DebtStreet Podcast

DebtStreet - Stephon Smith

Stefan Smith, founder of Accretive, discusses his journey in the commercial real estate industry and how he built a business to help developers and syndicators with financial planning and analysis (FP&A) needs. He shares how he started as a freelance financial consultant and eventually became involved in the industry through modeling projects for a property developer. Stefan explains how the idea for Accretive came about, which was to create an all-in-one financial model with a database attached to it, making it easier to manage multiple projects and scenarios. He emphasizes the importance of providing fast and high-quality analytics to clients in the industry.

DebtStreet - Brian Burke

Navigating Real Estate Syndication and Market Cycles with Brian Burke
Podcast Summary: In this episode of DebtStreet, Carol Ng sits down with Brian Burke, founder of Praxis Capital, to discuss his journey from flipping houses to running a successful commercial real estate syndication firm. Brian shares personal stories of early challenges, pivotal moments that shaped his career, and his philosophy on navigating market cycles. The conversation highlights how Brian managed to grow Praxis Capital, which has raised $350 million and acquired $800 million worth of multifamily properties. They also dive into lessons learned from past economic downturns and the strategies Brian uses to safeguard investor capital during turbulent times.
Key Points:
Brian's Journey: Before founding Praxis Capital, Brian worked as a house flipper and part-time in law enforcement.
Challenges and Success: It took Brian five years to achieve his first real success in real estate, with private investors providing the critical capital he needed.
Praxis Capital: Focuses on multifamily syndication, having raised $350 million and purchased over 4,000 units.
Navigating Market Cycles: Brian sold three-quarters of his portfolio at the peak in 2021-2022, just before the market downturn.
Recession Strategy: Brian shares insights on managing risk during recessions, including his personal sacrifice to pay mortgages out of pocket during the 2008 crisis to protect investors.
Future of Praxis Capital: Focused on recognizing opportunities and managing risk, with a shift towards investing in real estate debt for safer returns in today’s climate.
Memorable Moments:
Timing the Market: Brian's ability to sense market highs and lows helped him avoid losses and maximize returns for investors.
Staying Grounded: Brian credits his humble beginnings for keeping him down to earth despite his success.
Real Estate War Stories: From fires to hurricanes, Brian shares some wild stories of managing multifamily properties.
Book Recommendation: The Hands-Off Investor by Brian Burke — A comprehensive guide to passive real estate investing.
Connect with Brian:
Website: Praxis Capital
Instagram: Investor Brian Burke
 

DebtStreet - Adam Aluise

Adam Aluise, from Slatt Capital, shares his journey in the commercial real estate industry and the founding of his own firm. He discusses the importance of taking risks and finding fulfillment in entrepreneurship. Adam also highlights the unique services offered by Slatt Capital, including debt and equity placement, and the company's goal to become the premier commercial mortgage banking group in the country. He emphasizes the significance of building relationships and providing honest and transparent communication with clients. Adam shares his recommended book, 'How to Make Money in Real Estate' by Earl Nightingale, and discusses the current market conditions in the Mountain West area.
Takeaways
• Taking risks and pursuing entrepreneurship can lead to personal fulfillment and growth.• Building strong relationships and providing honest communication are key to success in the commercial real estate industry.• Slatt Capital offers a wide range of services, including debt and equity placement, and aims to become the premier commercial mortgage banking group in the country.• The market conditions in the Mountain West area have shifted, with a focus on smaller deals, retail, office, and private capital transactions.
Recommended book: 'How to Make Money in Real Estate' by Earl Nightingale.

DebtStreet - Jason Aubrey

Jason Aubrey, co-founder of PlattPointe Capital, shares his journey in building a successful boutique commercial real estate lending firm. He discusses the unique approach of his company in solving problems for developers and investors, and the importance of having a strong database of capital connections. Jason also talks about his experience in navigating economic downturns and the current rate environment. He recommends the books 'Blue Ocean Strategy' and 'Managing the Professional Service Firm' as valuable resources. The conversation ends with some lighthearted banter about the company culture at PlattPointe Capital.
Keywords
commercial real estate lending, boutique shop, debt equity placement, economic downturn, rate environment, capital connections, Blue Ocean Strategy, Managing the Professional Service Firm, company culture
Takeaways
• PlattPointe Capital differentiates itself by solving problems for developers and investors in the commercial real estate lending space.
• Having a strong database of capital connections is crucial for success in the industry.
• Navigating economic downturns requires creativity, problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
• The current rate environment is volatile, and it is important to stay informed and be prepared for potential changes.
Recommended books: 'Blue Ocean Strategy' and 'Managing the Professional Service Firm'.
PlattPointe Capital values company culture and focuses on driving revenue and providing excellent service to clients.You can send your questions to Jason Aubrey at Jason@PlattPointe.com or (303) 598-3876.

DebtStreet - Rafi Golberstein

Rafi Golberstein, the founder of Pace Loan Group, discusses the benefits and practical deployment of C-PACE financing.
C-PACE financing is a tool used to finance properties with energy efficiency, renewable energy, or seismic resiliency improvements.
Pace Loan Group differentiates itself by being independently owned and operated, offering in-house origination and servicing, and having deep institutional backing.The current rate environment has been beneficial for Pace Loan Group as more people are looking for alternative forms of capital.
Education and awareness of C-PACE financing have increased, with owners and developers now demanding it as part of their financing packages.Retroactive PACE financing allows developers to tap into PACE credits for projects completed in the past three years, providing liquidity and helping with refinancing.
Rafi shares his background in commercial real estate finance and explains how he decided to start Pace Loan Group. Rafi highlights the unique features of C-PACE financing, such as long-term fixed-rate terms and self-amortization. He also discusses the early wins and successes of Pace Loan Group and the factors that differentiate them from their competitors. Rafi emphasizes the importance of education and awareness in the C-PACE lending industry and shares his future goals for the company. He concludes by explaining the process and benefits of retroactive PACE financing and the geographical coverage of Pace Loan Group.

DebtStreet - Wes Nichols

Wes Nichols, founder of Paramount Property Tax Appeal, shares his journey and insights into the property tax appeal business. He discusses current market trends, the value of property tax appeal for day-to-day operators, key wins and successes, goals for the business, recommended books, and additional services offered. He also addresses common reasons why people are afraid to do tax appeals and explains the coverage area of Paramount Property Tax Appeal.

DebtStreet - Malcolm Davies

Malcom Davies from WAY Capital, Inc. is Carol's guest in this episode of the DebtStreet podcast. Learn how WAY serves its clients as their outsourced CFO, handling all their capital needs on their behalf.

DebtStreet - Craig and Charlie Coppola

Craig and Charlie Coppola from CRE OneSource are a father and son duo who are bringing insights, clarity and direction to brokers looking to build their businesses. Carol welcomes them into the DebtStreet studio to discuss their expertise and the road to bringing the CRE OneSource platform to the commercial real estate industry.

DebtStreet - Ira Zlotowitz

Ira Zlotowitz of GPARENCY is Carol's guest on the DebtStreet podcast. He shares how GPARENCY was created to take on how technology is disrupting the commercial mortgage brokerage business. Ira shares the deep way that faith is shaping his business.

DebtStreet - Marc McDevitt

DebtStreet welcomes Marc McDevitt of CRED-iQ to the podcast to shed light on the real estate data, analytics and valuation platform and services his firm offers. As times get tough firms seek more and more information, and CRED-iQ stands ready to help.