Evan Bell is Managing Partner and co-founder of Lorimer Capital, a direct portfolio lender that provides creative financing solutions for commercial real estate opportunities across the eastern U.S. He has over two decades of expertise in structured real estate credit products and started his career as a real estate finance attorney, representing major institutions like Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Lehman Brothers, and Wachovia Bank on mortgage and mezzanine financings, which totaled over $10 billion.

Prior to launching Lorimer Capital, Evan served as co-founder and Principal of Unity Capital, where he played a major role in leading the company to success and sustained growth. He earned his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany and received his J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. While there, he was a member of the Hofstra Law Review and a recipient of Westlaw’s Corpus Juris Secundum Award.

Insights from Evan Bell on Relationships and Discipline in Real Estate Financing

Evan Bell started his first day of work on September 10th, 2001. By the next morning, everything had changed. That jarring introduction to his career taught him early that you can't control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond. Fast forward two decades, and that philosophy has guided him from law firms to launching Unity Capital with "very little clue" what he was doing, to now building Lorimer Capital with partners he's known for years.

In this episode of The Dealmakers' Edge, Evan talks candidly about why he still puts his own money in every deal, how he went from doing small multifamily loans to closing $51 million construction deals with developers like Kushner Companies, and why he tells young people to treat everyone with respect because you never know where careers will lead. He also opens up about managing the stress of high-stakes lending by reading philosophy, keeping perspective, and remembering that "everyone's got their bag of problems no matter how great they look when you see them out at lunch."

1:55 - Evan’s childhood, educational background, and career transitions

7:33 - The current cycle for private credit lenders and discipline as essential for navigating market cycles

11:16 - Relationship-based business as paramount to long-term success in real estate finance

14:42 - Evan’s thought process when looking at dealmaking opportunities right now

18:03 - Prioritization and focus of Evan and his partners as they continue to grow the firm

20:36 - The key to navigating anxiety in a high-stress industry

25:57 - The importance of showing up and staying in the mix to build a business

Mentioned In Why Relationships and Discipline Matter Most in Real Estate Financing with Evan Bell

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Lorimar Capital | LinkedIn

Unity Capital | LinkedIn | Instagram

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Norman Bobrow is the president of Norman Bobrow & Co., Inc., one of New York's leading independently-owned, tenant-focused commercial real estate brokerages. A third-generation real estate professional and lifelong New Yorker, Norman launched the firm in 1980 with a clear mission to represent tenants exclusively and deliver results with precision, integrity, and relentless advocacy. Over the course of his career, he's personally negotiated more than 3,000 leases and overseen the acquisition of more than 300 properties nationwide.

Norman comes from a real estate family and was involved early on watching his father participate in small syndications. Despite struggling with dyslexia and being unable to read until the eighth grade, he built his career from the ground up, starting at Syntex Corporation building the Winston Towers and working his way through various firms before launching his own brokerage. Today, his firm handles 200 to 250 leases annually with a team of 25 leasing brokers, all while maintaining a personal, family-business approach where everyone knows each other's stories.

Insights from Norman Bobrow on Tenant Advocacy and Building Legacy in New York Real Estate

Norman Bobrow’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, integrity, and the importance of giving back. Despite being dyslexic and struggling to read until the eighth grade, he went on to build a thriving, tenant-focused brokerage firm, negotiating over 3,000 leases and overseeing the acquisition of 300+ properties nationwide. His life is a masterclass in turning perceived weaknesses into strengths and always looking forward, never back.

In this episode of The Dealmakers' Edge, Norman talks about his early struggles and how his family and mentors like Warren Buffett shaped his investment philosophy. He shares his passion for helping others, whether it's teaching young brokers how to "make a living" or his extensive philanthropic work. Norman also offers his unique approach to business, including his unwavering commitment to representing tenants exclusively and how he’s built a culture of teamwork and personal care.

2:01 - Norman’s journey from dyslexia to highly successful real estate broker

6:50 - Why Norman’s firm operates with a tenant-first advocacy approach

10:13 - What lies behind Norman’s passion for philanthropy and mentorship

15:01 - Critical core philosophies for success in the real estate business

19:47 - Examples of Norman’s investment dealmaking prowess and experience

24:29 - The disciplined investment approach Norman learned from those like Warren Buffett

27:03 - The most critical element of success in the next few years as technology advances

Mentioned In Tenant Advocacy and Building Legacy in New York Real Estate with Norman Bobrow

Norman Bobrow & Company Inc. | LinkedIn | Facebook

United Cerebral Palsy

OrCam Read

Enjoy the show? Have a guest in mind? Email us at podcast@aystrauss.com to let us know your feedback and who you want to hear on the next episode.

Connect with Aaron and the A.Y. Strauss team:

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Jonathan Dulberg has nearly 20 years of experience acquiring and operating real estate throughout the U.S. and Europe for both institutional and privately-held real estate firms. Since 2010, he has been at Time Equities Inc., a New York-based investment and development firm, where he serves as the Director of Acquisitions.

Jonathan focuses on sub-institutional investments ranging from $10 to $50 million in size. Throughout his career, he has acquired more than $800 million of real estate, focusing predominantly on opportunistic and value-add investments across office, industrial, and multifamily assets. Additionally, he oversees the day-to-day asset management of a two-million-square-foot portfolio spanning the Northeast, Midwest, and Northwest.

Prior to Time Equities, Jonathan spent three years at Franklin Templeton Investments working within their institutional fund-to-fund platform.

Insights from Jonathan Dulberg on Opportunistic Real Estate Investing

Jonathan Dulberg understands real estate from the ground up. Growing up with a father in the construction industry, he was exposed to development projects from an early age before transitioning from Franklin Templeton's institutional fund-to-fund platform to Time Equities in 2010. As Director of Acquisitions, Jonathan focuses on sub-institutional investments ranging from $10 to $50 million, having acquired more than $800 million of real estate throughout his career.

In this episode of The Dealmakers' Edge, Jonathan discusses his investment philosophy of avoiding "whatever is the flavor of the month" and instead focusing on yield-driven, opportunistic investments. He shares how Time Equities capitalized on opportunities post-2008 financial crisis when they could find value and work with existing borrowers and lenders. Jonathan explains their move into the Netherlands when U.S. office markets became overpriced, their pivot to short-term credit during COVID, and why he sees current opportunities in the office market where buildings can be bought at significant discounts to replacement cost.

1:51 - How Jonathan’s family and childhood influenced his career path

6:11 - Transition from the institutional side of real estate to being a more hands-on investor

11:12 - How Jonathan’s investment strategy avoids the trap of chasing trends

13:51 - Examples of finding value in the real estate market (even during downturns)

18:08 - Why the office market is a source for exciting investment opportunities right now

22:24 - How COVID has impacted dealmaking in the multifamily asset class

24:39 - Jonathan’s personal approach to managing stress and adversity

Mentioned In Opportunistic Real Estate Investing with Time Equities' Jonathan Dulberg

Time Equities Inc.

Jonathan Dulberg on LinkedIn

Enjoy the show? Have a guest in mind? Email us at podcast@aystrauss.com to let us know your feedback and who you want to hear on the next episode.

Connect with Aaron and the A.Y. Strauss team:

• Our website (www.AYStrauss.com)
• Aaron's website bio page (Aaron's bio page)
• Aaron's LinkedIn account (LinkedIn)
• Our Twitter account (@AYStrauss)