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Shorts

Smiling man in a suit stands inside a futuristic cockpit with dark control panels and cables overhead.

Welcome Aboard!

I’m happy to introduce a new member to the Commercial Equities Group (CEG) team. Welcome aboard, Spencer Larson!

1 day ago1 min read

Industrial grain silo with turquoise top beside quiet road, railroad crossing sign, and distant city Minneapolis skyline under blue sky.

Buying and Selling Buildings

When buying and selling buildings, there are a lot of things to manage. Due diligence is a time to do a thorough screening of the property’s condition as well as code compliance and environmental tests. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) helps to minimize a buyer’s risk by checking for historical contamination, hazardous materials, and vapor intrusion. If something is found …

Oct 161 min read

Man in blue shirt types on a laptop at a white desk by a large window, overlooking an autumn cityscape.

5 Years! Commercial Real Estate Blogs

It’s been five years since I started the Commercial Equities Group (CEG) blog! I’m so grateful for each and every one my readers and am touched by those of you who comment, reach out, and share to spread the word. It’s humbling.

Oct 92 min read

Autumn forest trail lined with white birch trees and yellow-green leaves under a clear blue sky, peaceful and empty.

Fall Rush

For most people, when October arrives in Minnesota, it’s all about fall colors. In the commercial real estate business, October means fall rush and one of our busiest months of the year.

Oct 21 min read

Man on a rooftop beside HVAC units, with an American flag waving against a blue sky and trees.

Commercial Property Improvements

We have a current client that inherited commercial property from a family member. The long-time tenants had been paying rent set years ago and way below today’s market value. We worked with the owner to align rent when leases were up, re-sign tenants, and find new tenants where needed.

Sep 253 min read

Blue-toned office lobby with a man leaning on a reception desk juxtaposed by a collection of portraits of diverse group of people of multiple ages and professions.

Genuine Kindness Matters

I’ve met a lot of people over the years, and I’ve learned that lasting impressions happen from your approach. Do they feel seen? Respected? Understood?

Sep 181 min read

Terracotta, lay-colored brick industrial building with blue door and metal stairs, a yellow dock door, and unit numbers 103 and 104, under a clear sky.

What Are the Top 3 Things Industrial Tenants Are Looking For in a Warehouse?

I started in industrial, and I continue to have success leasing, buying, and selling industrial buildings. Through the many deals over the many years, I know warehouses, inside and out, from the below ground to the roof. So what are the top 3 things potential industrial tenants looking for in a warehouse building?

Sep 102 min read

Family selfie at a fair, smiling before a giant Ferris wheel, framed by trees and yellow tents.

MN State Fair Opportunities

It’s MN State Fair season and that means opportunities! I typically go there twice, once to support my network and the other to have a good time with family. This year, I had to merge the two, and it’s hard to shut my business and commercial real estate brain off.

Sep 41 min read

Three smiling men (Jeff, Andy, and Adam) in navy Commercial Equities Group hoodies pose in a stadium concourse near booth and section 126-127 signs.

Small Companies, Big People

At CEG, we’re a close group and last Friday hit hard. Andy Voorhees, our business development and property management extraordinaire, unexpectedly passed. It’s a tough loss for our team as many of us were his longtime friends, but the way Andy lived his life is a gift we’ll carry as we continue on. In small companies, it’s easy to recognize those big people.

Aug 283 min read

Five people sitting on a shaded bench under red-leaved trees on a sunny downtown sidewalk, holding cold drinks, and laughing because of a Power Players challenge to ask the ridiculous. Shops and parked cars visible behind them.

Why Wouldn't You?

A few members of our team were part of a 4-day commercial real estate investing intensive earlier this month called Power Players. Between the real estate strategy sessions and the moments that forced us out of our comfort zones, this was an experience that transformed minds, perspectives, and how business is done.

Aug 212 min read

Smiling family of four posing in an industrial market, with a fire wall signs and bakery display behind them.

Life Brings Lessons

I’ve written and spoken about my childhood before––it wasn’t easy. One may think that I am where I am despite my circumstances, but really, I am where I am because it gave me self-reliance at an early age.

Aug 142 min read

Astronaut in a white spacesuit sits on a stool on the moon beside a pink piggy bank wearing sunglasses under a starry sky.

A Reliable Investment Strategy

Most people perform a quick mental stress test before sitting on a piece of furniture: “Is this going to hold me?” With two legs, the answer is an obvious no. With four, stability is guaranteed. Income portfolios work the same way. If your investment strategy is balancing on just one or two asset classes, you're constantly bracing for a fall. Adding …

Aug 71 min read

Smiling young woman and man pose for a selfie outside Hazel's restaurant, with the bold sign visible behind them.

Deals, History, and Local Gems

Working in commercial real estate, I often find myself dining out for meetings and networking events around the Twin Cities. I’ve also done deals with iconic restaurant buildings, including Liquor Lyles in Uptown, Whitey’s in Northeast, Vescio’s in Dinkytown, The Galaxy (retro drive-in) in St. Louis Park, and 112 Eatery in downtown Minneapolis. My history and our current listings got me thinking. What Twin Cities restaurants are …

Jul 313 min read

Astronaut climbs lunar module ladder on the Moon, with a blue M icon at top left and partial UN ST text visible.

Pack Your Patience

Commercial real estate and instant gratification do not belong in the same sentence. If you want fast results, order fast food. If you want generational wealth, pack your patience.

Jul 242 min read

Smiling man in blue polo holds AVAILABLE and SOLD commercial real estate signs in an office hallway.

An Unstoppable Mindset

I think dedication breeds optimism and enthusiasm. Being committed to something and believing in the why, provides purpose in all aspects of life. But it is exceptionally true in business. Dedication is ongoing and requires …

Jul 171 min read

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

Patriotic collage with a child holding a U.S. flag, Statue of Liberty, grill, stars, and text 1776, LOVE in a stacked retro design, 2026, Best Readers’ Choice.

What a Week to Celebrate!

Starting with Sunday’s announcement of CEG winning Gold – Best Commercial Real Estate through Minnesota’s Best and ending with 4th of July, our country’s 250th year of independence on Saturday, this has been quite the week to celebrate!

Jul 32 min read

Golden sunset lights up the Minneapolis downtown skyline beneath dark clouds, with a brick building and fence in the foreground.

Like Attracts Like

Have you ever felt someone’s good mood lift you up? Or have you noticed a person in a bad mood can bring down the energy in the whole room? Just like the downtown skyline reflects a gorgeous sunset, humans tend to mirror each other.

Jun 262 min read

Harbor city skyline with a tall smokestack, red clock tower, hillside houses, and rocky waterfront under a clear blue sky.

Commercial, Public, and Private Properties

One of our team members went up north last weekend for some much-needed respite. Driving through Duluth’s impressive industrial landscape of various commercial property types, past miles of trees, and through small communities along the way to Grand Marais, she wondered: What’s the breakdown in Minnesota between commercial real estate, public land, and private properties?

Jun 192 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

Jeff's Shorts 2022-2024