

Commercial Real Estate Secrets
Aviva Sonenreich
Welcome to Commercial Real Estate Secrets, hosted by Aviva Sonenreich, a seasoned commercial real estate owner, broker, and content creator. On this podcast, you'll hear real stories from real people who have created real success in commercial real estate. Join us each week to gain invaluable insights and practical steps you can take to achieve your dreams of becoming a successful commercial real estate investor, agent, or broker.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 1, 2025 • 21min
This One Prospecting Shift Will Change Your CRE Business
Aviva Sonenreich sits down with Kusiima Boswell, co-founder of Terrakotta, the AI prospecting platform helping commercial real estate professionals turn cold calls into real conversations. They discuss how Terrakotta is reshaping prospecting with AI-powered dialing, data validation, and CRM automation, why consistency is the true secret to success in CRE, and what the future of AI-driven dealmaking could look like. If you’re serious about commercial real estate and scaling your business with smarter tools, this episode is a must-listen.Connect with Kusiima: Website | LinkedIn Liked this episode? Share it with a friend.Love the show? Leave us a 5-star review! Even a short sentence helps us keep bringing you the content you love.Ready to sell or lease a warehouse? Visit warehousehotline.com to get started. Connect with Aviva: Website TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Sep 24, 2025 • 19min
The One Shift That Will Redefine Office Buildings Forever
In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva sits down with Jonathan Iger, CEO of Sage, to talk about legacy, branding, and the future of office buildings. They explore Jonathan’s journey from carrying forward his family’s 100-year-old real estate company to rebranding it into a modern, experience-driven brand, while also digging into how design, service, and consistency can redefine what it means to work in an office. A rare conversation bridging tradition and innovation in commercial real estate. Connect with Jonathan: Website | LinkedIn Liked this episode? Share it with a friend.Love the show? Leave us a 5-star review! Even a short sentence helps us keep bringing you the content you love.Ready to sell or lease a warehouse? Visit warehousehotline.com to get started. Connect with Aviva: Website TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Sep 17, 2025 • 23min
The New Rules of Lending in 2025
I recently sat down with Ira Zlotowitz, founder and CEO of GParency, for a conversation that completely reimagines what mortgage brokerage should look like in 2025.We talked about why most commercial real estate owners aren’t getting the best financing, and how Ira is flipping the industry model on its head—with flat fees, transparent data, and a Bloomberg-style app that’s free for everyone.Here’s what we get into:Why Ira only charges $4,500—and how it’s disrupting the brokerage commission modelWhat it means to be the “Netflix of commercial real estate financing”How GParency’s new app gives CRE owners a Bloomberg Terminal experienceThe big problem with how most investors track their portfolioWhat’s really going on with lending in 2025—and why deals are still getting doneWhy the next brokerage shakeup will come from individuals, not big brandsTwo powerful lessons Ira has learned from watching GPs and LPs win (or fail)If you’re an owner, broker, investor, or GP who wants to understand where the industry is heading and how to play the long game smarter—this one’s worth your time. Let’s get into it. 👇Connect with Ira: Website | Linkedin | +1 917-597-2197 | iraz@gparency.com Liked this episode? Share it with a friend.Love the show? Leave us a 5-star review! Even a short sentence helps us keep bringing you the content you love.Ready to sell or lease a warehouse? Visit warehousehotline.com to get started. Connect with Aviva: Website TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Sep 10, 2025 • 13min
Real Estate for Beginners: 3 Steps to Get Started
In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich breaks down the three essential steps to starting a real estate career that lasts. From passing your licensing exam, to creating a financial safety net, to finding mentorship that accelerates your growth, she shares the exact blueprint she wishes she had on day one. Plus, Aviva reveals the social media hack that could save you years in building your reputation and pipeline. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building a real estate career with real momentum, this episode is for you. Liked this episode? Share it with a friend.Love the show? Leave us a 5-star review! Even a short sentence helps us keep bringing you the content you love.Ready to sell or lease a warehouse? Visit warehousehotline.com to get started. Connect with Aviva: Website TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Sep 3, 2025 • 27min
Everything You Need to Know About DSTs (Delaware Statutory Trusts)
