The gang explores how niche assets like data centers, healthcare housing, and music buildings are creating new opportunities for investors seeking resilient, high-yield returns. They break down the capital market forces driving these sectors, examine signals of a possible recession, and debate New York City’s ambitious Local Law 97 and its impact on building owners. The episode wraps with a fun round of Real Estate Tech Survivor, where our hosts weigh in on which technologies are built to last.

Show Notes:

0:10: Intro

0:43: The Rise of Investments in Niche Assets

13:30: Are We Heading into a Recession?

22:40: Ryan and Brad debate NYC’s Local Law 97 (carbon emissions limits for buildings)

35:49: HILO Highlights- David’s time in Western Canada and the importance of customer service

47:30: Real Estate Tech Survivor

If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com and www.thesisdriven.com for all the latest news and updates.

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This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, HILO, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate.

What does the next chapter of real estate tech really look like? We sit down with Alon Gorbonos, founder of RE Angels and veteran of the global investing scene, for a candid convo on the evolution of venture capital, the AI-fueled startup wave, and what it actually takes to scale innovation in a tighter, tougher CRE market. From PropTech to ConTech to FinTech (and a few dad jokes in between), we unpack where tech meets traction—and why the smartest bets are getting smaller, scrappier, and more sustainable.

Show notes:

0:11: Nadine and Ryan Intro

5:45: AI lowers barriers for startups

7:15: Welcome Alon Gorbonos

7:52: Alon’s journey from McKinsey to fund founder

14:42: Prediction’s for CRE’s digital transformation

21:23: Contech, FinTech, PropTech: who’s underfunded?

25:00: Bottom up or top down? Adoption insights for Contech

28:44: Transformation of current construction roles

34:50: Impact of AI on traditional VC model

39:47: Qualities of an agile VC

42:38: Real estate trends to keep an eye on

49:00: How Alon unplugs?

50:45: Where would Alon be if not in VC?

54:10: HILO commercial break

55:39: Ryan and Nadine’s recap

If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com for all the latest news and updates.

Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn and Instagram!

This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, HILO, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate.

In this CRE Unplugged x Thesis Driven crossover, Ryan, Nadine, and Brad unpack the ripple effects of newly imposed tariffs and the fresh wave of uncertainty hitting the market. They dig into the hype (and reality) of reshoring manufacturing—and whether bringing production back home could actually reshape industrial demand and CRE investment strategy.

As hybrid work continues to win out over return-to-office mandates, the crew explores how this shift is rewriting the rules on office usage, workplace design, and company culture. Then it’s onto the rise of bootstrapped tech: with AI, no-code tools, and dirt-cheap infrastructure, will more owners start building their own solutions from scratch?

And yes, Nadine jumps into her first real estate snake draft—making bold picks across asset classes and talking big picture bets for 2025. From macro headwinds to innovation tailwinds, this one’s a sharp take on what’s really moving the market.

Show Notes:

0:10: Intro

0:40: How are the Tariffs currently affecting the real estate market?

14:08: The impact of the decreasing cost of building technology

28:01: Hybrid Work is prevailing as RTO Mandates struggle to gain ground

41:24: HILO Highlights: David Abrams discusses his latest guests on TEN and his new blog about how CX is changing the workplace?

47:30: Real estate categories draft

If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com and www.thesisdriven.com for all the latest news and updates. Have thoughts or suggestions?

We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and X!

This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, HILO, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate.