REATA Blog
News & Updates
8 Things to Consider Before Reducing Your Office Space – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #61
You've heard a ton of talk, including on this podcast, about WFH, returning to work or a hybrid of the two. But before you use the great reset of 2020 as the excuse to pull the trigger on shedding some overhead costs (think office space), there are 8 things you might...
Jobs Reports – Which Ones to Believe and How They Affect CRE – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #60
Just read a jobs reports in the NYT and the headline made me feel good and then the article left me confused. Listen to today's podcast to see if Bob & Jan can make sense of it all! OK, so here's the headline: U.S. Jobs Report for June Shows a Gain of 850,000,...
DFW Office Market on the Rebound – REALLY? Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #59
Last week I saw a headline that read "The DFW Office Market Rebound is Underway". This made me scratch my head - listen to Jan and me discuss why on today's podcast. The article I quoted was a Cushman & Wakefield second quarter report and it quoted one of...
Market Implications – Sublease Availability Hits New High
A new report just out from JLL says that total available sublease space in office buildings in the US now stands at 158 million square feet (SF) up 69% since early 2020. This represents 2.4% of the total US office inventory. Cushman & Wakefield put out their own...
E-Commerce in Covid & Beyond – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #58
Have you been to a grocery store in the last year and seen a store employee rushing around looking at a list and filling a basket? That's e-commerce in a brick-and-mortar store. In today's podcast, Jan & Bob discuss what is e-commerce and how's it's affecting...
7 Red Flags That May Indicate the Need for a Lease Compliance Review – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #57
Red flags. They are everywhere in life. An email shows up with a suspicious link. A call comes in trying to sell you a car warranty when you already have 140,000 miles on your Pinto. In today's podcast Bob and Jan delve into 7 red flags that may indicate the need...
Faster Than Expected Return to Office – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #56
Is the return to the office happening faster than expected? If so, what's the impact on landlords, tenants and investors? On today's podcast, hear Bob & Jan discuss this possibility and possible ramifications. It seems that most return to the office...
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow (NOT) – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #55
When you sign a lease you focus on what the condition of the space will be when you move in because you want it to reflect the image of the company and be a great place for employees and customers. But few people consider what the space will look like at the end of...
How to Protect Yourself on Operating Expenses – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #54
I recently read a good article from Avogroup the other day regarding two ways to protect yourself on operating expense pass throughs from your landlord. On this episode we discuss these two ways in detail. As always, let's start with a definition: what are...
Office Space and COVID Across the Pond? – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #53
Possibly the closest ally of the United States is Britain. Our roots have been intricately tied for hundreds of years. While we speak the same language, we often don't understand each other - enter Nick! Our good friend, Nick McCalmont-Woods, owner of...
Tenant Improvements – When the Landlord’s & Tenant’s Visions Don’t Match – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #52
Just how do landlords and tenants ever agree on tenant finish out? Who pays for what? Can the tenant do anything they want in the space? What happens if a project doesn't finish on time? Listen to today's podcast to hear Jan and Bob discuss how to protect yourself...
8 Tips For Deciding Whether To Stay Or Move – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, #51
The good news about a lease is that it eventually comes to an end. But what do you do next? And how to you decide? On today's podcast, Bob and Jan discuss 8 tips for deciding whether to stay in your current office or move to a new one. It has been published that...
Everything We Thought We Knew About the Office Was Wrong, BEFORE Covid??? – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast
How much of your office do you actually use? And I don't mean now-I mean before Covid hit. A recent study suggests that office occupancy may not have been used to the extent previously thought. Listen to Bob & Jan talk about this on today's podcast. Before...
What You Should Know About Your Commercial Real Estate Broker, Part 2 – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast
A few weeks ago, we discussed 7 questions you should ask before hiring a broker. That was episode 45. Today, on episode 49, we'll discuss 8 more questions that you should ask before hiring a tenant rep broker. What is the current state of the market and in what...
Covid – Kicking it Down the Road – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord, Episode #48
Covid kicking it down the road is a weird title, but, it's a great concept. In this episode of the podcast, we'll discuss what it is and just how that panned out for one specific REATA client now that the year is expiring. Last year we recommended to several REATA...
Alliance of Tenant Representatives – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #47
Your company has a bunch of office locations throughout the US. You can hire one of the giant commercial real estate companies to represent you in negotiating those leases, but there is a better way. Listen to today's podcast to hear Bob and Jan talk all about...
