Miami DealMakers

In this powerful and wide-ranging interview, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez sits down with Omar Morales to reflect on the city’s incredible transformation—from the violent 1980s to becoming one of the most desirable cities in the world. Mayor Suarez shares stories about his upbringing in Miami, his father’s political legacy, and how his administration has tackled crime, homelessness, and housing affordability while embracing innovation in tech, crypto, and AI. He opens up about the challenges of leadership, the city’s booming real estate market, and why billionaires and global investors are choosing Miami. Whether you’re an investor, policymaker, or simply someone fascinated by Miami’s rise, this conversation dives deep into the data, the mindset, and the vision driving the Magic City forward.====================Noise complaints are one of the top issues facing condo and hotel developers. Pliteq engineered the GenieMat to provide effective sound isolation of floors and walls in units for quiet living and restful sleep. As a designer, you know high quality amenity spaces set your project apart but they shouldn’t come at the cost of comfort. Pliteq's products isolate the noise from gyms, pools and even my favourite, pickleball courts, so residents can fully enjoy their homes. Visit https://www.pliteq.com/ today and build quieter buildings. ====================Follow us on social mediaMDM InstagramMDM LinkedInOmar Morales InstagramOmar Morales LinkedInOmar Morales YouTubeOmar Morales TikTok

In this episode, Omar sits down with legendary Miami developer Carlos Rosso to talk about his journey from architect in Argentina to becoming one of the city’s most influential builders. Carlos shares how he went from measuring sewer pipes to launching a $2 billion master-planned community in the heart of Midtown Miami.

Michael Simkins, President and CEO of Lion Development Group, is at the forefront of one of Miami’s most transformative real estate ventures. Through District 11, featuring the iconic E11EVEN Hotel & Residences and E11EVEN Beyond, Simkins is reimagining a once-overlooked 10-acre site in Park West into a vibrant 24-hour destination. This global, connected “live-work-play” environment is set to be a hub for entertainment, culture, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Beyond his role at Lion Development Group, Mr. Simkins is a key player at E11EVEN Partners, the visionary team behind the renowned E11EVEN Miami brand, which includes a nightclub, hotel, residences, vodka line, and audio equipment. His strategic insight has propelled the brand beyond hospitality, cementing its status as a premier lifestyle brand. ====================Follow Omar on social media:Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/OmarMora1es⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omarmora1es/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://miamimultifamily.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@omarmora1es

Kobi Karp is the Founder and Principal of Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design, Inc (KKAID). Kobi Karp founded the firm in 1996 and has been the Principal-in-Charge of design since that time. KKAID is a full-service architectural and interior design firm providing a vast array of services, ranging from the design of large-scale, high-rise condominium and hospitality projects to intimate, small-scale low-rise residential and commercial structures.====================Follow Omar on social media:Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/OmarMora1es⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omarmora1es/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://miamimultifamily.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@omarmora1es

Partner of BridgeInvest since 2013. Jon oversees loan origination, underwriting and structuring at the firm in addition to oversight of the firm’s existing portfolio. In his role, Jon led the firm’s expansion into a nationwide debt platform with capabilities across the development and bridge lifecycles of transactions. While at BridgeInvest, Jon has closed over $2 billion of commercial real estate loans. Prior to BridgeInvest, Jon focused on acquisitions with Resource Real Estate (acquired by Blackstone) where he was charged with the deployment of a $1 billion private REIT focused on the acquisition and work-out of non-performing commercial real estate and real estate related debt throughout the United States. Jon is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in both finance and real estate.====================0:00 - Trailer0:28 - What does BridgeInvest do?6:38 - Jon’s journey into real estate13:07 - Buying, selling, and financing notes17:49 - How Jon landed at BridgeInvest25:24 - Scaling and building BridgeInvest30:02 - Biggest loan: Wake Biscayne Bay38:12 - Current market conditions50:52 - Insights for loans that are struggling55:49 - Advice for young professionals59:33 - Closing thoughts on Miami====================Follow Omar on social media:Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/OmarMora1es⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omarmora1es/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://miamimultifamily.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@omarmora1es

Sydne Garchik, the founder of MRK Partners and an expert in affordable housing, shares her inspiring journey in real estate. She discusses the hurdles women face in the industry and highlights her firm’s creation of over 6,000 affordable units. Sydne dives into the complexities of financing these projects and underscores the importance of local partnerships. Balancing motherhood and her career, she emphasizes female empowerment and community engagement, showcasing how strategic investments can reshape lives and communities.

Matt Ferrari is the Co-Chief Investment Officer and Head of Acquisitions nationally at TruAmerica Multifamily while also serving on TruAmerica’s Investment Committee. Since joining TruAmerica in 2016 to lead the firm’s investment efforts on the East Coast, Matt has played a meaningful role in TruAmerica’s phenomenal growth. Matt has been a driving force in TruAmerica’s national expansion opening new investment markets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Texas and the Ohio River Valley. Matt currently manages the acquisitions team and has acquired $10 billion in multifamily properties and over 47,000 units during his tenure. In addition, Matt oversees operations and asset management for TruAmerica’s Eastern and Central United States portfolio, comprising 22,000 apartments. ==================== 0:00 - Trailer 0:32 - Matt’s background into real estate 19:02 - Transition from acquisitions to investment 22:00 - What motivated Matt’s transition 29:37 - Over $10B in MultiFamily investments 44:17 - Current real estate market across the country 47:07 - Markets excited about in 2025 57:55 - Advice to young professionals 1:03:19 - Matt’s passion for climbing mountains 1:14:34 - Matt’s experience in Miami ==================== Follow Omar on social media: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/OmarMora1es⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omarmora1es/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://miamimultifamily.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@omarmora1es

Jay Massirman, Founder and CEO of Rivergate Companies, transitioned from being a top broker at CBRE to building a real estate holding company. He shares insights on his journey, discussing his first significant deal and the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis. Jay emphasizes the importance of partnerships, scaling a business, and the emotional toll of entrepreneurship. He also offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting motivation and adaptability as crucial elements for success in the competitive real estate landscape.

Omar Morales has been part of selling $3 billion in real estate in South Florida. In this conversation, Pomp and Omar discuss the math behind deals, the biggest players in the space, and why South Florida continues to be a hot spot for individuals and businesses moving down. ==================== This conversation was recorded December 2022. ==================== Follow Omar on social media: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/OmarMora1es⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omarmora1es/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://miamimultifamily.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@omarmora1es

Robert Rivani is an entrepreneur, retail entertainment innovator and real estate visionary. With a remarkable journey marked by buying and selling over $750 million in real estate deals without a single partner or investor. Rivani's visionary leadership as President of Black Lion extends nationwide, from the prestigious shores of Malibu to the vibrant city of Miami. Beyond real estate, he has reimagined hospitality spaces and has brought on as tenants esteemed brands like Catch, Delilah, Gaia, Amara at Paraiso, Rosa Negra, and more to Miami. ==================== 0:00 - Trailer 0:29 - Robert’s background into real estate 1:53 - First real estate deal and scaling 6:02 - When did hair and beard come into play? 6:40 - First real estate deal in South Florida 10:04 - First higher F&B deal 12:27 - Walking though the Gekko deal 16:25 - Social media culture 16:54 - Residential house in California 18:19 - Miami real estate prices 22:29 - Building “class X” office: Rivani 29:59 - “Class X” office vision and timeline 37:49 - Macro economic backdrop ==================== Follow Omar on social media: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/OmarMora1es⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omarmora1es/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://miamimultifamily.ck.page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@omarmora1es