Ep. 193 Derek Waltchack: Opportunities in the Florida Retail Market

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Florida Retail Market Opportunities

On today’s podcast, we talk with Derek Waltchack about the retail asset class with a focus on strip centers. As Derek shares, there is a lot of misinformation about the retail asset class. Many investors steer clear of retail, especially when retail assets like malls are not doing so well — but malls are not the real “bread and butter”. Despite what you may hear, retail is a very stable asset class, especially when it comes to strip centers in good neighborhoods.

Derek also takes us into the new modern world of blockchain, the record-keeping technology behind bitcoin that is used to store digital information in a public database, and which is starting to be used in real estate transactions.

Key Discussion Points
[06:02] How did you transition from broker to owner?
[10:47] What investments are you looking for in Florida?
[18:44] Why did you choose Florida / I-4 corridor for retail investments?
[25:30] What kind of cap rates are you looking for?
[38:42] Where does your debt financing come from?
[31:01] From an underwriting standpoint, what are a few important things you look for when someone wants to bring you a deal?
[33:43] Tell us about blockchain technology that is starting to be used in real estate
[43:00] How can folks contact you?
[44:43] Closing remarks by Eric and Steven

 

About Our Guest

Derek_Waltchack Derek is a partner at Shannon Waltchack based in Birmingham, Alabama. Derek has extensive experience in commercial real estate. In Birmingham, he spearheaded a $4.5 million renovation that transformed a 100 year old warehouse into a cutting edge business center known as railroad square. He also did the first crowd source development in Birmingham, and that development is known as the Stockyard Birmingham. Currently he is working on projects in central Florida.

Derek is also a subject matter expert on bitcoin, blockchain, and how those technologies are impacting the economy, specifically in general and commercial real estate. 

Website: https://shanwalt.com/
Email: dw@shanwalt.com
Twitter: @dwaltchack

Ep. 136 Brian Willis & Gerry Tierney: Learn How Transit & Technology Changes Will Affect Your Property!

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automated transitTechnology is rapidly changing the way we look at the future. Innovations like automated transit are quickly nearing practical realities. In Tampa Bay, we’re seeing advancements in automated transit already, with the area being positioned as a proving ground for automated systems. Automation and other technologies will bring major changes to existing infrastructure.

No industry will be affected by these impending technologies more than real estate. From multifamily to retail, emerging technologies like automated transit will require an entire rethinking of real estate design and development. Urban planners, architects and developers need to consider these effects and start planning accordingly.

This episode, we discuss these changes on a local and national level. We look at what game-changing technologies are emerging and what urban planners and developers are doing to address these changes now.

Meet Our Guests

Tampa Bay sustainable transitBrian Willis is real estate attorney with Shumaker Loop & Kendrick. He is a leading advocate for integrated and sustainable transit in Tampa. Brian brings on-the-ground knowledge of the cutting-edge technologies here in Florida and how Tampa Bay is taking steps to integrate them into current real estate design and development.

 

real estate designGerry Tierney is an Associate Principal at Perkins + Will. Based out of San Fransisco, Gerry is a leading force for automated transit and mobility and adapting real estate design to suit these changing needs. He serves as the Co-Director of Smart Mobility Lab and has Collaborated with both UCLA – Berkeley and MIT in sustainability research.

Technologies Impacting Real Estate

  • Automated transit / autonomous vehicles
    • Autonomy integrating in public transit by 2020s
    • Subscription-based autonomous car ownership coming down the line

Future-proofing Current Real Estate Design

Urban planners, architects and developers needs to consider how current layout and designs will play into emerging technologies.

  • Adaptive Use
    • Big-box retail stores
    • Shopping malls
    • Existing parking structures
      • Vertical Parking vs. Horizontal
      • In-fill
      • Mechanized parking
  • Urban Design & Planning
    • Current developments built to accommodate automated transit
    • Changes to grid structure and street layouts
    • Rethinking asset classes
      • Industrial
      • Office
      • Multifamily
      • Retail

Resources

  • Contact Gerry at gerry.tierney@perkinswill.com or (415) 546-2933
  • Contact Brian at (813) 221-7165 or on Twitter @BrianWillisTPA

 

 

Ep 87 Tom Blazejack: Miami Real Estate Market Overview

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business-portraits-009Things are happening in the Miami real estate market… Well things are always happening in the Miami real estate market, but BIG things are happening right now. Miami has long been the focal point for real estate investors due to the density and scale of development and the investment opportunity for a variety of asset classes. Real estate investors all over Florida have looked towards the Miami real estate market as a forecast for current and future conditions throughout the state.

Tom Blazejack, of Blazejack & Company knows all of the ins and outs of the Miami real estate market. In addition to nearly 40 years’ experience as a real estate appraiser and analyst, Tom is also a native of Miami. Tom’s extensive appraisal knowledge of commercial and residential properties and intimate knowledge of the Miami real estate market make his consultation highly sought after by investors. This episode, Tom gives us an overview of the Miami real estate market, including development highlights and what investors should expect.

Miami Real Estate Market

  • 2011 purchase of Miami Herald building for $236 million marks return of market
  • Foreign investment and cash-heavy market
    • Foreign investors seeking stable properties to invest cash
  • Development spikes
    • New deposit requirements for investors and developers insures accountability
    • Lenders alleviating construction loan costs for developers
    • Projects moving quicker
  • Land price increases
    • Miami seeing $200-300/sqf on new commercial developments but even as high as $3000 in some prime locations
    • Residential continues to increase… up to $3/sqf in best projects
  • Emerging Markets
    • Development spreading into surrounding Miami
      • Little Havana, Wynwood, Coral Gables all seeing new projects
  • Major Projects

To contact Tom with for an appraisal consultation or for further analysis of the Miami real estate market visit his website. He can also be emailed at tom@blazejack.com