Any credit unions lending in south Fla ??? On commercial deals ? Thanks!

Everyone thinks a food hall will solve their vacancy problem. I disagree. In this episode of "I Own A Shopping Center, Now What?" I talked about why food halls fail in so many markets. Food halls need population, traffic, and volume. That works in places like New York City. It usually does not work in smaller markets with no tourism and limited density. I’ve seen owners spend huge amounts of money building food halls in Miami, Birmingham, and Delray Beach. Many of them regret it. Even a well-designed food hall in Los Angeles recently closed. A food hall is not a quick fix for vacancy. Listen to the full podcast here: open.spotify.com/episode/4fR…

Leasing isn’t just about listing your vacancies online. It’s about relationships. Read more about this topic on my blog: bethazor.com/blog/get-involv…

Sometimes you need support. Support in reaching your goals. Support in getting a deal done. Support in parenting. Support in grief. And support can come in many ways. Most people don't ask for help. That's vulnerable. People don't like to be vulnerable. They don't want to bother others. Out here in the Camino people stop each other and ask for help ALL the time! It's SO refreshing. I was telling a fellow pilgrim over a beer that my ankle was aching. He reached in his bag, told me to put my foot up and he taped my ankle with magic tape! KT tape! Now you runners out there probably know all about this tape.... I had NO idea! I'm so glad I "shared" with my new friend! KT tape is my new favorite friend! Got some at the next pharmacy I passed! 57 more miles to go on my Journey. Ask for support! It probably will help!

Women Investor Wednesday: Bonnie Huggins x.com/i/broadcasts/1wxWjjqjj…

What does a true win-win real estate deal look like? On this episode of Women Investor Wednesday, Stephanie Cabral shared the story behind one of the most meaningful deals in her portfolio. She found a waterfront property owned by a 92-year-old woman who could no longer afford the taxes and insurance on the home she had lived in for six decades. Stephanie structured a deal where she took over the property expenses for the rest of the woman’s life. In return, the property transfers to Stephanie in the future. The homeowner stays in the house she loves, and Stephanie secures a long-term investment property she considers a prize asset. The best deals are often the ones where everyone walks away protected and respected. Watch our full episode here: youtube.com/live/b-NZBweAf0I…

"Everything is figureoutable." That was one of my favorite moments from my conversation with Dr. Rachel at the 6th Annual Women's Real Estate Investment Summit. For two years, she analyzed deals but never pulled the trigger. Like many new investors, she saw repair issues as reasons to walk away. Then she started looking at those issues differently. A roof problem had a cost. Plumbing had a cost. Electrical work had a cost. They weren't mysteries. They were numbers. That shift in thinking led her to buy her first rental property in 2018. At the time, she and her husband were working multiple jobs and needed additional income. After studying different real estate strategies, she focused on short-term rentals because they provided the cash flow she was looking for. Successful investors don't have all the answers when they start. They learn how to evaluate risk, understand the numbers, and make decisions. That's exactly what Dr. Rachel did.

I’m thrilled to announce that Bonnie Huggins, Founder of White Barn Partners, will be joining us for our upcoming Women Investor Wednesday! If you know Bonnie, you know she brings a wealth of experience, insight, and a no-nonsense approach to investing and creating value in commercial real estate. Throughout her career, she has built an impressive track record, and I’m excited for our community to learn from her journey, her investment philosophy, and the lessons she’s gained along the way. Whether you're an experienced investor, just getting started, or looking to expand your network, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Please join me in welcoming Bonnie Huggins to Women Investor Wednesday! You can watch it right here on this social media channel.

What happens when women in real estate start having more honest conversations about business, wealth, and confidence? At the 6th Annual Women’s Real Estate Investment Summit, the discussions went far beyond transactions and deals. Women shared real experiences about building wealth, overcoming self-doubt, using technology wisely, and creating businesses designed for long-term freedom. The room was filled with women sharing lessons, mistakes, wins, and practical strategies from real business experience. The value of the event came from hearing honest experiences from women actively investing, lending, and building businesses today.

Do you have problems with your third-party leasing and management firms? Well, here’s a tip: always require a monthly leasing activity report. It’s not just about keeping tabs, it’s about understanding where their leads are coming from, ensuring they’re actively prospecting. Also, don’t bog them down with unnecessary calls; focus on what matters. If they’re not delivering after a few months, it might be time to reassess. And remember, make those site visits count. Walk the property, drive the market, and ensure nothing catches you off guard. Keep your standards high! Listen to the full podcast here: open.spotify.com/episode/06g…

Please Share! Mentors needed. One of my favorite parts of the summer is matching students with mentors. It is not time intensive as the goal is to be their first step in building their networks, but we do look for people who love what they can do and help out someone who is just getting started by meeting with them a couple of times. If you are in the area of any of our campuses and willing to help mentor students, please sign up! We will need a few virtual mentors as well. FYI- Not everyone matches with a student, it depends on their stated career goals and who we have available that matches their career goals the closest. See how to sign up in the comments.

I'm walking 500 miles on the Camino De Santiago from France into Spain. Today marks Day 19 of walking - 276 miles. One of the most read pieces of advice I read on Facebook before I left was : "Don't forget to turn around and look behind you!" And boy, was that good advice! The spectacular views behind you, showing you how far you've come and the vistas that have changed since you walked those steps is Unbelievable! It made me think of us with our careers. It is SO important to stop and turn around and look at ALL you've accomplished! It's so easy to think ahead and see the goals we HAVEN'T reached yet. The clients we haven't signed. The deals that keep falling apart. But what about the achievements ??? When I coached and led a large group of people, for their reviews, I'd ask them to come in with a look back over the last 12 months on the amount of things they DID accomplish - of course it's natural to always be looking ahead- and seeing what was missed. Going in prepared with either a client or your boss - sharing the progress you've made instead of always talking about what's not been done.... yet! That tenant rep client you haven't found the 5 locations for yet, how about reminding them you've researched 42 sites, toured 18 and lost out on 3! Detail the activity in the rear view mirror. Same goes with your boss. When you are up for a review, do you walk in prepared? Many of my team members did not. Actually they didn't keep good notes and forgot a lot! It's on you to turn around and look back! Many of your actions may not turn into deals but are valuable to the Company but it's YOUR job to remind your boss of that. He/She prob leads and manages many people and can't keep track- YOU should keep track! (If you question whether something is valuable to a Company, dm me!) Take Facebook's advice. It's not just for walking the Camino!

Rockstar Tip: The best tenant isn’t always the biggest name. It’s the operator with the strongest foundation. Read more about this topic on my blog: bethazor.com/blog/dont-alway…

Women Investor Wednesday: Susie Lowe x.com/i/broadcasts/1PKqrrWPz…

Which deal do you remember most, the big win or the one that drained your energy? On this episode of Women Investor Wednesday, Melissa Korda shared why some of the hardest deals stay with you longer than the profitable ones. One of her early flips broke even financially, but the time, stress, and emotional energy behind it made it one of the most memorable projects she’s done. Melissa also talked about investing in single-family homes around the Seattle airport area, where rental demand stayed strong and many properties needed upgrades. Every investor has a deal that teaches them more than the profitable ones ever could. Watch our full episode here: youtube.com/live/FNYnj26OJNs…

What happens when experienced investors start sharing the lessons they wish they learned sooner? At the 6th Annual Women’s Real Estate Investment Summit, speakers shared honest conversations about fear, risk, problem-solving, and what it actually takes to get started in real estate investing. A common theme throughout the event was that too many people delay taking action because they think every issue is a deal breaker. The investors and operators on stage talked about learning to evaluate problems, understand the numbers, and move forward with confidence. The room was filled with women learning from real stories, real mistakes, and real business experience from people actively investing, lending, and developing today. That is why this summit continues to grow year after year. Women want practical conversations they can apply directly to their business and investments.

Most vacancies are invisible. I recently signed a lease with J.Crew in a former CVS space. The first thing I told my client was simple. Get a “Coming Soon” sign up immediately. Good tenants attract more tenants. If retailers see J.Crew coming to the center, I want them calling before the next vacancy even becomes available. I’ve used billboards to advertise shopping center vacancies. I’ve added oversized banners to elbow spaces that no one notices. I’ve changed leasing signs so people know office space is available upstairs. One vacant restaurant space had almost no visibility from the road. We added a large banner to the end cap. The phone started ringing right away. If people don’t know the space is available, they can’t lease it. Drive your property like a customer. Ask yourself one question. Would I even know there’s space here? Listen to the full podcast here: youtu.be/J9G7zQugU0c