Inside the Evolution of Multifamily Brokerage | The Stash Cast with George Tikijian

In this episode of The Stash Cast, Stash sits down with George Tikijian — a commercial real estate veteran with 40+ years of experience — to dive deep into the evolution of multifamily brokerage, entrepreneurship, and building a resilient real estate career.

George shares his journey from nearly becoming a banker to accidentally falling into apartment sales, surviving the 1980s real estate crash, and eventually leading one of Indiana’s most respected multifamily teams at CBRE.

🔑 Key Topics We Cover:

* How the 1986 tax reform triggered a 30% drop in property values — and how George adapted

* The Wild West era of 1980s brokerage vs. today's team-driven approach

* Why cold calling alone won’t build a sustainable brokerage career

* How building a strong database gave George a long-term competitive advantage

* How to survive market downturns (and even thrive through REO sales)

* The right way to train young brokers without throwing them into the deep end

* Why "off-market" deals aren't what most people think

* How top brokers truly build and maintain client loyalty over decades

* The real reason national brokerage brands matter today — and why CBRE leads in multifamily

💡 Insights and Takeaways:

* Entrepreneurial Mindset Wins: Brokerage rewards those who think long-term, build systems, and treat it like a business — not just a hustle.

* Hard Work and Smart Work: Success isn’t about making the most calls; it's about delivering value, mastering your market, and playing the long game.

* Survival in Cycles: The brokers who thrive during downturns are the ones who lower their cost of living, stay active, and solve real problems.

* Relationships > Deals: Building trust through consistent service — not just flashy sales tactics — earns lasting client loyalty.

* Systems Beat Luck: George’s commitment to gathering apartment data long before CoStar gave him an unmatched edge in his market.

* Team > Lone Wolf: In today’s environment, collaboration, specialization, and mentorship inside a strong team create much faster (and more sustainable) success.

👊 If you’re serious about real estate, investing, or building a lasting business, this episode is packed with real-world lessons you won't find in a textbook.

From $8B in Sales to a Legacy of Integrity: How Michael Bull Built a Commercial Real Estate Empire

In this episode of Stash Cast, we sit down with the legendary Michael Bull — founder of Bull Realty, host of America’s Commercial Real Estate Show, and a powerhouse in brokerage, training, and thought leadership in CRE.

Michael shares his story of building a firm rooted in integrity, breaking away from national firms to create a brokerage with a collaborative, client-first culture. We dig into his transition from multifamily to office assets, the challenges of maintaining brand standards when hiring, and the evolving landscape of the office market, including distressed asset opportunities and slow-but-sure rebounds.

🎙️ Key Takeaways:

💼 Integrity First: Michael built Bull Realty to set a new standard of trust and professionalism in commercial brokerage.

🧠 Training Culture Wins: Bull Realty’s internal training and Michael’s Commercial Agent Success platform emphasize ethics, scripts, and negotiation tactics for real-world deals.

🏢 Office Market Rebound: Michael shares why now might be the smartest time to invest in office properties—especially with low basis buys and a halt in new construction.

📈 Brokerage Lessons: From fax-on-demand listings to high-tech tools and AI, Michael has seen it all—and shares how tech can (and should) amplify smart marketing.

🎧 Podcasting Since Before It Was Cool: What started as a local radio show in 2010 became a national platform and educational hub for agents and investors.

📞 The Lost Art of the Phone Call: “Did you pick up the phone?” remains one of Michael’s best-performing negotiation tactics.

💡 Whether you're new to CRE or decades in, this conversation is full of wisdom, humor, and practical strategies you can use to elevate your game.

In this episode of The Stash Cast, Karl Krakoff shares his journey from healthcare strategy executive to multifamily real estate operator in Washington State. With over 100 units under management, Karl walks us through how he transitioned from live-in flips to full-scale developments and value-add multifamily investments—while navigating the complexities of zoning laws, rent control, and managing operational expenses.

🎙️ Key Insights & Takeaways:

💼 Corporate Exit Strategy: Karl left a decade-long career in healthcare to build freedom through real estate, starting with house hacking and scaling through flips, joint ventures, and syndications.

🏘️ From Flips to Ground-Up Construction: Limited access to capital pushed him toward flipping and eventually led to new construction projects—including learning curves with permits, inspections, and project delays.

🛠️ Tech-Driven Property Management: Karl uses platforms like AppFolio and Buildium and leverages ChatGPT to triage maintenance issues before dispatching contractors, saving time and cost.

📉 Rent Control Realities: Operating in Seattle means factoring rent caps and tenant rights into every business plan. Karl discusses how this disincentivizes developers and investors—and what needs to change.

🧠 AI in Permitting? Karl and host Stash explore how AI and machine learning could drastically reduce permitting timelines and inefficiencies in city review processes.

🏃‍♂️ Daily Discipline & Mental Clarity: Karl credits his fitness routine—especially trail running—for sharpening discipline, building mental resilience, and staying focused as an entrepreneur.

🚀 Whether you're a real estate investor, developer, or just curious about how to scale from flips to multifamily portfolios, this episode is full of practical insights and honest takes on the current market.