This week, I attended MNCAR’s State of Brokerage event with our most recent team member, broker Nicole Langer. First, I want to welcome Nicole––a business owner, broker and connector––to the team. As a person who understands the benefits of CRE investing, thinks creatively, and has what it takes to get deals done, she’s a perfect addition to CEG. Through my conversations with Nicole and attending the MNCAR event, here are my thoughts on the overall state of brokerage: 1.

“I didn’t know I was supposed to use a broker when I leased my first office space,” said a client. We connected because he found himself in lease trouble. The space turned out to be unsustainable, and he needed to find a better fit. Upon signing, he didn’t know what he didn’t know, which led to an entangled mess. He's a perfect example of why you need a broker when making a CRE deal. Keep these five things in mind and spread the word if you hear someone talking about entering

Very early Saturday morning, NASA plans to provide live coverage of the docking of the Roscosmos cargo spacecraft as it brings three tons of food, fuel, and supplies to the International Space Station. Hopefully, I’ll be asleep then, but it got me thinking about business behind the scenes, service deliveries, and what it takes to keep things on track. When I launched Commercial Equities Group in January of 2010, it began as a network of brokers, investors, and other professio

We don’t know everything that’s coming our way. However, with proper planning and preparation, a CRE investor can be sure to best provide for themselves and/or their heirs. I’ve worked with clients and investors that have found themselves in difficult situations. When you’re in it, you want to find help from a brokerage that’s sensitive, empathetic, and will get the best deal for you. Creating a future road map and acting proactively now, saves making a difficult situation wo

I remember the feeling when I stepped through the threshold of my first CRE investment property. It smelled of pizza––lingering remnants from the Vescio family dishing up Italian food to U of M students for over 60 years. In 2018, they closed their iconic Dinkytown business and sold the building. There was something about owning a piece of history, and it was fitting that my first property had to do with pizza. I often think investing is like a pizza. Here’s why: 1. Hot

Looking back at 2022, I realized what a year it’s been. Here are my top five experiences that made me laugh or somehow changed my life: 1. The window was open in the rental car as we drove to a putt-putt course in Florida. My beautiful wife was next to me, and Levi was smiling as he watched the palm trees go by. We were content and livin’ the life! Then I hear, “Dad, a bird just pooped on me!” I let Levi know that when a bird poops on you––especially through an open car

Last weekend, my wife, Josie, and I took our son, Levi, to Lutsen for a short ski trip. (It was beautiful, and I love my family 😀) Skiing requires balance and knowing how to distribute your weight––otherwise you fall on your butt. As a business owner, investor, and managing partner, I sometimes need to get out of town with my family and relax. Still, I can’t always silence my phone. I know I’m not alone. Putting most of my weight into my business is easy for me. I love what

In my last blog, “We Buy Buildings, Too!” I mentioned option to buy or contract for deed as a way to get into commercial spaces. Both give the buyer the exclusive option to purchase a property within an agreed price and time period. Contract for deed is like a traditional mortgage, except instead of paying a bank, the buyer pays the property owner directly. The buyer takes ownership after the final payment is made. Option to purchase deals are unique. They can be structured i

At CEG, we know space. We’re not just knowledgeable and approachable – we’re creative, too (#5 may surprise you 😉). And that creativity carries over to how we approach deals. Our goal is to get the right spaces and the best deals for our clients’ business. Our first step in finding that perfect space is getting to know our clients, understanding their needs and developing a connection. We become a guide to show them how to get the perfect fit. Sometimes deals are straight fo

Brokers know brokers. Sometimes people have the perception that we’re adversaries. That’s not my experience, and that surprises some. Here’s my take on what it’s really like amongst brokers in the Twin Cities market: 1. We talk. Commercial real estate is a relationship-oriented business. It’s how we get deals done. So there’s no doubt, after many years in the business, like-minded people form friendships or at least have a strong working connection. 2. We want what’s

Commercial Equities Group (CEG) is one of the small companies that make up 99.5% of businesses in Minnesota and employ 1.3 million people––46.2% of employees statewide. We’re a boutique brokerage, and we like it that way. We like being unique. But being small means we have to be creative in how we break through in the digital world. We don’t have a huge marketing budget to dominate pay-to-play social media feeds and Google searches. So, it got me thinking, what are the best w

In my “Help! We All Need Somebody” blog, I referenced how a conversation with John Allen impacted my decision to become a broker. My experiences working with John – as well as my paper route as a boy to my service in the US military as a young adult – have all impacted how I approach being a broker. In 1986, I joined the US Army and became an Airborne rigger right out of high school. Those three years really changed how I see the world. Based primarily in Germany, I met and w