This week on Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with Ben Carmona, Managing Partner at Perch Wealth, to talk about one of the most underutilized and misunderstood tools in commercial real estate: the Delaware Statutory Trust (DST).If you’re working with aging landlords, high-equity portfolios, or owners tired of tenant calls—this episode is a must-listen.Ben breaks down 1031 exchanges and DSTs in plain language, explains how baby boomers are trading toilets for tax deferral, and shares why “Swap ‘til you drop” isn’t just a clever phrase—it’s a generational wealth strategy.💡 Episode Highlights✅ What is a 1031 Exchange—and how to explain it to a 5th grader✅ The power of "Swap ‘til You Drop" for generational wealth planning✅ What makes an investor “accredited” (and why it matters)✅ DSTs explained: what they are, how they work, and why they’re IRS-approved✅ Passive income, stepped-up basis, and bonus depreciation explained✅ What product types are performing best in DSTs today (hint: not retail)✅ How to use DSTs as a backup plan when your 1031 deal falls throughConnect with Ben Carmona: https://perchwealth.com/📱 Direct: 818-269-4972 Liked this episode? Share it with a friend.Love the show? Leave us a 5-star review! Even a short sentence helps us keep bringing you the content you love.Ready to sell or lease a warehouse? Visit warehousehotline.com to get started. Connect with Aviva: Website TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Aug 27, 2025 • 22min
The Free CRE Tool You’re Probably Ignoring (and Why It’s Costing You Deals)
This week on Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I brought James Milner, CCIM back for round two—because we hit a nerve last time: overpriced software in commercial real estate.James runs Appalachian Commercial Real Estate out of Boone, North Carolina, and today we dig into something that might sound boring on the surface… but is game-changing if you’re in this business:👉 How to use public data—like your county assessor’s website, register of deeds, and GIS tools—to compete (and win) without dropping $10K+ a year on subscriptions.🔍 In This Episode, We Cover:The free data James pulls from public records—and how he turns it into pricing powerWhy your 2022 appraisal is useless in 2025 (and how to explain that to clients)How GIS tools and county data help with assemblage, due diligence, and valuationThe 25–30% market correction we’re both seeing—and why sellers are still catching upHow James uses software like Valcre to centralize and make sense of it allA realistic look at foreclosures, rate hikes, and where the market’s heading next🧠 This week's Commercial Real Estate Secret:Follow up.We’re all guilty of closing a deal and then forgetting the people behind it. James challenges us to reconnect with a client who had a meaningful impact on your career. Not to pitch—just to say hi. It goes further than you think.📞 Ready to ditch outdated data and start winning smarter?🔗 Connect with James: Website | TikTok | X Liked this episode? Share it with a friend.Love the show? Leave us a 5-star review! Even a short sentence helps us keep bringing you the content you love.Ready to sell or lease a warehouse? Visit warehousehotline.com to get started. Connect with Aviva: Website TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Aug 20, 2025 • 22min
Posting Pays Off: What Every Broker Should Know About Social Media
This week on Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I sit down with my friend James Milner, CCIM, a commercial real estate broker out of North Carolina with Appalachian CRE.James and I met nearly two years ago at the CREI Summit, and we’ve stayed connected ever since. In this episode, we catch up on his CRE journey—from stepping into the content game on TikTok to earning his first six-figure commission after years of consistency.🔑 What We Cover:How James started creating content (and editing everything in TikTok)Why authenticity + consistency still win in commercial real estate marketingWhy you don’t need a thousand relationships—just the right onesHow the industrial market is holding strong in North CarolinaWhat we’re both seeing in the market: widening bid/ask gaps, picky buyers, and pricing that doesn’t reflect today’s ratesThe secret James uses to stay ahead of local development trends (spoiler: it’s free and anyone can do it)💡 This Week’s Tip:If you’re using CoStar, start searching under-contract properties—not just active listings. That little move led me to a deal I just sent out for signature. Hack your tools.🤫 James’s CRE Secret:Public records. From development intel to transaction data, James walks through how he uses public records as one of the most underutilized tools in our industry.Connect with James: Linkedin | X 🎧 Listen now and let us know your biggest takeaway! Liked this episode? Share it with a friend.Love the show? Leave us a 5-star review! Even a short sentence helps us keep bringing you the content you love.Ready to sell or lease a warehouse? Visit warehousehotline.com to get started. Connect with Aviva: Website TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Aug 13, 2025 • 8min
