In this episode of The Matthews Podcast, host Matthew Wallace sits down with Stephen Bittel, chairman and founder of Terranova Corporation, to discuss his extensive career in commercial real estate. With over four decades of experience and a portfolio exceeding a billion dollars, Steven shares his journey from his early days in Miami to founding one of South Florida's premier real estate investment firms. The conversation delves into market cycles, the impacts of significant economic events, and strategies for success in this changing market. Learn about Stephen's incredible path, the growth of Terranova Corporation, and his advice to aspiring professionals. Tune in for an insightful discussion on resilience, opportunity, and leadership in commercial real estate.

00:00 Introduction to The Matthews Podcast

00:46 Meet Stephen Bittel: A Real Estate Icon

01:51 Early Life and Education

02:32 Starting a Career in Real Estate

05:36 Founding Terranova Corporation

08:56 Navigating Market Cycles and Challenges

11:06 Building a Third-Party Management Business

18:30 Shifting Focus to Equity Trades

20:29 Surviving the Great Financial Crisis

22:37 Managing Petroleum Realty During Lehman's Collapse

25:57 Navigating the 2008 Financial Crisis

26:19 Opportunities in the 2010s

30:46 The Impact of COVID-19

37:08 Adapting to Market Volatility

42:07 Building a Lasting Legacy

46:40 Advice for the Next Generation

In this episode of The Matthews Podcast, host Matthew Wallace welcomes John Drew, Founder and Chairman of The Drew Company, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, legacy, and global real estate development. With a career spanning public service and private sector success, Drew shares how his early work in government—repurposing federal properties—launched a lifelong path in commercial real estate.

Drew offers behind-the-scenes insight into the transformation of Boston’s Seaport District, where his company helped develop landmark assets like the Seaport Hotel, World Trade Center Boston, and Seaport East and West. He discusses the complexities of public-private partnerships, the evolution of mixed-use design, and the long-term strategy that helped reposition the Boston waterfront into a thriving urban hub.

The conversation also dives into Drew’s decades-long leadership with the World Trade Centers Association, offering a global perspective on trade facilitation, international development, and the future of urbanization. He unpacks the real-world effects of geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs, and the shifting supply chain—and what they mean for U.S. CRE investors.

A must-listen for professionals looking to understand the intersection of policy, community development, and global markets, this episode is packed with insight from one of the industry's most globally connected leaders.

Episode Outline

00:00 Introduction to The Matthews Podcast

00:41 Meet John Drew: Founder and Chairman of the Drew Company

01:37 John Drew's Early Career in Real Estate

03:13 Redevelopment Projects and Community Involvement

10:06 Launching the Drew Company

11:19 Developing Boston's Seaport District

19:57 Trends in Urban Redevelopment

22:06 World Trade Centers Association: Mission and Impact

29:12 Global Trade and Real Estate Insights

38:58 Advice for Young Real Estate Professionals

41:37 Conclusion and Final Thought

Join host Matthew Wallace on this episode of The Matthews Podcast as he sits down with Michael Webb, a seasoned real estate attorney with over a decade of experience in handling complex and high-value commercial transactions. In this insightful conversation, Michael shares his journey into real estate law, his diverse portfolio of deals across various asset classes, and his perspective on the current macroeconomic environment impacting the real estate market. They discuss the importance of managing client expectations, the impact of AI in the legal profession, and trends to watch for in the future of commercial real estate. This episode is packed with valuable insights for investors, developers, and any commercial real estate professional looking to navigate the evolving landscape of the industry.

00:00 Introduction to The Matthews Podcast

00:45 Meet Michael Webb: A Seasoned Real Estate Attorney

01:47 Michael Webb's Journey into Real Estate Law

03:18 Current Practice and Key Transactions

08:47 Challenges and Highlights in Real Estate Deals

15:47 Sourcing Clients and Balancing Work

19:33 Macro Environment and Real Estate Outlook

27:06 Legal Trends and AI in Real Estate

36:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Michael

https://www.farrellfritz.com/professionals/michael-l-webb/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-l-webb-a308bb41/

In this episode of The Matthews Podcast, host Matthew Wallace sits down with Jeff Weller, co-founder and co-CEO of Lion Real Estate Group, to explore his remarkable journey through commercial real estate. Weller shares insights from his early days as a tenant rep broker to building a successful multifamily investment firm with over $3 billion in real estate acquisitions. The conversation delves into strategic market shifts, moving from Southern California to the Southeast and Texas, and the critical importance of adaptability in real estate investing. He highlights the value of brokerage experience, investor relationships, and a focused investment approach, offering a candid look at navigating market challenges, raising capital, and maintaining a value-add multifamily strategy. With an optimistic outlook on the real estate market, the podcast provides a masterclass in entrepreneurial resilience and strategic investment thinking.

