SF Commercial Property Conversations

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with Miles Palacios, an East Bay real estate investor with a unique perspective on building wealth through multifamily properties. Miles takes us through his early days in the financial world, starting from his mortgage career during the Great Recession and how it fueled his desire to build a tangible, sustainable portfolio. His experiences range from house-hacking to building a multi-property portfolio that aligns with his passion for real estate.
Tune in to hear:
Why Miles believes real estate is more reliable than stocks or bonds
His journey from mortgage brokerage into real estate investment
How to “house hack” and leverage small down payments to grow your portfolio
Insights into navigating the Bay Area’s competitive housing market
Tips on starting small and scaling towards high-value properties
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this insightful episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce sits down with retail real estate strategist David Greensfelder. With decades of experience navigating the evolution of retail trends and urban planning, David brings a wealth of knowledge on how to design retail spaces for long-term success.
David shares his journey from commercial finance into the realm of retail real estate, working with national retailers, and eventually launching Greensfelder Real Estate Strategy. He delves into the challenges of creating vibrant mixed-use spaces, the importance of understanding consumer behavior, and how COVID-19 reshaped travel and retail trends.
What You’ll Learn:
How David's early career led him to become an expert in retail master planning
The art of designing spaces that balance retail, mixed-use, and public sector needs
Strategies for making commercial spaces “retail-ready” to adapt to changing market demands
Insights on navigating regulatory challenges in cities like San Francisco and Boulder
David’s experiences working on high-profile projects, including retail plans for San Jose and Sioux Falls
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this engaging episode, Bruce Bean welcomes Richard Woon, a passionate entrepreneur-turned-political candidate running for San Francisco City Attorney. Richard shares his journey, beginning with his childhood in Union City, followed by his transition into commercial real estate and law. Along the way, he built his expertise from the ground up, with ventures ranging from trustee sales to transforming buildings into thriving office spaces in San Francisco's South of Market area.
Richard also reflects on the challenges and opportunities in the current real estate market, offering candid thoughts on California propositions 33 and 5. The conversation culminates with Richard explaining why he decided to run for city attorney, sharing his frustrations with corruption, homelessness policies, and his drive to bring common-sense solutions to the city’s pressing issues.
Tune in for an honest discussion about politics, real estate, and what it takes to make an impact in a city like San Francisco.
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this insightful episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we sit down with Jack Schreibman, an expert commercial broker with Strom Commercial based in San Diego's dynamic real estate market. Jack takes us on a journey through his career path—from selling women’s shoes at Nordstrom to becoming a key player in San Diego’s office space industry.
Jack and Bruce discuss the challenges of office leasing amidst high vacancy rates downtown and how Strom Commercial has pivoted to explore retail, multifamily, and property management opportunities. They explore market shifts, including office rent drops and how class A spaces are adjusting. Jack also offers valuable insights into San Diego's urban retail struggles and its hot suburban market.
Looking to the future, they touch on possible rebounds in real estate, upcoming trends, and even indulge in a bit of baseball talk, sharing their thoughts on the Padres, Dodgers, and Cleveland Browns. This episode provides a rich mix of industry knowledge and personal insights—perfect for anyone interested in the latest on San Diego’s commercial property landscape.
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, host Bruce Bean chats with Austin Barron, a commercial real estate broker with Century 21, about the unique dynamics of the Chico, California real estate market. Austin shares how his family’s background in real estate investment inspired his career, and how Chico’s rural setting is attracting new business from urban centers like Sacramento and the Bay Area.
Austin dives into the growing demand for industrial spaces, fueled by Chico's strategic location and agricultural infrastructure. He also discusses Chico State’s impact on local business, with alumni creating innovative companies like Sierra Nevada Brewing and Chico Bag. Austin explains why his brokerage shifted to using Crexi over LoopNet, finding better value and local reach with the platform.
Tune in to learn more about Chico’s expanding market, local innovations, and how Austin applies his real estate expertise to benefit the community.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode, Bruce Bean welcomes David Friedman, co-owner of Realicore, as they explore his journey through real estate in the San Bernardino area. David shares how he and his father began flipping homes before transitioning to commercial real estate and building a portfolio of over 75 units. From their first project in San Bernardino to opening Viva La Boba, a local hotspot for the community, David's story reveals the potential in overlooked markets. He also provides insights on property management, the challenges of multifamily investments, and how commercial real estate has helped him scale his business.
Listeners will learn:
How David transitioned from residential flipping to commercial real estate
The story behind the creation of Viva La Boba and its role in revitalizing downtown San Bernardino
Challenges and successes in property management and development
Insights into the San Bernardino market and its potential
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode, Bruce Bean welcomes Ken Simons, a seasoned real estate broker with over four decades of experience, to discuss the evolving real estate market in Greater Los Angeles. Ken shares his journey from starting in property management in the late '70s to becoming a top broker for ILLI Commercial Real Estate. His expertise spans across leasing, sales, and financing, with insights into how strategic relationships have been the backbone of his success.
Ken offers practical tips from his years in the industry, including the importance of inspecting building rooftops and HVAC systems to avoid costly repairs for tenants and landlords. He also provides a deep dive into the Los Angeles retail leasing market, sharing how interest rates and market trends are affecting current deals. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting in real estate, Ken’s stories and advice are invaluable.
Tune in to hear about Ken’s hands-on approach, his views on the LA market’s recovery, and how relationships drive success in real estate.
Key Takeaways:
Ken’s journey from property management to a billion-dollar broker
Why rooftop inspections can save landlords and tenants money
How the LA retail leasing market is bouncing back post-COVID
The importance of fostering long-term relationships in real estate
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest
 

