The Best Ever CRE Show

Matt Faircloth interviews Christian Macellari, Head of Acquisitions and CIO at RSN Property Group, about how their team has grown more than 20% in the past 15–16 months by staying disciplined, data-driven, and relentless in sourcing opportunities. Christian explains how RSN underwrites roughly 400 deals a year to close just a few, why top-down market conviction matters before drilling into individual assets, and how their team blends off-market outreach, broker relationships, and distressed-debt conversations to secure deals. He also breaks down RSN’s buy box, when they’ll consider heavy-lift opportunities, and why Chicago is the market he “loves to hate.” Christian and Matt wrap by discussing JV/co-GP equity structures and how operators can realistically partner with larger institutional groups. Christian MacellariCurrent role: Chief Investment Officer & Head of Acquisitions, RSN Property GroupBased in: (Not explicitly stated in transcript)Say hi to them at: https://rsnpropertygroup.com | LinkedIn Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders’ Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It’s free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pascal Wagner dives into the IRS's three income categorizations: active, portfolio, and passive. He highlights common pitfalls, such as the misconception that real estate depreciation offsets stock market gains. A key takeaway is the rule that losses must match income types. He also discusses exceptions for high earners, like oil and gas and opportunity zones. By shifting income to passive categories, investors can enhance tax efficiency. Ultimately, Pascal encourages aligning investments with tax strategies rather than simply seeking high returns.

Jeremy Barker, founder and CEO of Murphy Door Inc., transformed from a firefighter to a nine-figure commercial real estate investor. He shares his journey through bankruptcies and living in a truck, which reshaped his understanding of money and risk. Jeremy discusses value-adding strategies for nearly vacant industrial properties and ventures into short-term rentals. He emphasizes the hidden costs of wealth on family dynamics and offers insights on parenting amidst affluence, along with his plans to establish Barker Capital Group.

Jeffrey Brogger, an AI strategist and founder of JJB Industries, shares his expertise in AI-powered marketing automation. He reveals innovative ways to reactivate 'dead' leads through AI voice agents that facilitate natural conversations and identify buying signals. Brogger discusses the importance of tailored tech stacks, using tools like VAPI and Twilio for cost-effective solutions. He also outlines a comprehensive omnichannel strategy to engage dormant contacts, blending ads, email, and AI automation to boost conversions.

Richard McGirr, founder of Unlimited Capital and expert in trust-based marketing, reveals why cold traffic fails for capital raising. He emphasizes the critical importance of trust in private investments, arguing that interruptive ads often create a trust deficit. Richard discusses innovative strategies like borrowing credibility through podcast tours and utilizing paid influencer webinars. He highlights the superior conversion rates of micro-influencers over celebrities and shares legendary case studies, illustrating how renting brand trust can dramatically increase marketing efficiency.

John Chang delves into the dynamics behind recent economic shifts, highlighting how a temporary government funding deal affects GDP and consumer confidence. He discusses the fluctuating interest rate landscape and improving capital availability for investors. A notable focus is on current cap rates, which present a potentially rare investment opportunity in commercial real estate. Chang contrasts the oversupply in Sun Belt markets with resilience in others, while identifying promising sectors like self-storage and senior housing.

Travis Watts, a full-time passive investor and author of Passive Investor Tips, provides insights into the multifamily market cycle and its current recovery phase, paralleling opportunities to 2010. He emphasizes the benefits of consistent investing since 2015 despite market challenges, explaining how a long-term view can still yield solid gains. The conversation covers operator selection, capital management, and the importance of aligning investment strategies with personal risk tolerance. Travis also highlights the promising outlook for the next few years in real estate.

Todd Dexheimer, a multifamily and assisted living operator and principal at Endurus Capital, shares his insights on strategic market selection, favoring steady growth over volatile areas. He discusses his transformative work on a 99-unit property by adding unique amenities that elevate tenant demographics. Todd candidly talks about the tough lessons learned while scaling in assisted living, emphasizing the critical nature of operational excellence and strong leadership for profitability. His passion for long-term demand in this sector shines through despite early setbacks.

Evan Polaski, Director of Capital Raising at BlackGate Partners, brings 18 years of experience in retail and multifamily investing. He shares insights on navigating capital raising through market cycles, highlighting the impact of the 2008 crash on investor behavior. Evan discusses the importance of disciplined underwriting and the contrast between institutional and retail LPs, emphasizing risk management over returns. He warns against marketers-turned-operators chasing AUM, and provides practical advice for passive investors on evaluating sponsors and performance against original pro formas.

Join Steven Wear, the Chief Marketing Officer of SSSE, a Chicago-based self-storage investment firm, as he dives into innovative strategies in the self-storage market. He discusses targeting smaller markets to avoid competition and how local moratoriums can support his firm's growth. Explore SSSE's use of creative seller-financing techniques and how solar power and geothermal energy are revolutionizing storage facilities into power-generating assets. Steven reveals insights on maximizing returns and the future of self-storage in an evolving energy landscape.