Randy Johnson, the real estate veteran who helped master develop Playa Vista from Howard Hughes land into a thriving 6000 unit neighborhood, joins Taylor Avakian on the No Vacancy podcast. In this in depth conversation, Randy shares the full story behind Playa Vista: navigating 30 lawsuits, coastal commission battles, methane mitigation, massive infrastructure costs, multiple ownership changes, the Dreamworks saga, and turning wetlands into one of LA's most successful master planned communities. He discusses lessons from 40 plus years in development, the 2008 crash, working with Brookfield, building Silicon Beach, affordable housing innovations, and why residential markets stay open longer than commercial.Randy also covers current challenges in Pacific Palisades rebuilding after the fires, LA housing policy failures, the broken affordable housing model, veteran homelessness solutions, and advice for aspiring developers in today's tough regulatory environment.*Chapters:*00:00 Intro and Sponsor01:42 Building Playa Vista: The Full History08:49 Litigation, Recapitalization and Ownership Changes11:36 Dreamworks, Silicon Beach Catalyst and Market Timing16:23 What Randy Would Do Differently Today19:14 Palisades Rebuilding After the Fires26:46 Life Changing Impact and Affordable Housing Lessons31:18 Surprises in the Development Process34:52 Randy's Early Career and Path Into Real Estate38:00 Working at Brookfield and Big Picture Trends39:28 Helping Homeless Veterans and Fixing Affordable Housing41:50 What Randy Would Change About LA Housing Policy43:11 Advice for Young Developers Starting Today47:10 Closing ThoughtsNo Vacancy with Taylor Avakian is the leading podcast for multifamily and commercial real estate professionals in Los Angeles.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/TaylorAvakianSponsor - Loan TitanUpscale your experience withhttps://loantitan.com/Sponsor - AI for CRE CollectiveAI for CRE Community: https://www.skool.com/ai-for-cre-collective/about?ref=3b3ff2c0ccce44ba8039fafd54bf291a📈 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 #losangeles

Randall Kaplan, Co-Founder of Akamai Technologies, shares his extraordinary journey from failed lawyer to building a $35 billion unicorn company in this powerful No Vacancy Podcast interview with commercial real estate broker Taylor Avakian.From writing 300 personalized cold letters to land a dream job with Eli Broad at SunAmerica, to co-founding Akamai during the dot-com era, navigating massive success and setbacks, mentoring with Sam Zell, and lessons on extreme preparation, relationship building, and giving back — this is a masterclass in grit, opportunity, and long-term thinking.Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro & Welcome
• 01:15 The 300 Letters Campaign That Changed Everything
• 04:46 Landing the Job with Eli Broad at SunAmerica
• 11:45 Lessons from Working with Eli Broad & the AIG Sale
• 16:31 The Akamai Story: From MIT to $35 Billion Valuation
• 24:22 Meeting & Friendship with Sam Zell
• 31:18 Starting "In Search of Excellence" Podcast & Giving Back
• 33:18 Building Authentic Relationships (Not Transactional)
• 44:49 Real Estate Investing: LP to GP Lessons & Challenges
• 51:47 Advice for Young People & Where Opportunity Lies Today
• 1:01:52 How to Dominate as a Real Estate Broker
• 1:07:18 Key Takeaways from Interviewing Legends
• 1:10:26 Proudest Achievement: Giving Back & Changing Lives

Randall Kaplan Akamai, Taylor Avakian No Vacancy Podcast, entrepreneurship, cold outreach, Sam Zell, real estate investing, career advice, extreme preparation, dot com bubble, success mindset.

Sponsor - Loan TitanUpscale your experience withhttps://loantitan.com/

Sponsor - AI for CRE CollectiveAI for CRE Community: https://www.skool.com/ai-for-cre-collective/about?ref=3b3ff2c0ccce44ba8039fafd54bf291a

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/#podcast #business #realestate

Randy Johnson, the real estate veteran who helped master develop Playa Vista from Howard Hughes land into a thriving 6000 unit neighborhood, joins Taylor Avakian on the No Vacancy podcast.

In this in depth conversation, Randy shares the full story behind Playa Vista: navigating 30 lawsuits, coastal commission battles, methane mitigation, massive infrastructure costs, multiple ownership changes, the Dreamworks saga, and turning wetlands into one of LA's most successful master planned communities.

He discusses lessons from 40 plus years in development, the 2008 crash, working with Brookfield, building Silicon Beach, affordable housing innovations, and why residential markets stay open longer than commercial.

Randy also covers current challenges in Pacific Palisades rebuilding after the fires, LA housing policy failures, the broken affordable housing model, veteran homelessness solutions, and advice for aspiring developers in today's tough regulatory environment.

