In this in-depth conversation, recently retired CBRE Executive Vice President Laurie Lustig-Bower shares decades of insights from one of the most successful multifamily brokerage careers in Los Angeles real estate.With over 36 years at CBRE (formerly Coldwell Banker Commercial), Laurie and her team handled more than $12 billion in multifamily transactions in the last decade alone. She built her business on the Westside of LA — specializing in apartment buildings, condo conversions, and development sites — consistently ranking as a top national producer in CBRE’s Private Capital Group.Key topics include:- How she chose multifamily and the Westside LA niche as her "blue ocean" path to expertise- Building a referral-based business without ever making cold calls- Networking strategies with residential brokers, appraisers, internal CBRE colleagues, estate attorneys, banks, and more- The power of internal referrals and paying generous referral fees early on- Daily habits, discipline, and idea generation that drove consistent deal flow- Preparing killer listing pitches: underwriting depth, rent comps, creative value-add strategies, rehearsals, psychology of the seller, and why most brokers skip rehearsal- What truly makes the ultimate broker: drive, persistence, emotional intelligence, creative problem-solving, and gut-level numbers mastery- Pricing psychology — why overpricing kills momentum, the dangers of long market time, and why multifamily buyers think differently than residential- Lessons from iconic deals and market cycles (without specifics)- Advice for new or growing brokers: pick a tight lane (product type + geography + price range), reverse-engineer your business plan, brand yourself clearly, become the go-to expert- Why specializing beats being a generalist in today’s information-rich marketWhether you're a multifamily broker, investor, or anyone in commercial real estate looking to level up prospecting, client relationships, preparation, and long-term business building, this episode is packed with timeless, battle-tested principles from one of LA’s most respected multifamily pros.Timeless wisdom from a true multifamily legend in Los Angeles commercial real estate.Subscribe and Stay Ahead! Stay informed and empowered in the multifamily real estate market. Subscribe to the channel for exclusive insights, rental updates, and expert analyses on the Los Angeles market.Sponsor — Citizens BankConnect with a banker athttps://www.citizensbank.com/novacancySponsor - AI for CRE CollectiveAI for CRE Community: https://www.skool.com/ai-for-cre-collective/about?ref=3b3ff2c0ccce44ba8039fafd54bf291a🔔 Don’t miss out on the latest trends and tips to maximize your property's potential: https://www.youtube.com/c/TaylorAvakian📈 Connect with me:Website: https://www.thegroupcre.com/Email: taylor@thegroupcre.comX: https://x.com/TAYVAY_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayloravakian/#realestate #commercialrealestate #podcast

Father-son duo Shawn Evenhaim and Edan Evenhaim are reshaping the Los Angeles skyline through Balaciano Group and the iconic The Q brand. With nearly 3 billion in transactions and multiple Builder of the Year awards, they share how they build, brand, and manage modern multifamily properties in one of the most challenging real estate markets.

In this in-depth conversation they cover:- Starting as an immigrant in construction and evolving into large-scale multifamily development- The power of true vertical integration: in-house entitlement, architecture, general contracting, and property management- Why controlling the entire process delivers better design, quality, and community outcomes- Building a premium residential brand inspired by Tesla and Louis Vuitton - cohesive identity, no concessions, standing behind the product- Creating genuinely smart apartments with integrated technology at scaleUsing detailed data tracking (amenity usage, fob scans, equipment analytics) to constantly improve buildings- The realities of developing in Los Angeles: regulations, Measure JJJ, ULA, rent control concerns, and their impact on housing supply- Family business dynamics - respect, generational differences, and wanting the next generation to surpass you- Calculated risk-taking, surviving major market cycles (including 2008), and knowing when to slow down- The critical role of relationships, political access, community involvement, and philanthropy in real estate success- Advice for younger developers: start slow, learn from others, avoid over-leveraging, question everythingWhether you're interested in multifamily development, branding in real estate, smart-home technology in apartments, vertical integration, Los Angeles real estate challenges, or family business succession, this discussion offers rare insight from operators actively building and managing thousands of units in a high-regulation environment.

He Went From Del Taco to a $1.5B Empire (Here's How) | Henry ManoucheriHenry Manoucheri, Chairman and CEO of Universe Holdings, sits down for an in-depth conversation on building one of the largest privately held multifamily portfolios in the U.S. From his arrival in America as a teenage immigrant fleeing the Iranian Revolution to scaling a national real estate operation, Henry breaks down the mindset, strategies, and relentless work ethic that fueled his 42-year career in commercial real estate.This episode covers the power of persistent cold calling, transitioning from brokerage to principal investing, deal evaluation in today’s multifamily market, Los Angeles real estate dynamics, and timeless lessons for investors and entrepreneurs. Whether you're into multifamily syndication, value-add strategies, sales mindset, or long-term wealth building, this is packed with practical insights from a true industry leader.Chapters:0:00 – Intro: The Vision Behind a $1.5B Multifamily Empire1:09 – Immigrant Roots: Iran to Orange County & First Job at Del Taco7:45 – Early Hustle: Retail Sales to Real Estate Brokerage14:20 – Joining Marcus & Millichap & Mastering Cold Calling21:30 – Why Persistence Wins: 100,000+ Calls and Overcoming Rejection29:10 – Becoming a Top Producer and Transitioning to Principal36:40 – Building Universe Holdings: Family Office Strategy & Scaling Deals44:15 – Current Market Outlook: Los Angeles, Rent Control, and Opportunity52:30 – Deal Criteria: The Right Story, Motivated Sellers, and Value-Add Plays1:00:00 – New Construction vs. Value-Add: Wealth Preservation Strategies1:07:20 – Biggest Mistakes Investors Make & Lessons from Past Cycles1:14:50 – Leverage, Interest Rates, and Why Fixed-Rate Debt Matters1:22:00 – The Bottom of the Market? Cap Rates, Volume, and Future Predictions1:30:00 – Faith, Family, Legacy, and Final ThoughtsPerfect for anyone interested in multifamily real estate investing, commercial real estate brokerage, sales techniques, cold calling strategies, Los Angeles multifamily market, or immigrant entrepreneur success stories.🔔 Subscribe for weekly interviews with top real estate investors and operators👍 Like if you're inspired by Henry's journey💬 Comment below: What's ONE sales or investing lesson you'll take from this episode?Follow Henry Manoucheri and Universe Holdings for more insights.#MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #Multifamily #ColdCalling #RealEstatePodcast #LosAngelesRealEstate #ValueAddInvesting #RealEstateEmpire #ImmigrantSuccess #UniverseHoldings #HenryManoucheri #RealEstateSyndication #ApartmentInvesting Subscribe and Stay Ahead! Stay informed and empowered in the multifamily real estate market. Subscribe to the channel for exclusive insights, rental updates, and expert analyses on the Los Angeles market.🔔 Don’t miss out on the latest trends and tips to maximize your property's potential: https://www.youtube.com/c/TaylorAvakian📈 Connect with me:Website: https://www.thegroupcre.com/Email: taylor@thegroupcre.comX: https://x.com/TAYVAY_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayloravakian/