The Real Estate Espresso Podcast

Andy McMullin is based in San Diego. But he invests in development projects in the South. Some of his projects are in Louisiana. On today's show we are focused on his projects that are located near some of our own in Southwest Louisiana.

To connect with Andy, visit https://legacyacquisitions.com/

--------------

**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:**
Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)  
iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)  
Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)  
LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)  
YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)  
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
**Y Street Capital:**
Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)  
Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

Brandon Cobb is a land developer who also runs a land development mastermind. In his own business he has implemented AI at a high level. On today's show we are talking about the different levels of AI integration in your business. To connect with Brandon and to learn more visit: https://joinaiagentaccelerator.com/

------------

**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:**
Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)  
iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)  
Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)  
LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)  
YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)  
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
**Y Street Capital:**
Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)  
Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

In 2004 I assumed responsibility for two chip design organizations in France based in a suburb of Paris and another just west of Nice. These teams were part of the acquisition of IBM's microprocessor development team. As a result of leading this teams for several years, I became deeply immersed in the social and employment culture of France. That doesn't mean that I took on the personal characteristics of a French citizen. I was just immersed in it long enough to understand it. The protests that we are seeing in France have always been hovering beneath the surface. It is part of the French culture to protest and to protest loudly. In fact, some of my employees staged two days of protest marches in solidarity with the IBM union when the union created the narrative that IBM was getting rid of people by selling a business unit to an outside company. I’m telling you this to help you understand the French psyche. 

It is clear that France is at a fiscal turning point. The country cannot afford its social programs. No politician will get elected on a platform of fiscal responsibility. 

The entire French nation is bracing for further unrest this weekend. Public transportation has been suspended in many major cities including Paris. Protest marches have been banned in many cities and are only being permitted on an exceptional basis for certain union led protest marches. 

When I was in France, my staff used to tell me, Victor, you don’t understand. You come to France with your US and Canadian perspective. You don’t understand how important job security is in France. In an environment where it costs so much to fire someone, the consequence is that very few people actually get hired. You see in France, any company with more than 50 employees is required to have a union by law. So for those who do have a job in an enterprise that is protected by a union, getting a job is essentially a guarantee of financial stability. But it is also a prison. You can’t just leave and find a higher paying job. So when inflation robs people of their purchasing power, these people are trapped. They feel entitled to a certain standard of living and when the environment doesn’t deliver it, they blame the French government. The protests in France over high fuel prices make no sense. The high prices are a result of the war between Russia and the Ukraine, combined with the war in the Persian Gulf. If anything, people from France should be protest marching in Moscow and Washington DC instead of Paris.

-------------

**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:**
Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)  
iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)  
Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)  
LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)  
YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)  
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
**Y Street Capital:**
Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)  
Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

Today is another AMA episode (ask me anything). Today's question comes from Matthew who asks: "What qualities do you look for when hiring a project manager?"

--------------

**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:**
Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)  
iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)  
Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)  
LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)  
YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)  
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
**Y Street Capital:**
Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)  
Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

The First rare earth metal separation and refining plant in the US is about to start construction. It's going to be located 14 miles from Lake Charles, Louisiana. This is a market we know well. So why here?

Meta announced their new 1GW AI data center near Edmonton Alberta. This $13B CAD investment has a lot of the same characteristics.

-------------

**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:**
Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)  
iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)  
Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)  
LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)  
YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)  
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
**Y Street Capital:**
Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)  
Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

On today's show we are looking at how AI is already changing the face of retail. The effects are global. From Sephora to Ikea to Home Depot. Nobody is immune.

Ask "Where can I find the best price on within a 5 mile radius of my current location?" A few seconds later, you have your answer.

----------------

**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:**
Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)  
iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)  
Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)  
LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)  
YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)  
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
**Y Street Capital:**
Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)  
Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

There is a new software called REA (reverse engineer anything).

REA is an open source tool that connects to artificial intelligence coding agents through something called the Model Context Protocol. In plain English, it gives an agent the ability to decompile software, meaning take a finished application and work backward to understand its underlying code and logic.

Point your agent at an app. Ask it how a feature works. REA routes that request through established reverse engineering tools, the kind professionals have used for years, and the agent comes back with an explanation. Here's what this feature does, here's the evidence, here's what we're still not sure about. But the most important part is that the reverse engineering tells you not just what it does, but most importantly how it does it. The agent then writes its own version and tests it.

Do that feature by feature, and you've effectively reconstructed how an entire application behaves, without ever seeing the original source code.

--------------

**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:**
Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)  
iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)  
Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)  
LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)  
YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)  
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
**Y Street Capital:**
Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)  
Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

Chris Long is based in Tampa Florida where he is the founder of Longyards. Longyards is an industrial outdoor storage product that serves specific customer segments including contractors who need places to store equipment, materials, and mobile facilities. On today's show we are talking about how the industry is evolving. To learn more and to connect with Chris, visit longyards.com

------------

**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:**
Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)  
iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)  
Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)  
LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)  
YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)  
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
**Y Street Capital:**
Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)  
Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

Chris Tourtelotte is based in Los Angeles where he is a principal at LaTerra Development. The firm invests nation wide in apartments and storage.

On today's show we are getting Chris's perspective on what is working and how to buy good deals. To connect with Chris, visit with him on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christourtellotte/

---------

**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:**
Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)  
iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)  
Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)  
LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)  
YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)  
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
**Y Street Capital:**
Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)  
Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

On today’s episode, we are pulling back the curtain on a massive media narrative circulating ahead of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. You’ve probably seen the headlines over the last few weeks: political pundits debating whether injecting a few shipments of Russian diesel or releasing incremental  strategic petroleum reserves into the U.S. domestic market will cool down inflation at the pump and save politicians at the ballot box on November 3rd.

Here is today’s reality check: injecting Russian barrels of diesel into the U.S. will have essentially zero impact on the global supply shortfall, and zero impact on U.S. voter sentiment. The first thing to remember is that an oil tanker moves about the speed of a bicycle. A trip from the middle east to anywhere along the pacific coast of Asia like say Yokohama in Japan takes about 3 weeks. So it takes even longer for a barrel of oil to go through the refining process at the destination and then is transported to where it is actually consumed. 

You see, the political narrative completely ignores how international maritime commerce actually works. The decision to ship crude oil, diesel, and liquid commodities out of the Middle East isn't made by executive orders in the White House. It is made by private shipping companies, vessel owners, and marine insurance underwriters—and right now, those players are staring down an unprecedented crisis in global shipping lanes.

Let’s look at what is really happening in the world of shipping.

Over the past month, Iran has dramatically escalated attacks against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. We aren't just talking about isolated minor incidents; we are seeing a structural breakdown in maritime security. On October 11th alone, six commercial vessels were struck in a single day. On October 13th, four more vessels were hit. There were 24 separate attacks in just the first two weeks of October.

The cost of chartering a ship has increased anywhere from 10x to 17x the pre-war levels. At some point, shippers will refuse, irrespective of the danger pay.

------------

**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:**
Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)  
iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)  
Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)  
LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)  
YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)  
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
**Y Street Capital:**
Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)  
Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)  
Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)