Subscribe!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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:

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!

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.

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?

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 …

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.

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 …

As a veteran and with Memorial Day approaching, it’s time to remind people of the meaning behind the day –– a solemn day of remembrance for American military personnel who died in active service. There are 13 families that are deep in it this year.

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

There are probably thousands of studies about the benefits of being part of a community out there. But one only has to BE part of a community (hopefully a positive one 😉) to know when you’re part of a group, you feel better mentally and physically. You may notice a burst of energy or the world looks a little brighter. Maybe you feel supported or it gives you a sense of purpose.

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.

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.