*Chapters:*

00:00 Intro and Sponsor

01:42 Building Playa Vista: The Full History

08:49 Litigation, Recapitalization and Ownership Changes

11:36 Dreamworks, Silicon Beach Catalyst and Market Timing

16:23 What Randy Would Do Differently Today

19:14 Palisades Rebuilding After the Fires

26:46 Life Changing Impact and Affordable Housing Lessons

31:18 Surprises in the Development Process

34:52 Randy's Early Career and Path Into Real Estate

38:00 Working at Brookfield and Big Picture Trends

39:28 Helping Homeless Veterans and Fixing Affordable Housing

41:50 What Randy Would Change About LA Housing Policy

43:11 Advice for Young Developers Starting Today

47:10 Closing Thoughts

No Vacancy with Taylor Avakian is the leading podcast for multifamily and commercial real estate professionals in Los Angeles.

Alain R'bibo, top commercial real estate transaction attorney, strategic advisor, and Partner at Allen Matkins with over 20 years of experience, joins Taylor Avakian on the No Vacancy Podcast. With billions in deals across acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, joint ventures, and development, Alain shares insider perspectives on navigating complex CRE transactions in Los Angeles, California, and nationwide.

From why many multifamily deals skip attorneys to the real differences between market-standard documents in New York vs. LA vs. Nashville, Alain breaks down when lawyers add massive value, common pitfalls in high-stakes deals, and how institutional players and tech giants approach risk and speed differently. He discusses current market conditions in LA and SF office, multifamily opportunities, the impact of AI on office demand, why waiting for the "perfect" bottom often costs decades of appreciation, and lessons from working with family offices, private equity, public companies, and leading tech firms.

Topics include: broker-attorney dynamics, diligence red flags, pressure points and leverage in negotiations, why processes and organization separate top performers, data centers and emerging sectors, and timeless advice for getting off the sidelines in any market cycle.

Perfect for commercial real estate brokers, multifamily investors, apartment owners, developers, and anyone active in Southern California or national CRE.

**Chapters:**

00:00 - Intro & Sponsor

00:49 - Welcome Alain R'bibo

01:44 - What a Real Estate Transaction Attorney Actually Does

03:07 - Why Many Multifamily Deals Skip Lawyers (and When You Shouldn't)

07:07 - Credits, Estoppels & Where Negotiations Really Happen

09:04 - Why People Hate Attorneys (and How Good Ones Avoid It)

11:23 - Alain's Journey: From Bankruptcy Law to CRE Transactions

14:45 - How Much Money Top Transactional Lawyers Really Make

16:22 - Biggest Mistakes in Real Estate & Why Waiting on the Sidelines Kills Returns

21:16 - Patterns of Highly Successful Real Estate Investors & Billionaires

24:06 - When Deals Look Too Good (or Too Aggressive)

26:53 - Regional Differences: New York vs LA vs Other Markets

28:19 - Sponsor

28:58 - AI's Impact on Office, Phoenix Hot Spots & California Comeback

33:04 - Tech Billionaires Leaving California & Government Tax Risks

34:33 - Is Now the Best Time to Buy LA Real Estate?

36:15 - Behind Closed Doors with Clients & Long-Term Relationships

38:21 - Real Estate Lifestyle vs Investment Banking

39:05 - Inside Tech Companies' Real Estate Strategy: Speed, Risk & Scaling

42:18 - The Next Big Real Estate Sectors & Opportunities

45:03 - Who Alain Admires Most & The Value of Being in the Room

46:19 - The Power of Experience, Pattern Recognition & Putting in the Work

48:36 - Creating Massive Value in Tough Transactions

50:17 - Psychology, Leverage & Knowing Your Counterparty

52:22 - Craziest Deal: Selling Ocean Wide Plaza in Downtown LA

53:44 - Current Buyers in the LA Market & Emerging Operators

54:41 - What Alain Really Thinks of Brokers

56:06 - Advice for Brokers on Getting Agreements Signed

57:43 - Alain's Next 5-10 Years & Why He Still Loves Deal-Making

59:36 - Final Advice: Get Off the Sidelines & Focus on What Matters

01:00:34 - Closing Thoughts

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/#realestate #commercialrealestate #podcast

Greg Hebner, Managing Director and majority owner of Arixa Capital (formerly Erickson), joins Taylor Avakian on the No Vacancy Podcast for an in-depth conversation on private real estate lending, scaling a multi-billion dollar platform, and navigating today's CRE market.