In this episode of The Matthews Podcast, host Matthew Wallace interviews Michael Voulgarakis, Managing Director of Southgate Ventures. Michael shares insights into his commercial real estate investment strategy, focusing on value-add multifamily properties in the Seattle market. He discusses the unique characteristics of the Seattle real estate landscape, including high-income professionals, geographic constraints, and a lack of supply. The conversation covers Southgate's investment approach, capital raising strategies, technology integration, and Michael's career journey from property flipping to running a successful real estate venture. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on identifying investment opportunities and navigating market volatility.

Connect with Michael Voulgarakis:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelvoulgarakis/

Website: https://sreventures.com/

Connect with Matthew Wallace:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-wallace-7a9b235/

The commercial real estate industry is undergoing a major digital transformation, but what does that really mean for property owners, retailers, and landlords? In this episode of The Matthews Podcast, we sit down with David Blumenfeld, Co-Founder of NextRivet, to explore the intersection of PropTech and commercial real estate—breaking down how technology is reshaping the industry and where the biggest opportunities lie.

In this episode, we answer:

• How did David get started in his career?
• What is PropTech, and why has the real estate sector been slow to adopt it?
• What PropTech solutions deliver the highest ROI for landlords and property owners?
• How is AI changing the landscape of commercial real estate?
• What first steps should CRE professionals take to drive impactful digital innovation?

David brings decades of experience from Westfield Labs and NextRivet, offering deep insights into how technology is revolutionizing physical spaces. From AI and digital solutions to the future of last-mile fulfillment, this episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone in the CRE space.

🎧 Tune in now to learn how to navigate the PropTech revolution!

Connect with David:

https://nextrivet.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dblumenfeld/

Join us for a special episode of the Matthews podcast, Jeff Enck moderates a roundtable discussion with top professionals in the strip center industry. Experts like John Morgan Jr., Kristen Neyland, Ryan Moore, and many others share their insights on the evolution, opportunities, and challenges in the strip center market. From the post-COVID retail landscape to investment strategies, tenant relationships, and the future of the unanchored strip product, this episode delves deep into the dynamics shaping the industry. Whether you're an investor, developer, or simply interested in commercial real estate trends, this roundtable offers valuable perspectives on navigating and thriving in this vibrant sector.

This episode of The Matthews Podcast features an interview with David Ferber, a top multifamily investment sales broker in New Jersey's Hudson County market. David specializes in selling apartment buildings between 6-100 units in the $1-$50 million price range.

His hyper-specialized approach, focusing solely on the Hudson County market since he began his career in 2022, allows him to provide unparalleled value to his clients. In the conversation David shares updates on the New Jersey multifamily market and provides insights on the lack of distress in the market so far. He also discusses the impact of rent control regulations, particularly the changes in New York City that have driven many investors to seek opportunities across the river in New Jersey. This influx of New York-based buyers has contributed to significant price appreciation in Hudson County. Overall, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the New Jersey multifamily market through the lens of a top-performing broker, offering valuable insights and strategies for real estate professionals.

Industrial outdoor storage (IOS) has emerged as a hot new asset class in the Southeast, according to Harrison Auerbach on the Matthews Podcast. This episode dives into the region's industrial real estate market, exploring trends from small-scale properties to large-scale developments. Auerbach shares insights on spotting value-add opportunities and how investors are rethinking strategies amid changing economic conditions. From shallow-bay multi-tenant properties to the impact of construction costs, the conversation offers a comprehensive look at the industrial sector's current state. Find practical takeaways on industrial market dynamics, investment approaches, and the unique challenges in places like South Florida, Atlanta, and Nashville.

In the latest episode of the Matthews Podcast, hosted by Matt Wallace, DJ Johnston and Brock Emmetsberger from Matthews' New York office share insights on the firm's growth plans and strategies. The two discuss what makes Matthews stand out among other investment services firms. Specialization and collaboration, they explain, are key to success in New York City's intricate real estate market. Geographic and product type expertise isn't just helpful—it's essential.

The conversation also addresses political and regulatory challenges in NYC, focusing on how rent laws and development policies impact affordability and investment. As a nod to Matthews’ energetic and supportive culture, DJ and Brock also explain how specialized skills and knowledge make all the difference with clients.

• Growth plans for Matthews' NYC office, including recruiting young talent and giving brokers ownership over specialized areas. 
• The political and regulatory challenges facing the NYC real estate market, such as rent laws and new permitting requirements. 
• Differences between Manhattan and Brooklyn broker models. 
• How Matthews has fostered a collaborative culture among brokers, bucking traditional competitive models.
• The future of brokerage, technology, and client services.
• Advice for real estate investors in NYC