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Shorts

Beagle wearing black glasses sits behind a desk with papers, looking serious against a black chair.

Take a Look: It Might Be Time to Renegotiate

Whether it’s time to renew your lease or not, it may be a good time to take a look and see if you should renegotiate. As commercial lease expenses continue to climb in the Twin Cities, you may gain three potential benefits by renegotiating:

Jul 101 min read

Brick building with ZWICKEY ARCHERY sign, astronaut graphic, and AVAILABLE commercial real estate sign above a green lawn.

Own Your Own

What’s the best advice I have for small business owners? Invest in your business. In other words, use your business to buy a building. You won’t have to negotiate leases, succumb to landlord pressure, or deal with the logistics and expense of moving. And you will benefit from …

Jun 112 min read

Split image of a man and woman holding playing cards against a green hedge and blue “M” backdrop, both making playful faces. Man has a great hand with kings and aces. Woman has mismatched cards of low value.

Know When to Hold ‘Em, Know When to Sell

Property owners should regularly evaluate whether to keep an asset or pass it on to the next owner. Talking it over with a commercial real estate expert allows you to know when to hold ‘em and know when to sell.

Jun 52 min read

Colorful mosaic of a light pink pig riding a bicycle over orange and green tiles, with a blue backpack.

How Community Impacts Commercial Real Estate

Being active and involved in community is one of the key aspects of Blue Zones, places in the world with the most people aged 100 or older. These areas were identified by Minneapolis local Dan Buettner (sparked from his travels while biking around the world) along with a team of researchers. Community involvement …

May 293 min read

Chain-link gate closed, in front of beige buildings with brown doors and green trees, under a clear blue sky. Shadows cast on dirt ground. Security card access and camera on a high pole on the left.

No Parking? Industrial Outdoor Storage

When it comes to the industrial outdoor storage, the Twin Cities and the national market align. It’s in high demand.

May 152 min read

Row of urban buildings in daylight; red brick, tan brick, and a garage with "Midwest Motorcycle." Clear blue sky. Street view setting.

An Evolving Neighborhood

In the 80s and early 90s, the Warehouse District (known as North Loop today) was known for its underground scene and 19th and early 20th century brick warehouses. Besides artists, who were looking for cheap rent in repurposed warehouses (zoning violations? 😉), not many people lived in the neighborhood. But artists brought galleries, which attracted patrons followed by bars and restaurants.

May 12 min read

A smiling man in a suit is inside a spacecraft cockpit with seats and control panels. Background has tubes and machinery.

5 Ways to Make a Big Impact as an Intern

Commercial Equities Group is happy to announce Max Giblin is joining the team as a brokerage intern. A student at Augsburg, Max plays college hockey so he understands about dreaming big and working hard to meet goals. I’ve been so impressed with his approach and work so far.

Apr 243 min read

Two people smiling, standing beside award plaques for Commercial Equities Group and The Woods. Dark backdrop with radiant light.

We Are Finalists!

Commercial Equities Group recently got some great news! We were named a finalist for Brokerage Firm of the Year by Minnesota REJournals! In addition, Nicole Langer was recognized as a finalist for Most Significant Investment Sale Transaction in 2025 for her Maple Grove retail deal, The Woods!

Apr 171 min read

A person in a blue suit smiles in a spacecraft interior with control panels and seats. The setting is mechanical and futuristic.

To the Moon!

This week, Artemis II broke the record for human travel in space, reaching the farthest distance from Earth, 252,756 miles. This is equivalent to ten times around the Earth’s equator. That’s some journey!

Apr 102 min read

Two women smiling at a restaurant table. Vintage photos on a wall with Italian names. Warm, cheerful mood.

Women Talking Commercial Real Estate

Recently, CEG brokers Nicole Langer and Diane Signorelli discussed commercial real estate over plates of pasta at Yarusso-Bros, an East Side St. Paul Italian restaurant. Two Italians having a delicious Italian meal while I was enjoying great food in Italy! 🇮🇹 Both Nicole and Diane have listings for sale in the neighborhood …

Mar 274 min read

Halie smiling inside a space capsule, surrounded by control panels and seats. The background is metallic with blue and beige accents.

Shining Bright

NASA’s countdown is famous. It packs drama, enthusiasm, and precision into one cultural and global event. Well, CEG has had its own dynamic countdown waiting for …

Mar 131 min read

A gloved hand holds a paint roller over a bucket. A pink piggy bank with sunglasses sits nearby. Text on the wall reads "Paint Me!"

What’s the Secret?

What’s the secret to leasing a space faster and for more money?

Mar 61 min read

A black and white dog (Snoopers) with tongue out, sits in a lush garden with purple flowers and a house in the background, conveying a joyful mood.

Progression and Stagnation

Commercial real estate has been a fantastic profession for me and my family. However, around 75-80% of new brokers leave in the first year and 50-65% of within the first five years. So what makes one broker progress to success and another to stagnate and thus drift away?

Feb 273 min read

A person in an astronaut suit rides a scooter on a dimly lit street at night, with illuminated storefronts and signs in the background.

Cornerstone of the Community

The idea of using real estate as capital in the US dates back to the 1700s, when land was used in place of money to settle debts. Now, it’s an industry supporting 20.4 million jobs through …

Feb 202 min read

Woman smiling inside a modern spacecraft cockpit with complex control panels. She wears glasses and a gray jacket. High-tech setting.

Onward and Upward!

We have a new team member on board! We’re happy to announce that Diane Signorelli has joined CEG as a senior broker. With her expertise in tenant representation and investment sales, she brings a wealth of experience to our team and that’s …

Feb 62 min read

Off-Market Deal Considerations for Buyers

Last week I discussed off-market deals from the seller’s perspective. Having just been part of an off-market closing, I want to flip to the pros and cons for buyers.

Jan 161 min read

Astronauts exchange an item on the moon with Earth visible. A commercial real estate building glows in the background, creating a surreal scene.

The Allure of Off-Market Commercial Real Estate Deals for Owners

The decision to list or not list a commercial property is a strategic one.

Jan 92 min read

Man smiling in holiday sweater with Santa, reindeer, menorah design, and Kwanzaa candles in a space theme with planets, astronauts, crescent moon, rockets, aliens, and stars. Snowy trees in background, conveying festive, cheerful mood.

May Your Sweater Be Ugly & Your Holidays Stellar!

This season, embrace the love, light, and joy with a side of weird! 😆 When you walk into a holiday party looking like a galactic supernova of yarn and symbols, just remember ...

Dec 19, 20251 min read

Astronaut in a blue suit reaches towards a large mechanical device in a futuristic setting. Reflections create a symmetrical effect.

3D Printers in Commercial Real Estate

I’ve been on a technology theme the last few blogs/shorts. With Alquist’s recent announcement that it will 3D print more than a dozen new Walmart buildings, I began to think about the impact of this improved technology on commercial real estate.

Dec 12, 20251 min read

Aerial view of a suburban area with roads, shopping centers, and greenery. An astronaut is humorously hovering above on a small drone.

High-Flying Tool Is a Commercial Real Estate Game Changer

In my recent blog, I talked about how AI is changing the way brokers work. I thought about another tool that over the last ten years changed the way we market, manage, and inspect properties. The drone.

Dec 5, 20252 min read

Jeff's Shorts 2022-2024