SF Commercial Property Conversations

From growing up in a one-bedroom apartment in D.C. to representing office property sellers in Manhattan, Faraz Cheema’s story is a masterclass in hustle and reinvention. In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Faraz to trace his path from managing family investments to becoming a top capital markets broker in New York City.
Faraz shares how his father's entrepreneurial spirit sparked his early exposure to real estate, and how setbacks like struggling in school ultimately led to a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins and a successful career in commercial real estate. He also dives into current market trends, including the dramatic dip in NYC office property values, the challenges of financing in today’s environment, and the increasing relevance of office-to-residential conversions.
What You’ll Learn:
How family business gave Faraz a foundation in real estate
Why he transitioned from D.C. to NYC office brokerage
Insights into Manhattan office market price shifts
Trends in office-to-residential conversions
What brokers need to know about client loyalty
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Senna shares his journey from growing up in Southern California to entering the commercial real estate industry, eventually carving out a niche in industrial property. He walks us through his early internships, his start with tenant representation, and his current focus on institutional landlord relationships.
You’ll hear candid insights into how the pandemic ignited a warehouse boom, pushing vacancy rates below 1%, and how we’re now seeing a reversal with rising vacancies and cautious market behavior. Senna breaks down how tariffs are influencing decisions and why “price discovery” is the buzzword of the year in the LA industrial market.
We also talk electric truck mandates at the ports, data-tracking in warehouses, and—just for fun—Senna’s favorite sandwich spot in Madrid!
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 sits down with James Nelson, a New York-based real estate investment sales expert and longtime leader in the industry. James shares his journey from his early days in Madison, Wisconsin, and competitive swimming at Colgate University, to becoming a key figure in New York City's commercial real estate scene.
They explore James’s career path—starting at Massey Knakal, building market dominance in middle-market sales, and later transitioning through Cushman & Wakefield to his current leadership at Avison Young. James explains his strategic outreach approach, his passion for mentorship and nonprofit work with SparkYouth NYC, and how real estate professionals can build stronger broker relationships and uncover seller motivations.
James also touches on insights from his book The Insider’s Edge to Real Estate Investing, offering practical advice for investors and brokers alike.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

What does it mean to play the long game in a city that's constantly evolving? In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Norman Liang, a Bay Area entrepreneur and seed fund investor, to discuss the evolution of San Francisco, the realities of tech investment, and the community shifts reshaping the region.
Norman shares his personal journey from growing up on the East Coast to planting roots in Silicon Valley, revealing the challenges and opportunities he’s witnessed firsthand. They dive into topics like the post-COVID transformation of downtown San Francisco, the future of housing and infrastructure, and how cities like Redwood City are getting it right.
Listeners will gain insight into Norman’s vision for supporting tech founders while maintaining community values, his experiences at GoPro and Alibaba’s Entrepreneurs Fund, and why he believes in betting long on the Bay Area—even as others look elsewhere.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

What happens when a Disney and Warner Bros. executive trades film reels for floorplans? In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Neal Collier, a fourth-generation Angeleno who transitioned from the entertainment industry to become a successful real estate investor in Los Angeles. Neal shares how he turned a modest condo purchase into a multi-property portfolio of Spanish-style apartment buildings — all while preserving architectural charm and managing every renovation himself.
Learn how Neal leveraged debt creatively, rebuilt vintage bathrooms with surgical precision, and tracked hipster migration trends to buy in up-and-coming neighborhoods. He discusses why attention to detail matters in attracting tenants, how he built custom real estate financial models, and why he remains bullish on DIY investing—despite the many hurdles LA landlords face today.
If you’ve ever wondered how to spot value in overlooked buildings, how to bootstrap your first investment, or how to balance artful restoration with smart financial planning, Neal’s story is a blueprint worth hearing.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Wanda Henry, a seasoned real estate broker and investor whose journey from Cleveland to California is nothing short of inspiring.
Wanda shares how her early start in banking led her into the world of real estate, where she grew from teller to broker, managing a firm of 30 agents and flipping properties throughout California. She opens up about her current focus on land development, buying and selling in emerging markets like Bakersfield and West Tennessee, and how she evaluates properties for investment.
From analyzing flips to owning 20 acres in California, Wanda breaks down her strategies and drops key insights for anyone interested in real estate or property investment.
She also shares a fun personal story about reconnecting with her third husband after decades apart—and their shared love of concerts and good food (hint: pastrami fans, unite!).
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

From Green Bay to the Marine Corps to Stanford — and now full speed ahead in real estate, Chris Jansen’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode, Bruce chats with Chris about how COVID-19 boredom sparked a deep dive into investing, leading Chris from civil engineering into a thriving real estate journey.
Chris shares how he leveraged his VA loan to buy his first condo, turned it into a rental, and used a HELOC to scale. He dives into his out-of-state investing strategy, how he uses property managers across multiple states, and the power of masterminds and investor communities. Chris is now targeting larger multi-family deals and aiming for full financial independence within a year.
If you're a veteran, a busy professional, or just curious how to launch your own real estate path while holding down a full-time job, this episode delivers both inspiration and a clear roadmap.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 powerful episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations, Bruce sits down with real estate powerhouse Mike Litton for a journey through grit, transformation, and entrepreneurial drive. From farming 3,000 acres in Oklahoma as a teenager to leading a top-producing mortgage and real estate career in San Diego, Mike shares how an unexpected speech class, a family legacy of hard work, and a crushing loan rejection shaped his path to success.
Mike opens up about lessons learned from his grandfather—a self-made oilman—and the early influences that turned his love for farming into a competitive edge in the world of public speaking and real estate. He discusses building a billion-dollar lending pipeline, launching his own real estate company, and starting The Mike Litton Experience podcast, now with over 330 life stories recorded.
If you're interested in resilience, leadership, and how early setbacks can become stepping stones to greatness, this episode is not to be missed.
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

From public-sector beginnings to founding a thriving communications consultancy, Daniel Atwater has built a unique career at the crossroads of commercial real estate, digital marketing, and community engagement.
In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Daniel shares his professional journey—from working in asset management for the City of Los Angeles, to launching Atwater Strategies, a firm that helps real estate and financial service companies strengthen their media presence and digital strategy.
Daniel explains how his education at USC, which blended business and communication studies, prepared him for a versatile role as both strategist and storyteller. He highlights the importance of tailored communication plans, content calendars, and stakeholder engagement in today's real estate marketing 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 insightful episode, Bruce Bean welcomes Bess McCarty, a mind-body life coach originally from a Kansas farm and now based in San Diego. Bess shares her unique journey from the Midwest to teaching at Body Mind College and working as a holistic practitioner. She dives into how our physical symptoms can reveal emotional blocks—and how addressing these can unlock personal and professional growth.
Bruce and Bess discuss real-world examples of how entrepreneurs and real estate professionals can identify internal obstacles through body awareness. From shoulder pain symbolizing burdens to ankle injuries reflecting flexibility issues, Bess explains how the body and mind speak the same language.
She outlines her four-step method: identifying a problem, connecting with the emotion underneath, uncovering the unmet need, and finding a solution. Bess also introduces her free resource for entrepreneurs, including her “30 spiritual keys” to attracting new clients and shifting mindset blocks.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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