Is Office Space Dead? What William H. Macy Noticed at Gary Vee’s Headquarters
This week on Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I’m telling you a wild story that challenged everything I thought I knew about office space in 2025.We’ve all heard the narrative—“office is dead.” I work from home. I love working from home. And I’ve toured countless empty, lifeless offices. But then something happened that completely changed my perspective.I had the chance to produce a podcast featuring Gary Vaynerchuk and William H. Macy—yes, that William H. Macy. We recorded it inside Gary’s 60,000 SF VaynerX headquarters at Hudson Yards in NYC… and let me tell you, I’ve never felt energy like that in an office. Not just full—it was buzzing.This episode is a reflection on that experience—and a reminder that office isn’t dead. Bad culture is.🔑 What I Talk About:Why I thought office was dying—until I stepped into VaynerXWhat it was like walking into Hudson Yards with William H. MacyThe subtle (but powerful) thing Gary Vee is doing rightWhat thriving offices have that empty ones don’tWhy it all starts at the top🏢 Why It Matters:I’ve toured a lot of offices in Denver lately—and most of them feel empty and uninspired. But when you see one that’s alive, it changes everything. This episode is for the business owners, landlords, and leaders who want to build workplaces people actually want to show up to.💬 Let’s Talk:Have you been to an office lately that actually felt alive? I’d love to hear your take. Shoot me a message or tag me with your thoughts using #CommercialRealEstateSecrets. Liked this episode? Share it with a friend.Love the show? Leave us a 5-star review! Even a short sentence helps us keep bringing you the content you love.Ready to sell or lease a warehouse? Visit warehousehotline.com to get started. Connect with Aviva: Website TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Aug 12, 2025 • 28min
Recession-Proof Real Estate, Downside Risk & the Power of Holding
When interest rates are rising, deals are falling through, and uncertainty dominates the headlines—what’s the smartest way to invest in commercial real estate?In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, I’m joined again by real estate attorney and investor Steven Spierer to unpack how seasoned investors navigate volatility without losing their edge. With over 3,000 multifamily units under management and nearly five decades of legal experience, Steven shares what actually works when the market’s unpredictable.We talk about patience, strategy, and why the most powerful investing move is often doing… nothing at all.What You’ll Learn:Why multifamily is more recession-resistant than other CRE asset classesThe case for C-Class industrial buildings (and why they’re undervalued)How interest rates, tariffs, and policy shifts are reshaping 2025Why flipping can be riskier than it looksThe power of buy & hold (plus a $6,250 duplex story you won’t forget)The mindset that helps investors survive uncertainty—and come out aheadWhether you're sitting on the sidelines or trying to make your next move, this episode is packed with timeless perspective and market-savvy strategy.💬 Listen To Steven on TalkRadio1.com Liked this episode? Share it with a friend.Love the show? Leave us a 5-star review! Even a short sentence helps us keep bringing you the content you love.Ready to sell or lease a warehouse? Visit warehousehotline.com to get started. Connect with Aviva: Website TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

Aug 6, 2025 • 29min
Buying Smarter: What a Real Estate Attorney Wants You to Know
In this special crossover episode, I sit down with Steven Spierer—real estate attorney, investor, and host of TalkRadio1.com—for a wide-ranging conversation on the legal and strategic fundamentals behind real estate investing.Steven has been practicing law and investing in real estate for 47 years. In this episode, we explore the biggest pitfalls he’s seen investors make—and the timeless principles that separate smart operators from those who lose big.This is Part 1 of our conversation.Topics We Cover:The #1 legal mistake real estate investors make (and how to avoid it)Why overleveraging—even with strong tenants—can lead to foreclosureHow to assess risk when buying cannabis-occupied or single-use buildingsThe “Chewy effect” and why industrial real estate became hot post-2020Credit tenants vs. mom-and-pops: which is more reliable during downturns?This episode is packed with timeless advice and real-world stories from someone who's seen the full arc of market cycles—and lived to tell the tale.💬 Listen To Steven on TalkRadio1.com Liked this episode? Share it with a friend.Love the show? Leave us a 5-star review! Even a short sentence helps us keep bringing you the content you love.Ready to sell or lease a warehouse? Visit warehousehotline.com to get started. Connect with Aviva: Website TikTok Instagram Facebook LinkedIn