In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Luca Giaramidaro, an urban and regional planner at Multistudio, to discuss his fascinating journey from Italy to San Francisco and his work in the world of urban planning and transit integration. Luca shares his experiences working in global and local projects, including transit-oriented development and high-speed rail in California. He discusses the importance of integrating community voices in the planning process, creating sustainable transportation solutions, and addressing the challenges of long-term urban development. Tune in to hear Luca’s insights on how transit can shape the future of cities and why he believes the future of transportation is so exciting.
Guest Bio:Luca Giaramidaro is an experienced urban and regional planner at Multistudio, specializing in transit-integrated development. He has a background in architecture and sustainable design from Italy and has worked on major international and local urban design projects.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this insightful episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Jay Shaffer, co-founder of Colton Commercial, to explore the evolving landscape of San Francisco's commercial real estate market. Jay shares his journey as a Bay Area native and real estate expert, detailing over two decades of experience navigating the boom-and-bust cycles of the city’s property market. He discusses the challenges and opportunities that have arisen post-COVID, offering unique insights into office space demand, tenant negotiations, and commercial property investments.
Key takeaways include:
The dramatic shifts in San Francisco's office space market, with vacancy rates hitting 38%.
How businesses can capitalize on current market conditions to save up to 50% on leases or even purchase properties at 70-80% discounts.
Jay’s experience in growing Colton Commercial from a small operation into a leading full-service real estate company.
The rise of AI companies in San Francisco, including OpenAI, and its impact on the commercial market.
Jay’s commitment to community involvement, sitting on the boards of nonprofits and the Bank of San Francisco.
For anyone interested in the future of commercial real estate in the Bay Area, this episode is packed with valuable insights.
Guest Info:Jay Shaffer is the co-founder of Colton Commercial, a real estate firm specializing in San Francisco properties.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest

In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, Bruce Bean sits down with Mindy Henderson, Vice President of Disability Outreach and Empowerment at the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Mindy shares her personal journey with spinal muscular atrophy, her work in advocacy, and the crucial role of universal design in creating inclusive environments. She also discusses the gaps in ADA regulations, offering insights into how property owners can go beyond compliance to ensure better accessibility for all.
What You’ll Learn
The significance of universal design and how it benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities.
Mindy’s personal story of defying medical expectations and how it shaped her career.
The potential business benefits of catering to individuals with disabilities, including tapping into a $21 billion market.
Practical ways building owners can implement inclusive design without compromising aesthetics.
Guest BioMindy Henderson is the Vice President of Disability Outreach and Empowerment at the Muscular Dystrophy Association. A passionate advocate, speaker, and author, she has dedicated her career to advancing accessibility and inclusion. She lives with spinal muscular atrophy and uses her lived experience to inspire change in the corporate and public sectors.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest