In this special episode of The TreppWire Podcast, we are joined by Michael Comparato, President of FBRT and Senior Managing Director and Head of Commercial Real Estate at Benefit Street Partners. Michael shares why he believes the commercial real estate market is still in the eye of the storm and why a V-shaped recovery is unlikely. He explains why underwriting the story matters more than the spreadsheet, how negative leverage has reshaped credit and equity decisions, and which risks the market has yet to fully price in. Michael also highlights where opportunities may emerge and what disciplined investors should focus on as the market enters its next phase. We discuss Benefit Street’s approach to navigating today’s cycle, as well as how the firm has built a flexible platform across debt, equity, CMBS, and agency lending following the NewPoint Holdings JV LLC acquisition. Tune in now.
Episode Notes
- Background & Start in Commercial Real Estate (1:14)
- Benefit Street's Real Estate Growth (4:25)
- Newpoint Acquisition Strategy (8:01)
- Extend & Pretend Modifications (12:57)
- Commercial Real Estate Market Challenges (17:01)
- Differences in Asset Classes (18:33)
- Where the Opportunities Are (29:33)
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