For years, retail development has largely been driven by location, demographics, household income, and traffic counts. Today, another factor is becoming increasingly important: how families use their time—and where they choose to spend it together.

Family-focused retail is emerging as a powerful force within commercial real estate.

There was only myself and one other agent in the office on a Friday around 5 PM.

The phone rings, and it's a caviar company that said they were looking for a brokerage to represent them with their U.S. expansion. They said, "We are near your office, can we come in and meet?"

We were skeptical at first, but we said to come on by and let's meet.

Our company is based out of West Los Angeles, where many top celebrity clients live and work. Of course, since we are in the area, Hollywood does come calling once in a while.

Commercial real estate investing is often described in terms of purchase price, rent, occupancy, cap rate, and cash flow. But truly savvy investors understand that there is another concept that can have just as much impact on an investment’s success: the capital stack.

The capital stack is simply the combination of financing sources used to purchase or develop a property.

Understanding how those layers work can help investors evaluate risk, structure better deals, and potentially increase returns.

Founded in 1934, ERCO pioneered architectural lighting across Europe in the 1960s. In 2015, it became the first established luminaire manufacturer with a portfolio based entirely on LED technology.

The company now operates through over 60 subsidiaries, branches, and agencies globally, including in major markets such as the United States, China, the Middle East, and South America.

The Los Angeles commercial real estate market continued its gradual recovery during the second quarter of 2026, although performance remains highly segmented across asset classes.

Investor activity continues to increase as pricing stabilizes and financing markets improve. At the same time, tenants remain highly selective, favoring well-located, high-quality assets with modern amenities.

There was a stretch in the 2000s when Rock & Republic was the denim brand everyone wanted.

It was the label you saw on the red carpet and in the pages of every fashion magazine, and retailers and landlords alike wanted the brand in their buildings.

When the company decided it was time to grow beyond wholesale and establish a physical retail footprint, it turned to Commercial Brokers International to lead that expansion.

When working with a new tenant client—especially a startup—it's common for the tenant to ask, or even insist, on receiving certain lease terms that can ultimately become deal killers.

One of the most common requests I see is for an early termination clause.

What many prospective tenants don't realize is that simply asking for this provision can immediately raise a red flag for the landlord.

Lorna Jane is an Australian women's activewear brand headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland, founded in 1989 by Lorna Jane Clarkson.

One of the biggest misconceptions in commercial real estate I still see nowadays is “More Properties = More Wealth.” While this is true, I believe it is also wise to…

I live in Santa Monica, CA.  There has been much concern over the vacancies that we have been seeing in the Downtown submarket, including the Promenade.  Like many cities policymakers…

Last year I worked with a client whose partner wanted to sell a property they had purchased together over 15 years prior. The property had appreciated significantly, meaning both partners were facing a substantial capital gains tax bill.

A few years ago I was representing an owner of two adjacent multi-family buildings in Los Angeles.

If you've spent any time talking to restaurant operators lately, you already know the vibe: excited about LA, nervous about everything else.

The commercial real estate industry has always been driven by relationships, but behind every successful deal is a significant amount of time spent on analysis, documentation, and communication. Brokers regularly review offering memorandums, analyze leases, draft LOIs, research comps, and prepare client updates. In many cases, this can take three to four hours per deal just on preparation.

That is beginning to change.

It is widely known and understood that the value of a Single Tenant Net Lease (“STNL”) property is closely tied to the lease. In fact, many opponents of STNL properties tell clients that the value of a property declines as the lease term shortens. Although not entirely correct, it does bear some truth (the CAP Rate of the property goes up with shorter lease terms, but many times this is offset with the rental increases built into the lease). What they don’t tell you, is that by utilizing strong real estate fundamentals and repositioning the lease, they can actually increase the value of the property dramatically.

The Los Angeles multifamily market is entering 2026 with renewed energy and shifting dynamics shaped by economic recovery, local policies, and investor sentiment. For developers, investors, and property managers, understanding these trends is essential to identifying opportunities amid change.