
trend lines, which is exciting
305
00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:13,600
for the real estate industry.
What do you see as the most
306
00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:17,280
common deal killer today?
I always think the most common
307
00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,960
deal killer is someone who
doesn't want to listen to the
308
00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,600
other your side.
So it is not a physical
309
00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,800
characteristic.
It is a characteristic of
310
00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:30,520
negotiation that we can all
improve, which is if you listen
311
00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:32,840
to what the other person's
looking for, you know, whether
312
00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,240
that's a landlord or a tenant,
you're going to be in a better
313
00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,000
position to try to solve for it
than if you just try to, you
314
00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,760
know, only do your way.
I know sometimes it's like, man,
315
00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,080
I don't even know if you really
wanted to do the deal in the 1st
316
00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,400
place, but OK, so you're in a
really interesting market.
317
00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:51,760
Well, you live and work in San
Francisco, hotbed for media
318
00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:56,600
commercial real estate mania.
Is Office space dying from San
319
00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:01,040
Francisco out?
No, no, no, no.
320
00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,320
Not from San Francisco, not from
New York, not from Dallas, not
321
00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,200
from anywhere in the country
right now.
322
00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,800
Is it dying?
I think it's being repurposed.
323
00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:14,400
And what was the kind of drivers
before the pandemic are
324
00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:16,840
certainly different now.
Although I promised myself I
325
00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,800
would stop saying the word
pandemic or return to office or
326
00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,240
any of these words anymore
because I think we buried them
327
00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,000
all in 2025.
You know, five years later, we
328
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,640
should certainly be in a new
chapter, you know, by now.
329
00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,520
But I think that the, the market
has repurposed itself and it's,
330
00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,200
it's actually created a moment
where businesses are aligning
331
00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,920
their real estate strategy and
business strategy even more than
332
00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,720
they ever did before.
So that's an opportunity for the
333
00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:42,360
sector.
But you know, if you're looking
334
00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,120
at space that hasn't moved in a
long time, whether that's
335
00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,760
retail, industrial or office,
it's a time to revisit what your
336
00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,440
value to the market is.
Because one trend we're seeing
337
00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,320
too is what is sitting.
If it sits for a certain period
338
00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,120
of time without leasing, it sits
a long time.
339
00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,080
Like stuff can sit for a while
if you're not thinking about how
340
00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:01,800
it's going to meet the
businesses needs now.
341
00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,240
And those landlords are going to
have a bad time.
342
00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:09,440
So Liz, this is just now a
personal question that came up.
343
00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:11,280
You're the director of leasing
at Newmark.
344
00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,120
If you had to choose and you
only had two doors to choose,
345
00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:19,720
tenant Rep or repping the
landlord, which would you choose
346
00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:21,800
and why?
This is an interesting one and
347
00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,160
pretty hard for me to answer
because as you know, I did both.
348
00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,920
So I'm going to answer it more
nuanced, which is I think when
349
00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,720
you're early in your career,
it's great to choose tenant Rep
350
00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:33,680
because it really helps you
learn the market and learn the
351
00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,080
businesses and tour every single
market.
352
00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:40,480
But then as you mature in your
career, I like the landlord side
353
00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,000
too, because then you understand
the market well and it's about
354
00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,920
how do you really attract users?
But your deep experience can
355
00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:48,800
help you do that.
So I mean, there's really no
356
00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,480
right answer here, but that's my
my nuanced way of saying I like
357
00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:53,160
both.
But maybe if I had to choose,
358
00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,920
I'd segment it by when you're
when you are in your career.
359
00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,960
Fair.
I think that that aligns with
360
00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,280
like the very natural
progression of learning the
361
00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,040
business, right?
Everybody just wants to go in,
362
00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:08,040
hit the phones and sell
buildings, but what makes those
363
00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:10,520
buildings run the leases within
that?
364
00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,599
And we need to understand how
those work in order to sell
365
00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:15,880
them.
Yes, yes, absolutely.
366
00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,240
I mean, leasing is really the
foundation of the real estate
367
00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:19,599
industry, right?
Because if you don't have a
368
00:17:19,599 --> 00:17:21,240
space, then how do you create
the value?
369
00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,040
It's that combination of those
two people coming together or
370
00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:26,920
two companies coming together,
That's where that value creation
371
00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,960
moment is.
So if you're a new broker, don't
372
00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:31,920
count out leasing.
Honestly, I love leasing.
373
00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:36,280
I think if you're a senior
broker, I love leasing, but I'm
374
00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:40,000
just a warehouse peddler.
Liz, what are the biggest
375
00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:43,720
opportunities right now for
owners and investors in
376
00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,960
commercial real estate?
Well, it depends if the owner
377
00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,120
investor already has their
property or if they're trying to
378
00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:52,120
buy new properties.
