In this episode of Opportunities in Chaos, host Elijah Brown sits down with Espen Hild of MDL Group, a CRE retail leasing broker, to talk through what's actually happening in retail real estate right now.

The conversation covers retail vacancy myths versus reality, how cap rates work across different asset classes, borrowing activity and debt capital markets, and how DSTs and 1031 exchanges connect to the retail space.

Topics covered:

Espen's background and path into retail leasing

Why retail vacancy is near multi-year lows, despite the headlines

How cap rates work, and why retail sits among the highest of any asset class

Borrowing activity and debt capital markets in the current rate environment

How Delaware statutory trusts and 1031 exchanges connect to retail real estate

In the first episode of Opportunities in Chaos, host Elijah Brown sits down with Sebastian Ladao, Investor Relations Analyst, to talk through his path across acquisitions, equity research, wealth management, and investment banking.

The conversation covers private credit, maturity walls, how AI is changing analyst work in finance and commercial real estate, and how all of it connects back to the DST and 1031 exchange space.

Topics covered:

Private credit and maturity walls

AI use in finance and commercial real estate analysis

Career paths across acquisitions, equity research, and investment banking

How DSTs and 1031 exchanges fit into the broader finance conversation