No Vacancy with Taylor Avakian

*Taylor Avakian sits down with legendary West Side Los Angeles real estate syndicator Larry Taylor.* With more than 50 years focused exclusively on LA’s most desirable submarkets, Larry shares perspective on current pricing and opportunities, the unique advantages of the West Side, and principles refined across every interest rate and economic cycle.From the lasting appeal of prime locations like Century City and Santa Monica to the evolution of syndication and portfolio strategies, this conversation covers hard-won lessons on navigating volatility, evaluating deals, and building lasting value in one of the world’s most competitive real estate markets.Sponsor - Lo...

*Adam Miller for LA Mayor: Tech Billionaire on Fixing LA's Housing Crisis, Homelessness & Government Inefficiency | No Vacancy Podcast*Taylor Avakian sits down with Adam Miller — founder and former CEO of Cornerstone OnDemand (sold for $5.2 billion) — who is running for Mayor of Los Angeles. In this wide-ranging conversation, Miller breaks down his bold plan to transform the city through operational excellence, accountability, and private sector innovation.From scaling a global education technology company to tackling LA’s most pressing challenges, Miller shares insights on leadership, incentives, efficiency, and what “good” governance actually looks like.*Key Topics:*- LA’s interconnected crises: home...

*No Vacancy Podcast: Richard Mehta (Xenon Investments) on Building a 3,300 Unit Empire in Los Angeles*Taylor Avakian sits down with Richard Mehta, co-founder of Xenon Investments. Richard has built one of the most impressive multifamily portfolios in LA with roughly 3,300 apartment units, mostly on the Westside, Mid-Wilshire, Koreatown, and parts of the San Fernando Valley.In this episode, he opens up about his journey from losing money in the early 90s crash to becoming one of LA's most active buyers. He shares how he thinks about deals, why he trusts gut instinct over complicated models, his love for strong...

Lourdes Castro Ramirez, President and CEO of HACLA (Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles), joins Taylor Avakian on the No Vacancy Podcast for an in-depth conversation on the affordable housing crisis, Section 8 vouchers, public housing, and strategies to address homelessness in Los Angeles.

In this episode, Lourdes breaks down how HACLA serves over 200,000 Angelenos, the realities of rental subsidies, emergency housing vouchers, mixed-income developments, public housing redevelopment, and the challenges of high development costs. She shares her personal journey from immigrant roots to leading one of the largest housing authorities in the...

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...

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:

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...

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...

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 origin...

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...

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 ph...

In this episode of the No Vacancy podcast, Taylor Avakian sits down with Jeff Gleiberman, President of MG Properties, to pull back the curtain on one of the most successful multifamily investment firms in the country. Managing over 33,000 units and transacting billions annually, Jeff shares the "secret sauce" behind their 30-year track record, including their hyper-disciplined approach to vertical integration and why they prioritize long-term fixed-rate financing.

The conversation dives deep into the current state of real estate, comparing the regulatory challenges of the Los Angeles market with the booming opportunities in Dallas. Jeff explains the nuances...

The U.S. faces a severe affordable housing shortage, with millions of renters paying more than 30% of income on rent. In this in-depth conversation, Jeffrey Jaeger, co-founder and principal of Standard Communities, shares his journey from brokerage and institutional real estate to building one of the nation's leading affordable housing platforms - managing over 30,000 units across 22+ states and targeting 50,000 by 2030.Jaeger breaks down the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program - how it leverages private capital through tax incentives to finance new construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable rental housing. He explains the mechanics: developers qualify projects, investors receive...

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...

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...

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 mu...

What really separates strong real estate professionals from everyone else when markets tighten and capital gets complicated?

In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Vicky Schiff for a wide-ranging conversation on work ethic, conviction, and how serious operators think about risk, relationships, and capital in today’s real estate market. Vicky shares how she built her career by being the person who actually executes, prepares, and shows up when it matters.

They dive into what’s happening inside the debt markets, how lenders are structuring risk through pref equity, CLOs, and loan...

Uncovering the Hidden Power Structures in Commercial Real Estate with Hiten Samtani (Founder of Ten31 Media)Deep-dive conversation with Hiten Samtani, former Editorial Director at The Real Deal and founder of Ten31 Media, on the unseen forces driving commercial real estate in America's biggest markets.From long-term family dynasties and low-basis empires to cultural niches quietly controlling billions in Los Angeles and New York, political leverage in mega-projects, the surge of private credit and insurance capital, and the evolving role of insider-focused media in an opaque industry.Essential for commercial real estate investors, brokers, developers, lenders, operators, and professionals...

