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.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

💼 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

🚀 What if better real estate returns start with better operations? Caleb David sits down with Cheryl Yatka, Founder & Principal of Quiet River Real Estate Investments, to discuss asset management, workforce housing, and affordable housing. Cheryl shares how strong operations, investor relationships, and resident experience can improve property performance and create lasting community impact.

🎧 Hosted by: Caleb David

👤 Guest:🏡 Cheryl Yatka - Founder & Principal of Quiet River Real Estate Investments

Cheryl Yatka is the Founder & Principal of Quiet River Real Estate Investments. With more than 25 years of experience across real estate, hospitality, operations, and asset management, she focuses on acquiring and repositioning workforce and affordable housing communities across Ohio, Alabama, and other selected markets.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ How asset management can improve property performance

✔️ Why owners and operators need to work together

✔️ How operations can create more predictable returns

✔️ Why resident retention matters for NOI

✔️ The challenges of workforce and affordable housing

✔️ How due diligence and investor trust strengthen real estate deals

🎧 Listen now for unfiltered insights on commercial real estate investing and asset management!

💼 Connect with Cheryl Yatka:

🌎 Website → https://quietriverrealestateinvestments.com/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578889619455

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

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

🎙 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

🚀 Retirement isn't about age - it's about building enough passive income to live on. Adam Williams explains why multifamily real estate is his strategy for creating long-term wealth.

In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Unfiltered, Caleb David talks with Adam Williams, Founder & CEO of Elevest Capital and creator of the MORE Framework, about transitioning from earned income to passive income through multifamily investing.

Adam shares why he moved away from single-family rentals, how investors can start building wealth at different stages of their journey, the difference between active and passive investing, and why he believes today's multifamily market presents a rare opportunity.

🎧 Hosted by: Caleb David

👤 Guest:🏡 Adam Williams – Founder & CEO of Elevest Capital | Creator of the MORE Framework | Founder of The MORE Club

Adam Williams is a multifamily real estate investor, entrepreneur, educator, and author focused on helping investors build durable wealth through passive income. As the Founder & CEO of Elevest Capital and creator of the MORE Framework, he has helped investors understand multifamily syndications, financial independence, and long-term wealth building through commercial real estate.

💡 What You’ll Learn:✔️ Why retirement should be measured by passive income - not age

✔️ How multifamily investing creates long-term wealth through cash flow

✔️ The difference between active investing and passive syndication investing

✔️ Practical ways to begin investing with limited capital

✔️ How experienced operators build trust with investors

✔️ Why education and community accelerate success in commercial real estate

✔️ The biggest misconceptions that keep people from investing

✔️ Why Adam believes today's multifamily market presents an exceptional buying opportunity

🎵 Whether you're an investor, developer, operator, or commercial real estate professional, this episode provides valuable insights into one of the industry's fastest-growing asset classes.

💼 Connect with Adam Williams:

🌎 Website → https://elevestcapital.com/

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

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-williams-elevestcapital/

🎙 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

🚀 The senior housing sector is entering one of the largest demographic shifts in U.S. history - but many investors are still underwriting these assets like traditional commercial real estate. In this episode, Caleb David sits down with senior living marketing strategist and CCR Growth founder Jerry Vinci to discuss why operators - not buildings - drive long-term success, how the "Silver Tsunami" is reshaping the industry, and what investors should evaluate before deploying capital into senior housing. From occupancy growth and demand generation to operator performance and future development opportunities, this conversation offers valuable insights for anyone exploring this rapidly growing asset class.