Touring Vari – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #46
Wait, I thought Vari was a desk company? Well, it is, and a whole lot more. In fact, I toured their spaces this week. Listen to the podcast to hear all about it! I met Jason McCann, the CEO, this week. We didn't talk about the founding of the company, but I had...
What You Should Know About Your Commercial Real Estate Broker – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord, Episode #45
How well do you really know someone before you hire them? What questions should you ask before hiring a tenant rep broker? On today's podcast, we'll give you 8 questions you must ask and we'll answer these questions for REATA as well. The first question you should...
The Future of Logistics Real Estate Demand – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #44
Most of the time we talk about how to negotiate better leases on this podcast. But today we're going to talk about the Supply Chain - how its reliability became invaluable during Covid-19 and how its weaknesses showed up in a recent winter storm in Texas. When you...
12 Reasons and Tips When Moving Your Office From Downtown to the Suburbs – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord, Episode #43
You've probably heard that folks are leaving the big city downtown and moving to the suburbs. On today's podcast, we'll give you 12 reasons and tips for how to make the move! There is so much good about downtown - public transportation with light rail, restaurants,...
A Landlord Creates a Compelling New Reason to go Back to the Office – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #42
It's starting to feel like the pandemic may be winding down now that vaccinations are happening at a pace of 1.7 million a day and plans are for that to nearly double. So it's time to start thinking about going back to the office. But will the office look like it...
6 Things to Avoid When Leasing Office Space – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord, Episode #41
When searching for the perfect office space for your company, people often tell you the many things you should do, but we're going to tell you 6 things you should avoid at all costs. Listen to today's podcast for all the deets. So, what's first? Going it alone ~ You...
Office Vacancies Reach High Point in DFW – Confessions of Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #40
Recently the Dallas Business Journal wrote an article which showed that the Dallas Fort Worth office market has reached the highest vacancy rate seen in decades. They quoted a CBRE study which claims the vacancy rate at the end of 2020 was 23.4%. Bob and Jan talk...
Office Vacancies Reach High Point in DFW
On Friday, the Dallas Business Journal wrote an article which showed that the Dallas Fort Worth office market has reached the highest vacancy rate seen in decades. They quoted a CBRE study which claims the vacancy rate at the end of 2020 was 23.4%. This was a result...
9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2021 and Beyond – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #38
Recently I read an article in the Harvard Business Review written by Brian Kropp that outlined 9 trend he thinks will shape the workplace in 2021 and beyond. Obviously 2020 was a volatile year and while it would be nice to say that 2021 will be calmer waters, Brian...
Forget Where’s Waldo? More Like Where’s The Office? – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #38
There have never been so many options available to companies for their office space. How do you decide among them and is your tenant rep able to advise you on all the options? That's today's topic on the Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast. Some of those...
5 Advantages to IoT in Your Office Space – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #37
The "Internet of Things" is abbreviated to IoT - and it looks like something from the periodic table! Listen to today's podcast and hear Bob and Jan take a deeper dive into how IoT will affect your workplace. Once again, I was reading Don Catalano's blog. He wrote...
Three Reasons Why Remote Work Won’t Last – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #36
Big corporate's dead and I'll never go back to an office without a body suit and my own breathing system. Oh, no, reality going forward is a hybrid basis. Forget about y'all, I'm going back to the office where I can finally get some work done! Heard any of these? ...
Intermediary, A Fancy Word for a Really Bad Idea – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast, Episode #35
If someone filed a lawsuit against you, would you consider sharing an attorney with that person so you can both save money? Sounds ludicrous, right? That's because it is, but it happens in real estate every day with agents instead of attorneys. Listen to today's...
Evidence of Softening Rents
We’re now nearly 9 months into the COVID recession and I’m amazed at how many landlords continue to quote the same rental rate they were before this started. We received several proposals for an office client recently and many didn’t come off their quoted rate at all....
Subleasing Update (because we don’t talk enough about it as it is!) – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #34
Sublease space available in North Texas now tops the 9 million square feet mark - what is going on here? Clearly this is being driven by office tenants being required to go home and then finding out that they really can work remotely. Guess we can call it pandemic...
What Tenants Need to Know About Property Taxes – Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #33
Property taxes are usually paid by the landlords, so tenants don't need to worry about them, right?!? Not even close-listen to our podcast to clear up confusion. Because, while landlords may write the check, tenants actually pay for the property taxes as part of...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #32 – Don’t Let Your Office Lease Kill the Sale of Your Business
By listening to today's podcast the nightmare described below can be avoided. As an asset manager, in the late 90s, working for a large owner of office buildings, I got a phone call from a guy who said he was buying one of the companies in a Dallas building we owned....