Join Taylor Avakian on the No Vacancy Podcast as he sits down with Jan Brzeski, a co-founder of Arixa Capital and a leading expert in private credit and real estate lending in California. In this in-depth episode, Jan shares his journey building a massive commercial real estate debt fund, revealing the inner workings of private credit syndication and how lenders navigate today's shifting interest rate environment.Discover key insights into commercial real estate opportunities in California, including the impact of rising rates on property values, the role of private credit in bridging financing gaps, and strategies for underwriting strong...

What happens when a developer goes head-to-head with California’s most powerful cities, unions, and politicians?

In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Leo Pustilnikov — one of the most controversial and influential developers in California’s housing landscape. Leo has become a central figure in the statewide housing reform battle, pushing projects forward using tools like the Builder’s Remedy, SB 9, SB 35, Density Bonus Law, and other pro-housing policies that force cities to comply with state law.

Leo breaks down the political fights behind the scen...

In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Luke Morris — Co-Founder of CREXi and Founder of Capitalize.io — to break down how AI is transforming commercial real estate from the inside out. Luke shares the early days of CREXi, how he helped reshape CRE workflow at scale, and why he’s now focused on the next evolution of AI-powered tools for brokers, operators, and investors.

From automating research to accelerating deal flow, Luke explains the problems he saw firsthand while building CREXi — and the AI solutions modern CRE professionals will rely on...

In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Nagel — CIO & CFO of Decron Properties — to unpack how a multigenerational real estate family built a 10,000-unit empire over 70+ years and why they’re now pivoting billions OUT of California into growth markets like Phoenix & Austin.

Daniel shares his grandfather’s Holocaust-to-developer story, the philosophy behind surviving every market cycle since 1956, what institutional investors really look for, and how to build an investment platform that lasts generations.

If you're serious about multifamily investing, family offices, long-term real estate strategy, and institutional-grade deal thi...

From small beginnings to billion-dollar portfolios — Paul Julian has seen it all.

In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Paul Julian, a multifamily investor and operator who built success through persistence, partnership, and purpose. Paul shares how he scaled from early real estate deals to managing large multifamily assets, breaking down the strategies, risks, and mindset behind long-term success in a volatile market.

You’ll learn:

- How Paul got started in real estate and built early traction

- The secr...

Brandon Hance did 180+ real estate deals in Los Angeles in just 7 years. Sounds incredible, right?

But here's the truth: he wishes he'd done fewer deals and made MORE money.

In this episode, Brandon opens up about his journey from tech startup founder to one of LA's most prolific developers - and why the "hustle harder" mentality almost destroyed him. He shares the brutal lessons he learned scaling too fast, the health crisis that nearly killed him, and how he's completely rebuilt his approach with his new company, Angelino Development.

If...

How do you build affordable housing in a city known for red tape, high costs, and endless delays?

In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Mott Smith, co-founder of Amped Kitchens and the Los Angeles Small Developer Collective, to discuss how smart policy, modular design, and process innovation can transform housing development in California.

You’ll learn:

- Why LA’s housing and permit systems are fundamentally broken

- How Mott Smith helps small developers build smarter and faster

...

How does someone go from fixing copy machines to owning and operating over 6,000 multifamily units?

In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Steve Ludwig, a multifamily investor who turned humble beginnings into a billion-dollar portfolio. Steve shares his path from blue-collar work into real estate, breaking down the strategies, discipline, and mindset that helped him scale in one of the toughest industries.

Sponsor: www.aiforcrecollective.com

You’ll learn:

- How Steve transitioned from fixing copiers into real estate

...

In this episode of The Group CRE, Taylor Avakian sits down with Chris Gray, President of Moss & Company, which manages over 15,000 multifamily units and 3 million sq. ft. of commercial space. Chris shares how Moss scaled its operations, built a strong company culture, and leveraged technology to tackle today’s toughest challenges — from fraud prevention to AI-driven leasing.

You’ll learn:

- How Moss and Company scaled from 4,000 to 15,000 units

- The leadership changes that transformed company culture

- Why most owners struggle with property management

- How AI...

How does a professional skateboarder transition into building a $400M real estate portfolio?

In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Mikey Taylor — former pro skater turned entrepreneur, investor, and city councilman. Mikey shares his unique path from skating the streets to leading one of the most successful real estate ventures in Southern California.

You’ll learn:

- How Mikey reinvented himself after a pro skating career

- The mindset shift from athlete to entrepreneur and investor

- Lessons from buil...

How do you evolve from small-scale real estate deals to building large, transformative projects?

In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Marco Vartanian, a seasoned investor, broker, and developer, who shares his journey of scaling in real estate through timing, persistence, and smart strategy. From his early days flipping single-family homes to his current role in large developments, Marco reveals the mindset and decision-making that helped him navigate multiple market cycles.

You’ll learn:

- How Marco transitioned from brokerage into full-time investing an...

What does it take to grow from flipping cars in college to owning over 5,000 apartments and 2 million square feet of retail?

