Can impressive CRE returns hide more risk than investors realize?

Caleb David sits down with Jacob Vanderslice, co-founder of VanWest Partners, to discuss sponsor track records, debt risk, interest rates, self-storage supply, and smarter CRE due diligence.

Learn how to look beyond projected returns and understand what could actually make a deal fail.

👤 Host & Guest

Host: Caleb David

Host of Commercial Real Estate Unfiltered and a Colorado Front Range commercial real estate professional with nearly 15 years of experience.

Guest: Jacob Vanderslice

Co-founder of VanWest Partners. Jacob has been active in real estate since 2005 and has helped deploy more than $375 million into self-storage facilities.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Evaluate sponsors beyond their biggest wins.

Stress-test interest rates and refinance risk.

Identify self-storage supply risk.

Find value-add opportunities in CRE deals.

Evaluate the team behind an investment.

Use debt structure as part of due diligence.

Build wealth through disciplined long-term holding.

❓ Key Questions Answered

Q: What should investors ask a real estate sponsor?

A: Ask about their worst deals, recent exits, debt, and downside risk.

Q: Why can a sponsor’s track record be misleading?

A: Strong returns from easier market conditions may not show how they perform in a tougher market.

Q: What debt questions should CRE investors ask?

A: Understand the loan term, refinance assumptions, and what happens if rates rise.

Q: How do investors spot self-storage supply risk?

A: Look at future development, not just today’s supply-per-capita numbers.

Q: What makes a good value-add real estate deal?

A: Below-market rents, high expenses, and operational inefficiencies can create upside.

🔗 Connect & Learn More

Follow Commercial Real Estate Unfiltered for practical conversations about CRE investing and commercial real estate deals.

Jacob / VanWest Partners:

Website: vanwestpartners.com

Email: Jacob@vanwestpartners.com

⏱️ Chapters

(00:00) - Market Pain Ahead

(00:33) - Meet Jacob Vanderslice

(01:31) - From Residential to Self-Storage

(03:10) - Self-Storage Market Shift

(05:59) - Housing Slowdown & Storage Demand

(07:34) - A Real Estate Deal Gone Wrong

(09:46) - How to Invest in Self-Storage

(11:03) - Why Investors Keep Coming Back

(13:05) - What Limited Partners Should Ask

(15:28) - Finding Value-Add Opportunities

(18:40) - Future CRE Opportunities

(20:48) - Jacob’s Biggest Investing Lesson

💼 Connect with Jacob Vanderslice :

🌎 Website → https://www.vanwestpartners.com/team/jacob-vanderslice

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-vanderslice-02905b16b/

🎙 Follow Caleb David :

🌎 Website → https://www.davidcommercial.com/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/calebdavid/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/calebdavid/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebdavid/

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/

#CommercialRealEstateUnfiltered #CalebDavid #CommercialRealEstate #ColoradoRealEstate #CREInvesting #DenverCommercial #FrontRangeRealEstate #OfficeRetailIndustrial #RealEstatePodcast #CREDeals #Coloradospringscommercial

🚀 The right franchise isn’t necessarily the best franchise - it’s the one that fits you. Jeff Shafritz joins Caleb David to break down how investors and entrepreneurs can evaluate franchise opportunities beyond the hype.

With over 30 years in franchising, Jeff shares practical insights into franchise economics, site selection, lease negotiations, and due diligence. Caleb brings his commercial real estate perspective to the conversation, connecting franchise decisions with the realities of finding and operating the right space.

🎧 Hosted by: Caleb David

👤 Guest: Jeff Shafritz - Founder of Franchise Guidance

Jeff Shafritz is a Strategic Franchise Advisor and founder of Franchise Guidance, with over 30 years in franchising - including leading development for major brands and building and selling his own top-performing fitness franchise. He now guides corporate executives, investors, and career changers through a disciplined, hype-free process to find franchise opportunities aligned with their skills, financial goals, and reality.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ How to identify a franchise that fits your goals and strengths

✔️ Why franchise economics matter beyond the initial investment

✔️ How site selection and lease terms can affect a franchise deal

✔️ What to consider when negotiating tenant improvements and guarantees

✔️ How to spot red flags in a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)

✔️ When a franchise may make sense for investment diversification

🎧 Listen now and rethink franchise investing.

💼 Connect with Jeff Shafritz:

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/franchiseguidanceJS/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jeffshafritz_franguidance/

💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/franchiseguidance/

🎙 Follow Caleb David:

🌎 Website → https://www.davidcommercial.com/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/calebdavid/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/calebdavid/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebdavid/

🔖 Follow the podcast for more commercial real estate insights! 💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/

#CommercialRealEstateUnfiltered #CalebDavid #FranchiseInvesting #FranchiseOpportunities #CommercialRealEstate #CREInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #RealEstatePodcast

🚀 Can better building performance lead to better commercial real estate returns?

Caleb David brings a no-jargon commercial real estate perspective to a conversation about passive house construction, operating costs, building risk, and long-term property performance. Paul Kealy shares his experience in high-performance construction and explains why investors should look beyond the upfront cost of a building.

🎧 Hosted by: Caleb David

👤 Guest: 🏡 Paul Kealy - President & Co-founder of EkoBuilt

Paul Kealey is the Founder and President of EkoBuilt, one of North America's leading innovators in affordable Passive House construction. With over two decades of experience, Paul challenges conventional thinking by leveraging integrated design, engineering, prefabrication, and certified Passive House delivery to make healthier, ultra-efficient, 100-year buildings the most financially compelling choice for developers and investors.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ How passive house buildings can reduce operational costs by 80–90%

✔️ How building performance can improve long-term investment value

✔️ The five principles behind high-performance buildings

✔️ How moisture and mold can create building and financial risk

✔️ How prefab construction can reduce on-site time and carrying costs

✔️ How existing buildings can be retrofitted for better performance

✔️ How operating costs can influence tenant decisions

✔️ Why future retrofit costs matter when evaluating a building

🎧 Listen now and rethink the true cost of a commercial building.

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💼 Connect with Paul & EkoBuilt:

🌎 Website → https://ekobuilt.com/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/EkoBuilt

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/ekobuiltpassivehouse/

💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-kealey-17614529/

🎙 Follow Caleb David:

🌎 Website → https://www.davidcommercial.com/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/calebdavid/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/calebdavid/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebdavid/

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/

#CommercialRealEstateUnfiltered #CalebDavid #CommercialRealEstate #CREInvesting #ColoradoRealEstate #RealEstatePodcast