Masters of Moments Why Florida is the Future of Luxury Real Estate - Isaac Toledano - Co-Founder of BH Group [2024]
In this episode of Masters of Moments, Jake Wurzak sits down with Isaac Toledano for a wide-ranging conversation on his entrepreneurial journey, development philosophy, and deep commitment to Florida real estate. Isaac reflects on his early start in business at age 15 in Israel, how his risk appetite has evolved, and why partnerships are at the center of his approach. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at marquee deals like Fisher Island and Naples, sharing his methods for evaluating sites, structuring deals, and maintaining a lean, hands-on operation across 31 active projects. Isaac also dives into the importance of location, timing, and branding in condo development, and why he believes Florida remains the best place to live, work, and invest.
We discuss:
- Why Isaac always partners with experienced developers instead of building teams himself
- The deal structure and timing behind his landmark $122M Fisher Island acquisition
- How he evaluates risk, and why he chooses to operate exclusively in Florida
- The value of hands-on involvement and simple deal terms in executing large transactions
- What buyers expect today in branded luxury condos and how developers can meet that standard
Isaac's primary focus centers on luxury residential properties, prime land holdings, office spaces, and mixed-use assets strategically positioned in prime locations. BH Group mitigates risk exposure by targeting large-scale, value-adding prospects within specialized markets while maximizing returns. BH Group has forged partnerships with leading real estate firms in the United States, successfully completing over 1,100 luxury residential units, with an additional 10,000 units in progress.
This episode originally released in August of 2024.
Links:
BH Group - https://www.bhgroupmiami.com/
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Topics:
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:02:33) - Isaac’s upbringing in Israel and career
(00:06:56) - Coming to the United States and the love for Florida
(00:12:38) - What are your partner’s perceptions of you?
(00:15:57) - How do you think about risk and diversification?
(00:17:39) - How involved are you in the deal process?
(00:20:11) - What have you learned about simplicity in complicated transactions?
(00:25:36) - A walkthrough of a condo development
(00:34:18) - Target returns & deal structures
(00:37:25) - How are you compensated for your work?
(00:39:57) - What area of Florida are you interested in investing in?
(00:42:59) - Timing construction with sales
(00:46:56) - Branding
(00:51:59) - The future of Florida
(01:00:09) - Isaac’s biggest mistake, marriage, and parenting
(01:02:41) - Negotiation
(01:05:04) - What is your favorite hotel?