Sponsor — Citizens BankConnect with a banker athttps://www.citizensbank.com/novacancy

Sponsor – AI for CRE CollectiveAI for CRE Community: https://www.skool.com/ai-for-cre-collective/about?ref=3b3ff2c0ccce44ba8039fafd54bf291a

From Arixa's origins in distressed lending post-2008 to managing over $2.3–2.5 billion in assets and originating nearly $1.5 billion annually across 22 states, Greg shares how they built one of the fastest-growing independent private lenders in the U.S. He discusses the differences between private credit and traditional banks, the power of sponsor-focused underwriting, avoiding re-trades, delivering white-glove service, and partnering with institutions like Oaktree Capital.

Topics include: launching mortgage securitizations (bond shelves), construction and renovation lending on single-family to multifamily deals, growth strategies, hiring culture, client relationships that span a decade, and where Greg sees opportunities and challenges in residential and multifamily real estate over the next 12–36 months.A must-watch for real estate developers, investors, brokers, flippers, and anyone interested in private credit, alternative lending, or building a scalable real estate finance business in a high-interest-rate environment.

*Timestamps / Chapters:*

00:00 - Welcome & Arixa Capital Origin Story

02:40 - Current Scale: $2.3–2.5B Assets, ~$1B Annual Originations

03:47 - What is Private Capital? How Arixa Differs from Banks

05:40 - Fund Structures, Oaktree Partnership, Mortgage Securitizations & Large Loans

10:05 - Sponsor-First Underwriting Philosophy & Why Character Beats Perfect Projects

11:25 - Why Arixa Can Say No: Private Ownership & No Quarterly Pressure

11:39 - How Arixa Makes Money: Management Fees, Origination & Servicing

13:41 - Deal Process: From Term Sheet to Funding (Speed & No Re-Trades)

18:47 - Portfolio Makeup: Single-Family vs Multifamily, Loan Sizes & Markets

19:54 - How Arixa Wins Business: Service DNA, Real Estate Experience & Flexibility

23:23 - Catalysts for Explosive Growth & Capital Partnerships 26:43 - Landing Big Partners Like Oaktree & CalSTRS

31:11 - What is a Bond Shelf / Mortgage Securitization?

34:07 - Economics of Bonds vs Warehouse Lines

38:35 - Greg Hebner's Journey: From Flipping & Special Servicing to Private Lending

46:17 - Where Greg Invests Personally (Real Estate, Europe, Private Equity & Venture)

52:26 - Pattern Recognition, Intelligence & Access in Investing

57:07 - A Day in the Life of Greg Hebner: Strategy, Culture & Client Focus

1:03:18 - Real Estate Market Outlook: Single-Family Challenges, Multifamily Opportunities & Politics

1:12:03 - Closing Thoughts

#realestate #commercialrealestate #podcast

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/

Arixa Capital Advisors, LLC. 2026. Equal Housing Lender. Loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Lenders Law license. Arixa AZ, LLC license No. BK-1029177 (NMLS ID No. 2187382) originates loans in Arizona under the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. CFL License No. 60DBO-98673. NMLS ID. No. 2318142. Greg Hebner DRE# 01396057. For more licensing information visit www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

Nadine Watt, CEO of Watt Capital Partners, joins Taylor Avakian on the No Vacancy Podcast for an in-depth conversation on LA commercial real estate, the evolution of a multi-generational family dynasty, and the future of Century City offices.Third-generation leader Nadine Watt shares the remarkable history of Watt Capital Partners from her grandfather Ray Watt building homes for post-WWII veterans and pioneering timeshares and master-planned communities, to developing Watt Plaza, the landmark 23-story twin towers in Century City with nearly 1 million sq ft of office space. She discusses the company's major LEED Platinum renovation of Watt Plaza (including a new central plant, lobby upgrades, and amenities), navigating the post-pandemic office market challenges, and strategies for revitalizing Los Angeles amid business exits, regulatory hurdles, and shifting tenant demands.Topics include women in commercial real estate, succession planning and mentoring, the importance of in-person connectivity, storytelling in development, retail and industrial trends, affordable housing struggles in SoCal, and lessons from her unique path through film/entertainment into the family business.*Chapters:*0:00 - Introduction & Welcome to Nadine Watt 2:45 - History of Watt Capital Partners: From Post-WWII Homes to Master-Planned Communities 4:41 - Timeline of the Family Business: Shopping Centers, Commercial Shift & Watt Plaza Origins 8:02 - Building Watt Plaza in Century City & Ground Leases in LA 9:34 - Nadine Watt Becomes CEO: Restructuring, Development Focus & Pre-Pandemic Renovation Plans 11:24 - The $20M+ Watt Plaza Renovation: LEED Platinum, Central Plant & Sustainability Upgrades 14:37 - Current Occupancy & Century City Office Market: Tale of Two Cities 16:01 - Revitalizing Century City: Amenities, Subway Access & Nightlife Potential 18:06 - Downtown LA Struggles & the Importance of Office Activation 19:38 - Nadine Watt's Journey: Film Career, Foreign Sales & Entering the Family Business 23:31 - Lessons from Film to Real Estate: Storytelling, Entitlement & Parallel Paths 25:04 - The Power of Storytelling & Psychology in Development & Leasing 28:08 - Mission-Driven Leadership vs. Deal-Making: Focusing on Outcomes & Experiences 31:15 - Navigating Stakeholders & Selling Vision in Real Estate Projects 32:01 - Surviving COVID: Occupancy Trends, Work-from-Home Impact & Return-to-Office Challenges 36:39 - State of the LA Real Estate Market: Office Green Shoots, Retail, Industrial & Hospitality 39:57 - Regulatory Challenges in Southern California: Business Exodus, Entertainment & AI 43:22 - Behind Closed Doors: Leadership, Incentives & Fixing LA's Business Climate 44:44 - Geographic Diversification: Investing Outside California While Building Locally 51:15 - Women in Commercial Real Estate: Opening Doors & Leaning In 54:44 - Long-Term Vision for Watt Capital Partners & Next Generation Involvement 57:35 - Advice for Young Professionals: Networking, Humility & Learning from Experts This episode offers candid insights into LA's evolving office landscape, family business succession, and practical strategies for developers, investors, brokers, and CRE professionals facing today's market realities.#realestate #commercialrealestate #podcast