So we'll kind of break it down
379
00:17:52,120 --> 00:17:54,680
into those two.
If you already have your
380
00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,200
property, then I think the
biggest opportunity is to, as
381
00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,320
we've said, understand the
tenant demand in the market and
382
00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,080
what those tenants really
looking for and then position
383
00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:07,080
your asset to meet it.
So as an example, if you're in a
384
00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,440
high growth tech market where
things are moving really
385
00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,640
quickly, you want to get your
space ready to lease, right?
386
00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,720
You want to be probably a little
more flexible on term or give
387
00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,400
them expansion options because
that's going to facilitate their
388
00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:20,120
growth.
But if you're in a trophy
389
00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:23,000
building in New York, that might
not be the best strategy.
390
00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,840
You know, you might want to make
sure that it's available to
391
00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,400
condition that they can they can
customize it for their own use.
392
00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,040
And if you're investing in real
estate and you're looking for
393
00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:34,520
where to expand and you know,
similar yet slightly different
394
00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,520
answer, which is look at where
those demand trends are, Look at
395
00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,840
the industry trends, you know
what's going on.
396
00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,120
Like, you know, look at the
advanced manufacturing trend in
397
00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:45,000
America right now.
How many companies are coming
398
00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,560
through American dynamism right
now and building Like that's a
399
00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:50,320
really compelling, you know,
segment.
400
00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:52,760
And I know we've talked about
data centers a lot in the real
401
00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,320
estate industry, but you know
what's coming after that?
402
00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:57,880
What's the adjacencies to that
big boom?
403
00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:01,280
AI companies is certainly one of
them as well, where you can kind
404
00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:02,800
of position your asset for
success.
405
00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,000
That was good.
That was very, very good.
406
00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,160
You're smart.
I am enjoying talking to you
407
00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:09,640
very much.
You're very intelligent.
408
00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,480
It's nice to talk to.
Anytime.
409
00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:14,880
So before I let you go, we
always end with the same
410
00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,600
question.
Liz, what is your commercial
411
00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,800
real estate secret?
So my commercial real estate
412
00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:26,000
secret is to always be as
resilient as humanly possible.
413
00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,160
And I think this is something
that you learn in different
414
00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,040
chapters in your life.
You know, I had a situation when
415
00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,280
I was a relatively younger
broker.
416
00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:36,640
I think I was four or five years
in the industry and I was
417
00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,040
pitching my first really big
deal and it was with a CEO on
418
00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,320
the other side of the tour.
So we're not talking a small 1.
419
00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,560
You know, we were talking, this
is probably my largest client
420
00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,680
ever at the time.
And I'm pitching him on the
421
00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,680
property and I'm telling him
everything about it.
422
00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,200
And I'm telling him about the
demand in the market and why he
423
00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,640
needs to buy this asset so we
can have our tenant that we
424
00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:55,920
already had leased it.
Like this is what we need to do.
425
00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,000
And as I'm doing it, a bird
literally poops on my face.
426
00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,720
Like, you can't take this back.
Like, and you know, it's kind of
427
00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:05,760
a silly story, but I think it's
very indicative of the real
428
00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:08,920
estate market that sometimes
when you are going for it and
429
00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:12,600
gunning for it and you know that
you're right that things can go
430
00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,760
a little awry.
And that's a funny slash kind of
431
00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:17,600
stinky awry.
But you know, it's a funny
432
00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:19,680
story, but it shows.
What did I do?
433
00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,080
I was like, OK, do you have
time?
434
00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:22,440
If I go to the bathroom, he's
like, not really.
435
00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:24,480
I was like, I'll wipe it off.
I'm going to keep going.
436
00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:28,960
He ended up buying that property
and we did a 300,000 square foot
437
00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:30,400
lease on it less than six months
later.
438
00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,440
So when you're convicted in the
market, you're convicted.
439
00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:37,080
So be resilient when things
don't go well, but also just be
440
00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,520
convicted.
Well, if there is ever a
441
00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:43,800
question if getting pooped on by
a bird was lucky, it sounds like
442
00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:46,640
that was it is and that was your
lucky day.
443
00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:51,000
It was my lucky day.
Wow, that's no, I agree it.
444
00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:53,760
I mean, if you're not resilient,
this is not the business for
445
00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,080
you.
But if you can get over that
446
00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,440
emotional hurdle of getting
kicked in the teeth, you know,
447
00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:04,760
at 8:00 AM incessantly, then you
can see amazing success and some
448
00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:06,480
might even enjoy it.
So.
449
00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:09,160
Yes.
I don't know if I've ever
450
00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,040
enjoyed getting kicked to the
teeth, but I have become more
451
00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:12,600
resilient.