In this powerful episode of The Bob Knakal Show, Bob sits down with legendary real estate investor Andy Davidoff, Chairman and CEO of Emmes Companies. With over 35 years of friendship and 25+ deals together, this is a must-watch for anyone interested in New York real estate, investment strategy, and entrepreneurial grit.

💼 Andy shares his unfiltered journey — from dropping out of college and demoing cast iron bathtubs at 15, to building one of the most formidable investment firms in the country. Discover how he seized massive opportunities like the RTC auctions and the Goldman-DeLorenzo portfolio, and how his firm scaled across NYC, the West Coast, and even Japan.

🏙️ Topics covered include:

• The anatomy of a $120M profit deal
• Why B and C office buildings are ripe for conversion
• NYC's insatiable housing demand and the Midtown South rezoning
• Investing in distress: turning chaos into opportunity
• The joy of motorcycle escapes and fine dining with friends

💬 "You have to come to work willing to be fired. That's what it takes to be successful." – Andy Davidoff

📣 Don’t miss this masterclass in real estate entrepreneurship, relationship-building, and opportunity recognition.

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📊 Presented by CREXI – the leading platform for commercial real estate professionals to prospect, evaluate, connect, and close.

#RealEstate #NYCRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #BobKnakal #AndyDavidoff #BKREA #InvestmentStrategy #OfficeConversion #RealEstatePodcast #CXI

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In this episode, Bob sits down with Don Tepman, better known as StripMallGuy, one of the most influential voices in commercial real estate (CRE) with over 400,000 followers across social media. Discover how Don went from being a broker to a successful strip mall investor, and how he built a digital brand that’s reshaping the way people think about real estate investing.

Key Takeaways:

• How Don broke into real estate and built his first deals
• Lessons from transitioning from broker to owner/operator
• The power of personal brand in CRE investing
• Why strip malls are still hidden goldmines
• Social media growth strategies in the commercial space

🔥 Whether you’re a real estate broker, investor, syndicator, or CRE enthusiast, this episode is packed with insight, authenticity, and inspiration.

Subscribe now for more insider conversations from the leaders shaping commercial real estate.
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What happens when a teenage bookkeeper grows up to build one of the most diversified global real estate portfolios in the world?

On this episode of The Bob Knakal Show, Bob sits down with Francis Greenburger, Chairman and CEO of Time Equities, for a candid, powerful conversation spanning 50 years of real estate cycles, co-op conversions, global acquisitions, and entrepreneurial grit.

From delivering newspapers in Queens to buying buildings in Montreal for $8 a foot, Francis shares the inside story of how he turned timing, instinct, and smart problem-solving into a multibillion-dollar career. He dives into lessons from New York’s 1970s financial crisis, the co-op conversion boom (and collapse), and the deals that defined an era.

For anyone building a career in real estate—or just fascinated by the city's evolution—this episode is a masterclass in creativity, resilience, and bold decision-making.

Key Takeaways:

• How Francis started investing at 16 and found his way into real estate
• The origin story of Time Equities and the role rent control laws played
• Converting over 10,000 apartments and navigating the Tax Reform Act of 1986
• Buying distressed assets during economic downturns—then holding them for decades
• Lessons from the Savings & Loan crisis, the co-op boom, and today’s market volatility
• How to identify opportunity when everyone else sees chaos
• Why Francis prefers control and long-term holds over chasing scale

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