Podcast
The Best Ever CRE Show
Hosted by Joe Fairless · EN
Welcome to the Best Ever CRE Show, the world’s longest-running daily COMMERCIAL real estate podcast. Founded by Joe Fairless, a co-founder of Ashcroft Capital who went from buying $35,000 homes to controlling more than $2.7 billion in real estate assets, the Best Ever CRE Show provides commercial real estate expert insights, education, and timely information to our community of active and passive investors who want to build wealth, build a legacy, and do more good in the world.
So if you want the real stories behind the good, the bad, and the worst ever deals — plus, insights into what really goes on in commercial real estate investing — you’re in the right place. Our hosts interview commercial real estate experts every day to uncover secrets and strategies YOU can use to become a better, more informed investor. This is the Best Ever CRE show.
81episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
JF 4238: Cross-sell Campaign Generating $1 million in pipeline and Why Discounts Pull Demand Forward
1w ago00:28:21Tap to summarizeRichard McGirr talks about how his firm crushed their previous fundraising record with $6.1 million, but the real secret lies in how they’re turning this momentum into a repeatable pipeline. He explains how a strategic cross-sell campaign, tapping into existing relationships, generated over a quarter-million dollars in commitments overnight, all by leveraging personalized Loom videos and exclusive tier-based perks. Discover the step-by-step behind the scenes, including how personalized outreach and complex concepts like "relationship balance" can unlock new capital without chasing cold leads. Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info. Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JF 4237: AI in Commercial Real Estate, Practical AI Use Cases and The RTCF Framework ft. Jake Heller
2w ago00:50:41Tap to summarizeMatt Faircloth talks to Jake Heller as he reveals how experienced real estate professionals are building digital brains tailored to their unique models, saving time, reducing errors, and giving a competitive edge. You’ll learn practical strategies to incorporate AI into deal underwriting, asset management, and deal sourcing, plus the critical importance of prompt engineering using the RTCF framework to get the most accurate results. If you’re a real estate investor, broker, or developer tired of cookie-cutter solutions, this episode is your playbook for integrating AI to elevate your deals and decision-making. Stay ahead of the curve future-proof your business with insights on proprietary data, custom AI brains, and the next generation of automation that’s just around the corner. Jake Heller Current role: Co-Founder of AI for CRE Collective Based in: Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeheller1 aiforcrecollective.com Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info. Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JF 4236: Private Credit, Cannabis Real Estate and Yield Investing ft. Chris Reece
2w ago00:49:40Tap to summarizeAsh Patel and Amanda Cruise interview Chris Reece, who explains how he’s generating double-digit returns by lending into the cannabis real estate sector, where traditional banks won’t operate. He breaks down his strategy of issuing short-term, senior secured loans at 12–15% while underwriting properties at non-cannabis valuations to protect downside risk. Chris also shares why this opportunity is temporary, driven by limited capital access and regulatory barriers, and how future legalization could compress returns as more lenders enter the space. He highlights the importance of conservative underwriting, personal guarantees, and strong borrower vetting in a volatile but high-demand market. The episode emphasizes how scarcity of capital creates outsized returns today, while disciplined risk management is what sustains them long term. Chris Reece Current role: Founder & CEO of MJ REIT Based in: Greater Philadelphia Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-r-reece/ www.mj-reit.com Visit https://m1.com/ for more info. Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JF 4235: Fund Managers, Portfolio Deals and Capital Growth ft. George Salas
2w ago00:32:03Tap to summarizeRichard McGirr interviews George Salas, who breaks down how he’s scaled his capital raising by focusing on fund-of-funds relationships instead of relying on traditional retail investors. He explains how partnering with established capital raisers allowed him to bypass building a full marketing engine early on, accelerating growth and helping him raise over $4M. George shares how structuring deals around specific portfolios rather than blind pool funds made his offering more attractive to fund managers, especially when he lacked a long fund track record. He also dives into his process for building relationships through in-person events, refining follow-up systems, and leveraging CRM tools to stay organized. The episode wraps with actionable strategies around email marketing, investor nurturing, and scaling capital through both institutional partnerships and emerging retail channels. George Salas Current role: Chief Executive Officer of Empress Capital, Founder of Creative STR Wealth Based in: Houston, Texas Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgesalas360/ EmpressCapitalGroup.com Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info. Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JF 4234: CRE Recession, Inflation Trends and Investment Strategy ft. Anna Kelley
3w ago01:06:17Tap to summarizeJ Scott interviews Anna Kelley in this Next Level CRE Takeover, who breaks down why multifamily has been hit by one of its worst downturns in history, driven by rising interest rates, higher treasury yields, and surging operating costs. She explains that cap rate expansion alone has pushed property values down by 30–40%, while inflation has simultaneously increased expenses such as insurance and taxes, creating a “double squeeze” on investors. They also dive into the broader economic picture, covering inflation risks, tariffs, global conflict, and the growing impact of liquidity constraints on real estate. Anna highlights why debt structure has become the biggest risk factor for investors and warns that a prolonged period of stagflation or recession could reshape the market. Despite the challenges, she emphasizes that disciplined underwriting, long-term debt, and strategic positioning in hard assets can create major opportunities for investors who are prepared. Anna Kelly Current role: President - Greater Purpose Capital LLC Based in: Palmyra, Pennsylvania Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-kelley-reimom/ https://www.facebook.com/annakelleyreimom/ J Scott Current role: General Partner of Bar Down Investments LLC, Partner / Co-Founder of ScottBuilt Based in: Sarasota, Florida Where to find them: https://linktr.ee/jscottinvestor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jscottinvestor/ Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info. Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JF 4233: Affordable Housing, Deal Flow and Mobile Home Park Strategy ft. Leo Young
