Multifamily Real Estate, Equity Investment and the “Karma Economy” with Nick Earls and Eric DiNicola of Winterspring Capital

In this episode of Real Estate for Breakfast, host Phil Coover and co-host Jay Augustyn are joined by Nick Earls and Eric DiNicola, co-founders of Winterspring Capital. Phil and Jay sit down with Nick and Eric to discuss the pair’s 20-year friendship and how they successfully developed a business and brand from their first real estate project, which included the renovation and sale of three condominium units in Boston.

The Winterspring story is interesting in seeing how two friends can create a real estate development company, without deep pocket backers, by taking one step at a time, by building skills, by stepping out of their comfort zone and focusing on marketing, and by measuring each decision and learning lessons as they build for the future.  Specifically, the group examines the pros and cons of funding projects with equity investments in lieu of debt; the company’s marketing strategy and plans for future growth including writing books and articles for public consumption; the concept of the “karma economy”; and Winterspring’s foray into Boston’s affordable housing market.

As co-founder and managing principal of Winterspring Capital, Nick Earls has over a decade of experience in all phases of commercial real estate, including asset management, sales, new construction development and property management.

While building his own portfolio, he has also guided many investors down the path of multifamily investment, management or development. He is an expert on multifamily condominium development, underwriting, and asset management in the multifamily space and is also the author of the top-rated book, “Making Millions through Multi-Family Development.”

Eric DiNicola Headshot

Eric DiNicola is also a co-founder and managing principal of Winterspring Capital. His strong financial background spans over a decade. Eric began working in public equity in 2010 and moved into the private equity markets where he worked on valuations and capital raising.

Joining forces with Nick in 2015, Eric leveraged his investment experience and expertise to accelerate the growth of Winterspring's real estate business. Heading up the company’s acquisitions team, Eric leans on his extensive broker network to keep Winterspring's deal pipeline full.

For more information, visit: https://winterspringcapital.com/  

Episode 23 - David Moore and The Willis Tower Redevelopment

David Moore, as Senior Vice President and Portfolio Director of Equity Office’s Chicago portfolio, comes on the podcast to discuss the company’s $500 million investment/redevelopment of famed The Willis Tower.  As the second tallest building in the country, The Willis Tower is most recognizable building in Chicago and one of the most recognizable in the world. This episode is a fascinating consideration of the massive scale of a $500 Million redevelopment and investment into Chicago’s most quintessential and historic building. 

David discusses the “why” of redevelopment and the movement to amenitization of office buildings in Chicago. The company’s objective is to look at how to enhance the daily lives of the people in the building and create a better experience for those people. Equity Office is creating an amenity destination for its 15,000 daily inhabitants and visitors. The Willis Tower is delivering multiple floors of tenant only amenities, including a “Tower House” which is a West loop style creative space, and an “Altitude Lounge” grab and go location built in a high rise Gold Coast style, as well as a floor of tenant only fitness space with cardio, workout classes, spin, yoga, and much more.  In addition, the base of the structure is being torn down and built out and expanded, to include 300,000 square feet of commercial space with a Wintergarden style space full of various food and drink offerings. This episode is a great explanation of why these massive investments in existing office product are taking place in Chicago and around the world.

Find out more about the Willis Tower here:  http://www.willistower.com/

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DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests, SATC Solution Center L3C, or Schenk Annes Tepper Campbell Ltd. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

Episode 7 - David Haigh

In episode 7, Phil has industrial real estate broker, David Haigh, of NAI Hiffman, come on to discuss the different approach needed for massive square footage transactions in industrial real estate.   Dave explains a good approach to networking and getting into the real estate business, explains the history and macroeconomic factors that lead Chicago to being of paramount importance in industrial real estate, and new trends in the industrial real estate market.

Learn more about NAI Hiffman here.

DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests, SATC Solution Center L3C, or Schenk Annes Tepper Campbell Ltd. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

Episode 6 - Steven Spinell

Phil's featured guest is Steven Spinell of JLL. Steven is a former professional hockey player turned commercial real estate professional. Steven discusses his work on JLL's build to suit team, his transition to commercial real estate, and his passion project to help competitive athletes transition from the sports arena to the corporate arena.  But first, Phil is joined by fellow SATC principal John Campbell to discuss how and why cyber security is a necessity for real estate professionals, and the upcoming cyber security symposium on March 8, 2017, brought to you by SATC Solution Center, L3C.   

John Campbell on cybersecurity:  2-18 Minute Mark

Steven Spinell:  Starts at 18 Minute Mark (Hockey Talk starts at 26 minute mark)

 

 

DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests, SATC Solution Center L3C, or Schenk Annes Tepper Campbell Ltd. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

Episode 5 - David Stone

The State of the Chicago Retail Market!  In episode 5, Phil gets the state of the Chicago Retail market from one of Chicago’s premiere retail brokers, David Stone of Stone Real Estate Corporation.  David discusses the recent soaring rents in the North Michigan Avenue riverfront area, the challenges and advantages of leasing a unique building such as the Merchandise Mart, and provides trends and forecasts of where this City is going and what both tenants and landlords are looking for in current economic conditions.

Learn more about Stone Real Estate Corporation here. 

DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests, SATC Solution Center L3C, or Schenk Annes Tepper Campbell Ltd. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

Episode 4 - Colin C. Laitner

Phil grabs a cup of coffee with his good friend, Colin C. Laitner, the general counsel of Deeter Investments, LLP, a private investment firm, and a principal of Metis Capital, LLC, a commercial real estate development company based out of Austin, Texas.  Phil makes Colin tell the story of how he got his position with Deeter Investments, LLP, and discusses a private nuisance lawsuit where a local live music bar on Sixth Street in Austin, Texas, called The Nook, is being sued by a corporate giant, The Westin Hotel.  Finally, Colin talks about his efforts to attract foreign investments in his company’s development of light industrial and commercial “flex” space, called the Sheldon Cove Corporate Center, which is part of a commercial condominium development.

DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests, SATC Solution Center L3C, or Schenk Annes Tepper Campbell Ltd. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

Episode 2 - Robert Walters - Part 1 of 2

Robert Walters – Principal of Quattro Development, LLC.  In part 1 of a 2 part episode, host Phil Coover sits down with Rob Walters of Quattro Development, Inc. to discuss how a kid from DeKalb founded a national real estate development company with his partner Mike Liyeos in 2008.  Rob explains his company’s process to select and develop sites, sourcing materials and contractors, and finding deals across the entire country.

Find out more about Quattro Development here. 

DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests, SATC Solution Center L3C, or Schenk Annes Tepper Campbell Ltd. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.

Episode 1 - C. Michelle Panovich

Real Estate for Breakfast is a Chicago centric real estate podcast which brings real
estate professionals and attorneys together to create thoughtful commentary on
current real estate issues, explanations of sophisticated real estate problems, details
on current developments and entertaining discussion.

Episode 1 Guest Speaker - C. Michelle Panovich of Mid-America Asset Management, Inc.
Description: In the first episode, Phil sits down with C. Michelle Panovich of Mid-
America Asset Management, Inc., and Andy Annes of Schenk Annes Tepper Campbell
Ltd., to discuss Michelle and Mid-America’s redevelopment efforts in connection with
the Ford City Mall, the Deerbrook Mall, and downtown LaGrange, IL. Michelle
discusses her team’s approach, vision, and financing needed to redevelop commercial
property on a mass scale. Michelle ends by discussing her rewarding work in support of
the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University.

Find out more about Mid-America Asset Management here.

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DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests, SATC Solution Center L3C, or Schenk Annes Tepper Campbell Ltd. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.