One Year of Value Builder: The Lessons That Hit the Hardest

One Year of Value Builder: The Lessons That Hit the Hardest

Over the past year, the Value Builder Podcast has featured developers, investors, operators, entrepreneurs, brokers, and builders from across commercial real estate. Different markets. Different strategies. Different backgrounds. Yet certain lessons kept showing up again and again. In this special one-year anniversary episode, Saul reflects on the biggest insights from the first 47 episodes and revisits some of the most memorable moments from guests who shared hard-earned wisdom about business, investing, entrepreneurship, leadership, money, fulfillment, and life. In this episode, you'll hear lessons on: * Building wealth without losing sight of what matters * Why fundamentals still win in commercial real estate * The difference between income and asset ownership * Entrepreneurship, risk, and resilience * Capital raising and long-term investing * Gratitude, generosity, and legacy * What the best operators seem to understand that most people miss Whether you've been with us since episode one or you're discovering the show for the first time, this episode captures the themes that shaped the first year of Value Builder. Thank you to every guest, listener, subscriber, and supporter who helped make year one possible. Here's to the next chapter.

He Built CRE Wealth… Then Realized Something Was Missing

Shay Yakobovich built commercial real estate wealth, then made a different choice: fewer deals, smaller headaches, and more life.   In this episode, Saul sits down with Shay to talk about what happens after you have enough. They cover passive income, lifestyle creep, gratitude, giving back, and why chasing bigger deals is not always the right answer.   In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why Shay stepped away from chasing larger CRE deals * How he built a team that lets him work only a few hours a week * Why “less is more” became his operating philosophy * How gratitude and giving back changed his view of wealth * What smaller retail and flex deals can offer that larger deals often cannot * Why sleeping well at night became part of his investment criteria   Connect with Shay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-yakobovich-783296a3/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shay-yakobovich-783296a3/]   This episode is for CRE operators and investors asking a deeper question: what is all this work actually for?

How to Manage 14,000 Units with Joe Fairless (The $3.9B Blueprint)

Joe Fairless has built one of the largest multifamily investment platforms in the country, overseeing more than 14,000 units and $3.9B in assets across the Sunbelt. In this episode, Saul sits down with Joe to break down what it actually takes to operate at that scale, how today’s multifamily market is really performing behind the headlines, and why disciplined operations matter more than ever in this cycle. The conversation dives into capital raising, supply pressure, concessions, property management, and the realities of navigating large-scale apartment investing during a shifting market environment. Listener takeaways include: * How Joe scaled to 14,000+ units and a $3.9B portfolio * What’s really happening in Sunbelt multifamily markets right now * Why concessions and supply pressure are lasting longer than expected * How institutional-quality operations create long-term stability * The importance of diversifying capital sources and investor relationships * What experienced operators are watching over the next 12–18 months Whether you're an active multifamily operator, passive investor, syndicator, or CRE entrepreneur, this episode offers a practical look into managing large apartment portfolios through changing market conditions. Connect with Joe Fairless: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joefairless [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joefairless/]Podcast: https://www.bestevercre.com/podcast [https://www.bestevercre.com/podcast]Website: https://ashcroftcapital.com [https://ashcroftcapital.com] 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with commercial real estate operators, investors, and builders creating long-term value. #CommercialRealEstate #MultifamilyInvesting #ApartmentInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #CapitalRaising #CRE #ValueBuilderPodcast

Flex Industrial Forecast: Where Rents, Demand & Smart Money Are Headed

In this episode of The Value Builder Podcast, Saul sits down with Cody Payne of Flex Parks USA, one of the most experienced operators in small bay flex industrial, alongside partner Shea Lewis. With over 20 years in the space and more than 10,000 transactions closed, Cody breaks down what’s actually happening in today’s flex industrial market—from rent trends and tenant demand to why newer metal product is outperforming traditional infill. This conversation goes beyond surface-level insights and gets into what’s really driving pricing, leasing velocity, and investor behavior in 2026. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why newer metal flex parks are commanding higher rents than infill assets * The real difference between contractor-driven demand vs growth-driven markets * What buyers are actually looking for in stabilized vs value-add deals * How tenant mix, clear height, and location impact long-term performance * Why basic “commodity” flex space is most at risk of oversupply * The key amenities and features that separate top-performing parks From development strategy to disposition insights, this episode gives a clear look at where flex industrial is heading—and how to position yourself on the right side of it. Connect with Cody: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Flex-Space-Domination-Capitalizing-Industrial/dp/B0D385755L [https://www.amazon.com/Flex-Space-Domination-Capitalizing-Industrial/dp/B0D385755L]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codypayne/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/codypayne/]Online: https://flexbusinessparks.com/ [https://flexbusinessparks.com/]

Multifamily Is Breaking: Where Smart Operators Are Actually Winning Now

Tim Chen brings a ground-level view of what’s actually happening in multifamily today—from rapid expansion during peak markets to navigating one of the toughest cycles in recent memory. After scaling from brokerage into ownership and development, Tim shares how shifting strategies, controlling costs, and thinking long-term are shaping his current approach. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why many multifamily deals are underwater and what caused it * How rising rates and stalled rent growth are reshaping underwriting * Why development can outperform value-add in certain markets * How California’s property tax structure changes long-term strategy * Where real deal flow is coming from in today’s market * Why vertical integration is becoming a competitive advantage Connect with Tim: Email: tc@connectedcompanies.com [tc@connectedcompanies.com] Phone: (949) 391-6668 LinkeIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timdchen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/timdchen/] Website: https://www.connectedcompanies.com/ [https://www.connectedcompanies.com/] This episode is for operators, investors, and builders who want a clear, honest look at today’s market—and how to adapt without relying on yesterday’s playbook.