3w ago00:49:21Tap to summarizeAmanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Leo Young, who shares how he scaled to 500+ mobile home park units while navigating increasing competition and regulatory pressure. He explains his strategy of improving communities, raising rents toward market, and shifting from quick exits to longer-term holds through refinancing to maximize investor returns. The conversation highlights how operators are being squeezed by both institutional capital and new investors entering the space, making deal flow harder to find. Leo also breaks down the realities of managing across multiple states, emphasizing geographic diversification to hedge against evolving regulations such as rent control. He discusses expanding into RV parks, the operational differences compared to mobile home parks, and why operator execution matters more than asset class. Throughout, he stresses disciplined underwriting, strong systems, and building the right team as the key to long-term success in a tightening market. Leo Young Current role: Managing Partner at Cornell Communities Based in: New York, New York Where to find them: https://www.youtube.com/c/LeoYoungRealEstate https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-young/ Visit trustetc.com/bestever for more info. Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info. Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JF 4232: Real Estate Debt Investing and Exploiting Inefficiencies in the Debt Markets ft. Fred Moskowitz
3w ago00:39:02Tap to summarizeRichard interviews Fred Moskowitz, who breaks down how investing in real estate debt shifts you from making payments to receiving them. He explains his strategy of buying institutionally originated residential mortgage notes at a discount, then generating consistent cash flow through servicing and portfolio management. The conversation highlights why note investing is a scalable, steady alternative to equity, with returns driven by yield, collateral position, and disciplined risk management. They also dig into how pricing inefficiencies, borrower behavior, and liquidity needs create opportunity in the secondary loan market. Fred shares how investors evaluate loans based on payment history, equity, and local market dynamics, emphasizing that strong processes and servicing are key to managing risk. Fred MoskowitzCurrent role: Real Estate Note InvestorBased in: United StatesSay hi to them at: https://fredmoskowitz.com/ Visit trustetc.com/bestever for more info. Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info. Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JF 4231: Economic trends, Market conditions, and Investment Opportunities in 2026 ft. John Chang
4w ago00:53:02Tap to summarizeMatt Faircloth interviews John Chang, who breaks down April’s market volatility and what it means for commercial real estate investors. He explains how geopolitical uncertainty has already been priced into the market, with inflation pressures lingering but interest rates stabilizing rather than spiking further. John emphasizes that despite short-term noise, the broader real estate cycle is setting up a strong window for long-term investors. He also highlights where opportunity is emerging, pointing to office as a sleeper asset, continued value-add potential in retail, and softer outlooks for self-storage. The episode wraps with key markets to watch, including long-term growth cities, turnaround regions, and a few under-the-radar plays driven by economic and policy shifts. John Chang Current role: Senior Vice President, National Director of Research & Advisory Services of Marcus & Millichap Based in: Phoenix, Arizona Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnchang/ https://www.marcusmillichap.com Visit trustetc.com/bestever for more info. Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info. Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JF 4230: Ground Leases, Deal Discipline and CRE Longevity ft. John McNellis
4w ago00:51:21Tap to summarizeJohn McNellis joins Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel to break down the lessons from his decades-long career in retail development, including why he republished his book with deeper insights and greater transparency about his biggest mistakes. He explains why retail is far from dead, how supply constraints drive long-term value, and why he’s remained focused on a tight geographic niche instead of chasing scale. John also dives into ground lease strategies, the dangers of overleveraging, and why metrics like IRR can be misleading compared to focusing on what you actually earn. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes disciplined growth, sticking to your “weight class,” and building a sustainable real estate career that prioritizes longevity over hype. John McNellis Current role: Owner and Writer at McNellis Partners Based in: Palo Alto, California Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mcnellis-b6a1674/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JF 4229: Growing $20 Million Revenue E-commerce and Value-Driven Lead Magnets ft. Brent Neely
Apr 2700:31:25Tap to summarizeRichard McGirr Interviews Brent Neely as he reveals a surprisingly simple leverage point that turned his investing game around. With a background in building over $20 million in e-commerce revenue and years of commercial real estate experience, Brent shares exactly how he activated his professional circles to secure $3 million worth of soft commitments in just months, all without traditional capital raises. Brent Neely Current role: Founder and Principal of Neely Property Investments Based in: Enterprise, Oregon Where to find them: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-neely/ https://dealdebrief.com Visit trustetc.com/bestever for more info. Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit https://m1.com/ for more info. Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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