SF Commercial Property Conversations

This week on SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, we dive into the world of direct private money lending with Casey Hopkins, Senior Loan Officer at Rubicon Mortgage Fund, LLC. Casey shares her journey from Paradise, California, to becoming a key player in the commercial lending sector.
In this episode, you'll discover how Rubicon Mortgage Fund is reshaping the lending landscape by offering flexible and fast funding solutions tailored to borrowers who need alternatives to traditional banks. Casey explains the distinctions between direct lenders, syndicators, and brokers, as well as the nuances of hard money lending versus private lending. She also offers insights into the challenges and opportunities in today’s volatile real estate market, particularly in sectors like multifamily, industrial, and retail properties.
Whether you're an investor, borrower, or simply curious about private lending, this conversation provides a clear picture of the value direct money lenders bring to the table.
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Ravi Jagtiani, a commercial real estate expert specializing in daycares. Ravi takes us on a fascinating journey from growing up in Mumbai to establishing himself as a key player in the California real estate market. He shares how his family background and entrepreneurial spirit led him into the niche of daycare brokerage. Ravi currently handles 95% of daycare sales in the Bay Area and nearly 60% across California.
Listen in as Ravi discusses the complexities of buying and selling daycares, including licensing processes, financial considerations, and why daycares are such a lucrative investment. Whether you are a daycare operator looking to sell or an investor seeking a stable, profitable venture, Ravi is the expert you need.
Guest Bio: Ravi Jagtiani is a commercial real estate broker with a unique focus on daycares. With extensive experience in real estate development and brokerage, Ravi dominates the daycare market in California. He is also an investor and a member of the Foster City Planning Commission.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Chris Karageuzian, co-founder of Help With My Loan, to discuss how his company is transforming the lending industry using artificial intelligence (AI). Chris shares the journey of Help With My Loan, starting from his early career in banking to launching a cutting-edge platform that uses AI-driven Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to simplify and speed up the loan process for commercial, residential, and personal lending.
Chris explains how Help With My Loan’s AI platform can analyze complex financial documents like tax returns in just seconds, enabling a 97% match rate for borrowers across 300+ lending institutions. This revolutionary technology helps clients—from business owners to individual borrowers—find the best loan options faster than ever. Chris also discusses the company’s vision for the future, including its plans for continued innovation in lending and expansion into the Chicago market, where the team aims to create new opportunities for local youth.
Key Takeaways:
How AI OCR technology is speeding up the lending process by 80%.
The broad range of loans covered, from commercial real estate to SBA and business loans.
The ethical side of lending and the importance of helping minority communities access capital.
Chris’s vision for the future of Help With My Loan, including AI advancements and possible expansion into direct lending.
In this episode, Bruce Bean sits down with Chris Karageuzian, co-founder of Help With My Loan, to discuss how his company is transforming the lending industry using artificial intelligence (AI). Chris shares the journey of Help With My Loan, starting from his early career in banking to launching a cutting-edge platform that uses AI-driven Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to simplify and speed up the loan process for commercial, residential, and personal lending.
Chris explains how Help With My Loan’s AI platform can analyze complex financial documents like tax returns in just seconds, enabling a 97% match rate for borrowers across 300+ lending institutions. This revolutionary technology helps clients—from business owners to individual borrowers—find the best loan options faster than ever. Chris also discusses the company’s vision for the future, including its plans for continued innovation in lending and expansion into the Chicago market, where the team aims to create new opportunities for local youth.
Key Takeaways:
How AI OCR technology is speeding up the lending process by 80%.
The broad range of loans covered, from commercial real estate to SBA and business loans.
The ethical side of lending and the importance of helping minority communities access capital.
Chris’s vision for the future of Help With My Loan, including AI advancements and possible expansion into direct lending.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 talks with Caleb Angel, a lending expert with HouseMax Funding. Caleb shares his journey from Seattle to Southern California and provides in-depth insights into the fix-and-flip lending market. With experience in real estate, consumer lending, and numbers, Caleb found his way into private lending—combining his passion for relationships and real estate investment.
Tune in as Caleb breaks down how fix-and-flip loans work, offers advice for aspiring real estate investors, and highlights some of the most profitable markets for real estate flipping today. He explains the intricacies of lending, from cold calling prospects to nurturing repeat clients, and even provides practical tips on securing funding for your first investment property.
Key Takeaways:
How Caleb transitioned into private lending and real estate investments
Insights into ground-up construction and fix-and-flip financing
The importance of building long-term relationships in lending
A breakdown of loan processes, including construction draws and loan guarantees
Tips for new investors looking to get started with fix-and-flip 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, Bruce Bean sits down with Gisele Pinedo, a rising star in commercial real estate, as she shares her journey from studying psychology to becoming a successful agent at Marcus & Millichap. Gisele delves into the mindset shift she made, how she transitioned from being a teacher’s aide to a commission-based career, and the valuable lessons she’s learned about perseverance, cold calling, and managing client relationships.
Gisele also talks about the impact of her psychology background on her real estate career and why understanding people is essential in building trust and making deals happen. She highlights the importance of finding a mentor, the challenge of managing time between closing deals and prospecting, and her long-term goal of achieving financial freedom through passive income.
Whether you're new to the real estate industry or looking for inspiration to grow your career, this episode is packed with insights into the commercial real estate world and the personal development needed for success.
Key Takeaways:
Transitioning into commercial real estate from a different field.
The importance of mentorship in building a successful career.
Balancing prospecting and managing active deals.
The role of psychology in building client relationships.
Gisele’s long-term goal of financial freedom through real estate investment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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