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #31 – How to Pull Off a Successful Office Move
While COVID and the dumpster fire that is 2020 has most companies trying to decide between returning to the office or working from home - or a hybrid of the two, many will face the possibility of a move in their future. Moving is a giant pain in the behind. It’s...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #30 – Evaluating Commercial Real Estate Proposals
How does a broker evaluate landlord proposals for the brokers' clients? Especially large spaces with a lot of different options: term, size, finish out, etc. Bob & Jan discuss this in detail in today's podcast. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast Episode #29 – How To Create The Perfect Office During A Pandemic
Jan and Bob are joined today by Andy Jones, President of Jones Commercial Interiors. Learn how to create the perfect office during a pandemic. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant Advocate with REATA Commercial Realty, Inc. which is a tenant advisory...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast Episode #28 – Lack of Technology Affects CRE’s Ability to Hire – Not at REATA!
Commercial real estate, in general, is slow to embrace technology, and this has lead to its aging employee population, but REATA aims to turn that around. Listen to Bob and Jan discuss their shop, the technological advances they have made, and the immediate hire they...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast Episode #27 – Top Things a Real Estate Attorney Wants You to Know About Office Leases
What is the number 1 thing people should do first when negotiating a lease? Today's podcast interviews Steve Potts with the Potts Law Group and he let us in on a lot of items tenants normally overlook in a lease negotiation. Listen to undercover his secrets. Bob...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #26 – Why Industrial Space is Booming…..Because of, or in spite of, COVID?
With COVID killing retail space and pushing the pause button on office, what's happening with industrial space? Is there demand, and if so, why? Listen to Bob and Jan discover all the answers. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant Advocate with REATA...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #25 – 11 Ways to Ensure a Healthier Office
This week's episode outlines an article in the September/October issue of Realtor Magazine detailing 11 ways to ensure a healthier office. As we gear up to go back into the office, we thought there couldn't be a better time in which to discuss this topic. Bob Gibbons...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #24 – Hidden Costs in Your Lease
While rent and common area maintenance are the big obvious charges, there could be many other potential expenses that could surprise you. Listen to today's podcast to hear Bob & Jan uncover these expenses. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #23 – Why Commercial Leases are Getting Shorter
We think it's fairly obvious why commercial leases are getting shorter - nobody wants to get tied down with long-term commitments they can't fulfill, but what will this mean for the owners of those buildings and how their assets are valued? Listen to today's podcast...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #22 – Insurance – landlords require so much, but it still falls short in COVID
Brian Hutson of Assured Partners is our guest this week to talk all things insurance. Landlords require so much insurance in leases. Why and is that good or bad for tenants? Brian explains it all to us. It sounds boring, but Brian makes it very tangible and...
Sublease Update
It’s no surprise that some companies are considering eliminating their offices in favor of a work-from-home strategy. If nothing else, the COVID crisis has proven that the technology exists for people to work from home. The jury is still out on whether they want to or...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #21 – Office Rents Headed Lower Due to Pandemic
Well, duh! This appears to be a bit obvious but in reading Steve Brown's Dallas Morning News article he does give background as to the hows and and whys. Listen to Jan and Bob discuss on today's podcast. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant Advocate...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #20 – 6 Amenities Tenant Will Want Post COVID-19
What will it take to get you and your employees back into the office? Listen to Bob & Jan discuss six things that will be high on most tenants list in today's podcast. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant Advocate with REATA Commercial Realty, Inc....
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #19 – You Aren’t the Landlord’s Primary Client
Why you, the tenant, are NOT the landlord’s primary client…and who is. Who is the landlord’s secondary client and why. Who is the landlord’s third place client and why. How can tenants improve their leverage and influence with landlords to improve where they are in...