In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian interviews Fred Leeds, a legendary real estate investor and operator. Fred shares his one-of-a-kind journey — from his first duplex purchase to cold-calling strategies, creative financing, and transformative inner-city projects. Along the way, he reveals the mindset and work ethic that turned opportunities into generational wealth.

You’ll learn:

- How Fred leveraged cold-calling to find and close deals

How do you continue to find winning multifamily deals in one of the toughest markets in recent years?

In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian interviews Mark Bolour, a multifamily investor and operator who’s made his mark with smart acquisitions and disciplined asset management. Mark shares how he identifies value-add opportunities, navigates challenging debt environments, and structures deals to deliver long-term stability.

You’ll learn:

- How to find and evaluate true value-add deals in competitive markets

- Strategies for securing financing in high...

How do you lead $1.5B+ in real estate development while balancing public policy, community trust, and financial returns?

In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian speaks with Geoff Moen, Director of Development at HACLA, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. Geoff dives into how HACLA is transforming underutilized public land into vibrant, mixed-income communities — and what it takes to partner with private developers while keeping affordability at the core.

You’ll learn:

- How HACLA structures large-scale public-private partnerships

- Strategies for...

Can you build a thriving real estate career without a team, a cold-calling center, or flashy marketing?

In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Mike Seltzer, a solo powerhouse who’s transacted over 1,000 units and $300M+ in multifamily real estate. Mike shares how he went from printing flyers and answering Craigslist ads to becoming a go-to off-market dealmaker in Los Angeles.

You’ll learn how Mike:

- Developed a niche in 5–30 unit apartment deals

- Built deep broker and owner relationships

...

How does someone go from being a school teacher and police officer to running one of the West Coast’s largest property management firms and the largest cannabis producer in the world?

In this episode of No Vacancy with Taylor Avakian, guest Kyle Kazan walks through his remarkable journey. From buying distressed properties in Compton to launching Beachfront Property Management and eventually co-founding Glass House Brands, Kyle shares battle-tested lessons on:

- Buying during recessions & repositioning C-class assets

- Transitioning from teaching to law enforcement to real estate

...

What does it take to go from working the parking booth in your family’s business to becoming CEO of one of the largest real estate firms in Los Angeles?

In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Jaime Lee, CEO of Jamison Realty, who leads over 6,600 units and 33 buildings, with 2,000 more in development. Jaime breaks down how her immigrant parents went from medicine to office buildings, how she took over her first 1.8M sq. ft. asset at age 22, and what it means to lead in the most competitive office and mu...

How do you build a $100M+ real estate empire starting with a single fourplex in Redondo Beach?

In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Jerry Marcil, a 72-year-old real estate mogul with over 4,000 units under management, to break down decades of market cycles, mistakes, and multipliers. Jerry shares lessons from losing everything in the 90s, his blueprint for long-term wealth, and why he still buys buildings today.

You’ll learn how to:

- Scale without syndication

- Use refis to grow tax-free

...

In this episode of No Vacancy with Taylor Avakian, Jeff Palmer, a 40-year veteran of California's multifamily real estate landscape, shares his expert insights on navigating the complexities of the state's evolving real estate market. Discover how historical trends in California's apartment sector, including cycles of rent control and housing regulations, shape current investment opportunities. Jeff reveals where savvy investors can uncover the next wave of growth and wealth in commercial real estate. Before making your next multifamily investment, listen to this episode to equip yourself with the knowledge that can transform your portfolio. Join us for this wealth...

Can you go from hauling student storage boxes to wiring $52 million in under a decade?

In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with entrepreneur and real estate operator Nick Huber to unpack the mindset and mechanics of his rise. From building self-storage facilities to launching 11 businesses, Nick shares how he leverages systems, social media, and international teams to grow fast — and stay lean.

Learn how top operators are:

- Using stress and momentum as compounding advantages

- Building leverage to escape the “one decision ruins ever...

How do you assemble hundreds of units in one of the most restrictive markets in the country? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with developers Alan Nissel, Richie Shamooilian, and Avi Stieglitz, who collectively control over 600 units in the pipeline in Beverly Hills.

These three operators break down how they’re:

- Navigating entitlement delays and development hurdles

- Working with city constraints to unlock density

- Avoiding land loans and raising patient capital

- Pivoting across asset types and use cases

What does it take to scale in one of the hardest development markets in the country? In this episode of No Vacancy, Taylor Avakian sits down with Adrian Berger, Managing Director of Acquisitions at Cypress Equity Investments, who shares how he built his career across four continents and now helps lead ground-up development across Los Angeles.

Learn how Adrian and his team are:

- Making Santa Monica deals pencil in 2024

- Raising capital with creative Co-GP structures

- Turning failed listings into 17 closed land deals

...