On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene is joined by Jonathan Iger, CEO of Sage Realty Corporation, to explore how a 100-year-old, family-owned real estate company is redefining the modern office experience. Drawing on Sage's deep roots in New York City office development, Jonathan explains how brand, hospitality, and operational excellence can drive higher tenant retention and long-term value creation.

The conversation dives into why office real estate was already changing before COVID, how renewal rates are often misunderstood, and why "experience" has become a core driver of NOI and asset performance. Jonathan also shares how Sage applies hospitality principles like consistency, service recovery, and "surprise and delight" to create differentiated office environments that tenants don't want to leave.

Listeners will gain insight into where the office market is heading, how branded office platforms can create alpha for investors, and why the future of office belongs to owners who treat buildings as long-term relationships rather than short-term transactions.

• How Sage Realty evolved from traditional office ownership into a branded office platform

• Why tenant renewal rates are far lower than most underwriting assumptions

• The role of hospitality, SOPs, and service recovery in commercial real estate

• How experience-driven offices can increase rents, NOI, and long-term asset value

• Why office real estate isn't dead, but fundamentally changing

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Jonathan:

Website: https://sagerealty.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/experience_sage/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sage-realty-corporation/

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene is joined by Stuart Gethner, a longtime real estate investor, educator, and connector who has spent decades helping investors move from analysis into action. Stuart shares insights from his experience coaching investors and building his own portfolio across multiple market cycles.

The conversation centers on why real estate is ultimately a people business. Stuart explains how networking, local market knowledge, and face-to-face relationships help investors avoid costly mistakes—especially when investing out of state or relying too heavily on online education. He and Jonathan discuss the limits of "YouTube University" and why real confidence comes from real conversations with experienced investors.

Jonathan and Stuart also dive into partnerships, property management, and investor self-awareness. From understanding your personal strengths to building complementary partnerships and avoiding shiny object syndrome, the episode emphasizes patience, humility, and long-term thinking as foundations for sustainable investing success.

• Why networking groups accelerate investor confidence and clarity

• The risks of relying solely on online education without local insight

• How partnerships work best when both sides have equal skin in the game

• Why investing close to home often reduces operational risk

• How patience and long-term thinking outperform "get rich quick" strategies

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Stuart:

Website: http://www.stuartgethner.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StuartGethner

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Gethner-Education-Consulting/61578852277422/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stuartgethner

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stuartgethner/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stuart_gethner

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Nick Corwin, founder of Oak and Ember, to explore what it really looks like to move from long-term rentals into short-term hospitality and eventually into ground-up development. Nick shares how an engineering mindset, strong mentorship, and disciplined downside analysis shaped his early investing decisions.

The conversation traces Nick's evolution from owning Midwest long-term rentals to building unique short-term experiences in the Wisconsin Dells. He explains why chasing the middle of the market can be a losing strategy, how combining units and serving overlooked guest segments created an edge, and why operating short-term rentals requires far more systems and empathy than most investors expect.

Jonathan and Nick also unpack the realities of entitlement risk, zoning battles, and development timelines. Nick offers a candid look at what it takes to push a project through local approvals, manage rising costs, and stay grounded when timelines and budgets inevitably expand.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why testing whether you even like being a landlord matters before scaling

• How Nick identified underserved short-term rental niches instead of competing in crowded markets

• The operational differences between long-term rentals and hospitality businesses

• Lessons learned from zoning, entitlement hurdles, and community resistance

• Why doubling both your budget and timeline can save you from painful surprises

Follow and Review

If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth.

Connect with Nick:

Website: http://www.stayoakandember.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Korwinning

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/korwinning/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/korwinning/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@korwinning

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.