Last Saturday, October 4, we felt a record breaking temperature of 91 degrees in Minneapolis. We also had a low of 39 degrees days later. In Minnesota, we’re used to those swings. We know what to do. We adapt because we’re prepared. Just as temperatures swing, so do aspects of the commercial real estate business.

Most of the time, I feel like I run my days. However, sometimes I find that my day is clearly running me. I’m sure most of you know what I mean. I've built a habit …

“You can’t seize what you don’t see.” Just seven simple words, but they pack a punch.

It’s wise to have your money invested across a variety of assets. Commercial real estate is an excellent option. Where else can you find an investment that includes cash flow? Equity paydown? Both options mean your money is working for you.

Do the limits of your vocabulary limit your world? That doesn’t have to be the case in commercial real estate. Brokers know the vocabulary of their profession –– the jargon and words, their meaning and context. That’s why all who enter the commercial real estate …

This week we saw the wrap up of the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Two million people attended this year’s state fair, generating an estimated $300 million economic impact to the Twin Cities. To make the fun last a little longer, a team member gave me three facts about the MN State Fair and challenged me to make commercial real estate connections to each one. Here goes …

People say Minnesota has two seasons––winter and construction. When I see orange and white stripes and road closed signs, I think of how the project is impacting the surrounding commercial properties. Road construction may be a short-term headache, but it brings …

Pink piggy bank with sunglasses in front of a striped building with colorful doors. Blue logo with "M" on top right. Sunny day.

Industrial leasing is still going strong. In Q2, leasing activity went up 18.5% … On the office side, vacancy rates have seen a slight decrease.

Life events can be both predictable and unpredictable. Our CEG team has been through tough personal losses over the last few years. Although the cycle of life is predictable, loss can be devastating. Grief is messy. It’s layered. And it’s individual. It generally comes in waves, sometimes with a gentle back and forth, other times treacherous and pounding. But it in that mess, it delivers time for reflection.

Brokers are in the business of helping people. There’s plenty of research out there that supports the importance improving someone else’s life.

Commercial properties under a million in the Twin Cities are hard to find, and when you do, they go fast––especially industrial properties. Here are my five recommendations for buying commercial real estate in today’s metro market.

As an owner, tenant, and/or client, you need to be prepared in order to most effectively launch a deal. Preparation is the difference between starting from a strong position or a weak one.

Seller carryback, also known as owner financing or seller financing, is a creative way for buyers to invest in CRE. Especially if you want to preserve your cash for another deal.

Many of my 4th of July memories include family and friends blasting tunes and shooting fireworks from our Wisconsin cabin pier. The music was (and still is) a collection of …

How you attend to due diligence means you’ll either make money or lose it when you "land" on a commercial real estate investment.

With this month marking the 250th year of the US Army, I’ve been thinking about my service as an Airborne Rigger. I enlisted in 1986 during the time of, “Be All You Can Be.”

It’s hard to believe that when Father’s Day was first proposed in the early 1900s there was push back. Many men thought it was a way to “domesticate manliness” and…

This week I went to another Minnesota REJournals continuing education summit. I’ve recommended them in the past, as I think they are well done and beneficial.

Complex deals help build a persistence muscle. And brokers need that muscle strong!