Ten with Ben

In the latest episode of Ten with Ben, Ben welcomes Jimmy Sarnoff, Managing Partner at Sarnoff & Baccash, to discuss the intricacies of property taxation in Chicago. They dive into how recent changes by the City’s Assessor have impacted property assessments and taxes, particularly highlighting the triennial reassessment cycle and various tax-saving strategies. Jimmy offers insights on leveraging property tax incentives for commercial and residential developments, and the potential benefits of converting commercial properties to residential to revitalize Chicago’s LaSalle Street. This episode provides crucial advice for navigating the complex landscape of property taxes and making informed real estate investment decisions in Chicago.

This episode of Ten with Ben features Aaron Letzeiser, co-founder of Obie, who discusses the innovative ways his company is simplifying the insurance process for real estate investors and owners. Aaron shares insights on how Obie leverages technology to offer rates instantly and provide transparent insurance options, making the process more manageable and empowering for investors. Aaron’s journey from selling insurance in college to revolutionizing the insurance buying experience for real estate investors highlights the episode’s theme of innovation and adaptation in the real estate world.

 In this special episode of Ten with Ben, Ben is joined by Justin Kessler, Nathan Meisner, and Lauryn Sussman for a compelling conversation on their unique team dynamics and experiences in real estate. The episode focuses on the team’s strong bond as they navigate various aspects of the industry together. Justin shares insights from a notable microbrewery deal, while Nathan reflects on adapting strategies during the pandemic and Lauren speaks to her development within the team’s nurturing environment. Together, they offer an optimistic but cautious outlook of the market headed into 2024. The episode wraps up with a friendly and insightful discussion, illustrating the team’s camaraderie and collective expertise.

Ten with Ben is back to showcase the "power of the ask." Today's market is all about seizing opportunities through creative negotiation. Current conditions present unique opportunities for tenants to renegotiate leases and for landlords to showcase their financial stability as a major strength. Ben offers actionable insight to both tenants and landlords on how to navigate the market effectively, from securing favorable lease terms to arranging unexpected perks.

This week, Ben gets candid about the lessons he's learned over twenty years in real estate—and how the best advice always transcends the business. As a proud American Jew, Ben also reminds us to check in on Jewish friends and colleagues as fallout from the war in Israel continues to be felt around the world. Be present for one another—we are in this together.

In this week's episode, Ben reflects on his two-decade-long journey as a tenant rep broker, shares current market conditions, and identifies recent challenges the industry is facing. From the bustling Fulton Market district to new activity throughout the Loop, get an expert view on what's shaping Chicago's office landscape. Post-pandemic, the deals may be smaller, but leases are being signed. Ben also touches on the perseverance of brokers, the importance of location to tenants, and just what makes Chicago such a dynamic and resilient city.

Ben sits down with Bradford Allen's head of asset management, Brian Dovalovsky.

In our latest Ten with Ben, we sit down with longtime property manager Rob Healy, Vice President and General Manager at CIM Group, L.P. to discuss the vital role of property management and why they’re too often an unsung hero in getting deals done. As a former property manager at the BMO Harris Bank building, Rob also shares his thoughts on the planned revitalization of LaSalle Street and the challeneges of redeveloping its infrastructure for multifamily. Catch the full show to learn more about Rob and hear his take on current trends and market conditions.

In our latest Ten with Ben, we sit down with BA’s own Dan Fernitz and Justin Kessler to discuss the state of the market. What were the big trends in 2022? Will they carry over to 2023? What’s next for the flight-to-quality, the return-to-office, supercharged amenities, suburbs vs downtown, foreclosures, and distress. With over a century’s worth of cumulative market knowledge at the table, the conversation was wide-ranging, well-informed, and chock full of insights. 

This week, we meet with Eric Janssen, president and founder of Chicago Real Estate Resources (CRER), a full-service commercial real estate firm with a focus on investment, retail, and office leasing and a fellow Chicago affiliate of TCN. Eric is an award-winning and well-traveled real estate professional with a multitude of diverse experiences under his belt and has been working in the Chicago market for over three decades. Expertly weathering the challenges in today’s market, Eric’s optimism encourages his brokers to adapt to the changes and persevere, noting “it always comes back.”

On Ten With Ben, we regularly speak with experts in their respective fields, but rarely has a guest come with such an immense amount of market knowledge. Ross Ford is a fourth-generation commercial real estate professional. And with nearly a quarter-century at the helm of TCN Worldwide, a consortium of independent commercial real estate firms, Ross has seen the ups and downs of several market cycles across every real estate segment. One lesson that holds true across time is that real estate is a “business of the moment.” And in this particular moment full of uncertainty and disruption and opportunity—the value of a professional broker/agent has never higher.

We were excited to sit down with Ross and get his perspectives on the state of current market. We always learn something new and valuable speaking with Ross, and we know you will too.