🎧 Hosted by: Caleb David

👤 Guest:🏡 Jerry Vinci - Senior Living Marketing Strategist & Founder of CCR Growth | Co-Founder of Nordon Advisory

Jerry Vinci is a senior living marketing strategist and the Founder of CCR Growth, a demand generation agency focused on increasing occupancy and profitability for senior living communities through data-informed digital marketing and CRM automation. He is also the host of From Leads to Leases, the top-ranked senior living marketing and sales podcast.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why operator quality matters more than the building itself in senior housing investments

✔️ How the "Silver Tsunami" is creating unprecedented demand for senior living communities

✔️ Common mistakes investors make when underwriting senior housing assets

✔️ Modern marketing strategies that actually drive occupancy and resident growth

✔️ What investors should evaluate before investing in senior housing opportunities

🎵 Whether you're an investor, developer, operator, or commercial real estate professional, this episode provides valuable insights into one of the industry's fastest-growing asset classes.

💼 Connect with Jerry Vinci:

🌐 Website → https://ccrgrowth.com/

🌐 Nordon Advisory → https://nordonadvisory.com/

👤 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/ccrgrowth/

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

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

🎙 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/

🚀 In this episode of the Commercial Real Estate Unfiltered Podcast, host Caleb David sits down with Tony Hoong, CPA, founder of The CPA Dude, to uncover the tax strategies that successful real estate investors use to legally reduce their tax burden and build long-term wealth.

Tony shares his journey from working in his family's restaurant to Big Four accounting, Uber, and eventually building a nationwide tax advisory firm. The conversation dives into proactive tax planning, Real Estate Professional Status (REPS), the Short-Term Rental Loophole, cost segregation, bookkeeping best practices, and why most CPAs focus on compliance instead of tax strategy.

Whether you're a W-2 employee, real estate investor, or business owner, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you keep more of what you earn.

🎧 Hosted by: Caleb David

👤 Guest:🏡 Tony Hoong, CPA – Founder of The CPA Dude & Tax Strategy Expert

Tony Hoong, CPA, is the founder of The CPA Dude, a tax strategy firm helping real estate investors and business owners maximize their savings. Leveraging his background with Big Four accounting firms and Uber, he specializes in tax advisory and wealth preservation. Tony is also a digital educator dedicated to simplifying complex tax laws.

💡 What You'll Learn:

✔️ Why most CPAs focus on compliance instead of tax savings

✔️ The three levels of tax strategy every real estate investor should understand

✔️ The Short-Term Rental Loophole explained in simple terms

✔️ Common tax mistakes that cost investors thousands of dollars

✔️ How cost segregation can accelerate depreciation deductions

✔️ The importance of year-round tax planning instead of filing once a year

✔️ How to prepare for increased IRS audits with proper documentation

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Tony Hoong:

🌐 Website → https://thecpadude.com/

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

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

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecpadude

🎙 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/

In Episode 56 of Commercial Real Estate Unfiltered, host Caleb David welcomes back returning guest Lon Welsh, founder of Ironton Capital, for an insightful discussion on today's commercial and residential real estate markets. Together, they break down consumer confidence, recession concerns, AI's impact on employment, mortgage rate forecasts, housing affordability, and why experienced real estate professionals can thrive during slower markets. Lon also shares his outlook on where the market is headed over the next several years and the opportunities available for investors and agents who stay proactive.

🎧 Hosted by: Caleb David

👤 Guest:🏡 Lon Welsh – Founder & Managing Partner, Ironton Capital

Lon Welsh is the founder of Ironton Capital, Your Castle Real Estate, and First Alliance Title. A 20-year veteran of commercial real estate acquisition and development, he leverages his experience through Ironton Capital to provide passive, diversified investing opportunities that help busy accredited investors build a secure financial future.

💡 What You'll Learn:

✔️ Why consumer confidence remains historically low and how it impacts real estate

✔️ How AI is changing the workforce and influencing future employment trends

✔️ The current outlook for homebuyers, sellers, and commercial investors

✔️ Why today's housing market is very different from the 2008 financial crisis

✔️ Practical strategies for real estate professionals to gain market share during slower markets

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Lon Welsh:

🌐 Website → http://irontoncapital.com/

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

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/ironton-capital

🎙 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/