In this full episode of the *No Vacancy Podcast*, host *Taylor Avakian* interviews *Marc Menowitz* (also referred to as Mark in the episode), CEO of *Apartment Corp* — a Los Angeles-based multifamily real estate powerhouse managing over 17,000 apartment units nationwide.Marc, a fourth-generation real estate investor, shares his journey from coder and inventor to building a national portfolio focused on *affordable housing* (Section 8, LIHTC conversions), *Class B apartments*, high cash-flow strategies, and heavy in-house *AI/automation*. Topics include:- Buying and turning around distressed, high-crime properties (including a legendary Compton building linked to N.W.A.)- Cash flow first philosophy vs. appreciation/flip models- Avoiding high-regulation markets like Los Angeles and New York- Proprietary AI systems: call monitoring, sentiment analysis, automated work orders, employee tracking, predictive underwriting- Self-management vs. third-party pitfalls- Raising capital via funds and unique investor platforms (including Miami’s largest yacht accessible in the city)- Affordable housing arbitrage, interest-only loans, low-leverage buying, and operational excellenceA rare, in-depth look at tech-forward *multifamily investing*, *commercial real estate*, property management technology, and long-term wealth building in apartments.*Timestamps* 00:00 – Intro & sponsor 00:18 – Marc Menowitz introduction – 17,000+ units nationwide 02:20 – Portfolio overview: 16,000+ units, 14–15 states 03:30 – Family legacy (fourth generation), starting in 1980 as a coder/inventor 05:13 – Why affordable housing? Early South Central LA deals 06:07 – Cash flow philosophy vs. appreciation models 07:31 – Critique of Wall Street / institutional approaches 08:04 – Leverage strategy: 65–70% LTV, interest-only loans 09:13 – Core arbitrage: LIHTC → Section 8 rent increases 10:49 – Why he stopped buying in Los Angeles & New York (regulations, evictions) 12:35 – Heavy in-house technology & AI stack overview 14:03 – RentalMax: AI phone call monitoring, sentiment analysis, auto-routing 15:39 – AI automation impact: +50 extra leases/month, zero data entry work orders 19:03 – Future of AI in real estate, why the industry lags 21:51 – High margins ($250–700/unit/month), raising $100M+ annually 24:04 – Underwriting volume: 40–50 deals/week, buy 1/month 27:34 – Proprietary rent increase models via government negotiations 28:05 – Why self-manage everything (third-party pitfalls) 30:45 – The Miami yacht as a business/investor platform 32:27 – Innovation mindset, early AI (accounts payable 15 years ago) 34:27 – Works only 27 hours/week, automates everything 35:09 – Growth target: ~25,000 units before stepping back 36:09 – Bad deals (rare), 1031 exchange philosophy 39:18 – Advice if starting from zero today 41:29 – Why affordable housing is easier to reposition 43:45 – Key mindset question: rent increase → value creation 45:26 – Negotiation lessons, buying from churches/families 49:17 – N.W.A. Compton building story: bought for $7M → ~$50M value 53:47 – Closing thoughts & advice for real estate professionalsWhether you're into *multifamily investing*, *commercial real estate*, property management technology, or value-add apartment strategies, this episode is packed with actionable, no-BS insights.