Sublease Listing – Office space in Addison, Texas
Client has up to 4,922 SF available in an office building deep in the heart of Addison. Please check out our flyer for all the details. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant Advocate with REATA Commercial Realty, Inc. which is a tenant advisory firm based...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #18 – What Your Landlord Doesn’t Want You to Know – Knowledge is Power
In 1597, Sir Francis Bacon is quoted as saying - “Knowledge is Power.” That’s as true today as it was when he said it and it’s our topic today on the Confessions of a Recovering Landlord podcast. Can you think of a single situation in which you’re better off when you...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #17 – Your Space, Your Culture – Office Space Your Way
Why is it important to talk about how the office reflects the culture of the company? How do you “create” this feeling? What about an open plan where everyone is on a wide-open floor? What if wellness and health are part of your company's core values? What about...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Podcast – Episode #16 – Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate in the Near Future
Crystal ball time again....on today's podcast we discuss the top 10 issues affecting real estate in the near future. Or at least what my BisNow subscription tells me The Counselors of Real Estate think the top 10 issues are. Of course, we'll throw in our own...
Confessions of Recovering Landlord – Episode #15 – What Will Returning to the Office Look Like – Part 2
Last week we discussed what going back to the office would look like and this week we take a deeper dive into the actual logistics of that. Listen to today's podcast as Bob interviews two experts in the field. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #14 – What Will Returning to the Office Look Like?
Housebound people are ready to get back to the office....or are they? In today's episode of the podcast Bob and Jan discuss various options people are considering in "re-opening" their offices and exactly what that will look like. Please click here to listen to the...
Sublease Listing – Office space in DFW Freeport/Coppell Market
Client has 3,529 square feet for sublease at 8615 Freeport Parkway, Suite 170, Irving, Texas 75063. Kindly check out our flyer for all the details. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant Advocate with REATA Commercial Realty, Inc. which is a tenant...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #13 – Lease Credit – Personal Guarantees, Cash Deposit, LOC’s, LLC/S-Corp
In today's climate especially, it's most important for tenants to show their prospective landlord that they can and will perform on the lease. Listen to today's podcast to learn how that can be accomplished. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant Advocate...
Sublease Listing – Full Floor Office in East Quarter
Client has 8,949 square feet for sublease at 2030 Main Street, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75201. Kindly check out our flyer for all the details. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant Advocate with REATA Commercial Realty, Inc. which is a tenant...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord Episode #12 – What should you expect of your tenant rep after the lease is signed?
Found your space, inked the lease and moved in, now what? Listen to Jan and Bob discuss how REATA handles leases for their clients, not just at signing, but throughout the lease term....
Sublease Listing – Industrial Space in Farmers Branch
Client has 52,305 SF - 138,716 SF for lease at 11414 Mathis Avenue, Farmers Branch, Texas 75234. Kindly check out our flyer here for all the details. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant Advocate with REATA Commercial Realty, Inc. which is a tenant...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #11 – Is Your Building Growing??
In today's podcast Bob and Jan discuss understanding rentable versus usable square feet - and does it matter? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/confessions-of-a-recovering-landlord/id1501898669 Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor & Tenant Advocate with REATA...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #10 – Why Does Anyone Really Need a Tenant Rep??
Ain't nobody got time to think about office space, especially right now. But if you need space and/or it's time to renew your current lease why should you use a tenant rep? Listen to today's podcast where Bob and Jan discuss this and much more! Bob Gibbons is...
Sublease Listing in Richardson
***Update: Sublease is off the market.*** Our client recently relocated their offices (and combined several) and now need to sublease their Richardson office space. Kindly take a look at our flyer here and enjoy a 360 degree virtual tour as well. This...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #9 – Rental Rates and How to Know if You Got a Good One!
Rental rates for office and warehouse leases can be just downright confusing. Base rent, triple net, industrial gross - these terms can definitely be tough to interpret for the uninitiated. Listen to today's podcast where Bob and Jan discuss all things pertaining...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #8 – Subleasing – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know, Plus More…
With the number of layoffs we are seeing due to the pandemic, will business owners need as much space as was originally leased? What are the options out there? Listen to Bob and Jan discuss all things subleasing in this week's podcast episode -...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #7 – Should You Buy or Lease Your Office Space?
Listen to our most recent podcast concerning what is the best way for your business to house its business - owning or leasing. We are often asked by business owners whether they should consider buying a building instead of continuing to "throw away money" leasing -...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #6 – The COVID Legacy on Offices
What will be the lasting impact of the COVID crisis on office space? Bob and Jan discuss many aspects of this including: Office space configuration; flexibility of office needs; landlord preferences - what will they expect; insurance considerations - business...
Open Office Dead??
Is the open office dead? Or just evolving? One of our favorite interior design firms wrote a short article showing how an open office can easily meet a 6-foot separation for employees. They also discuss other issues to help create a healthier office environment. ...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #5 – Don’t Renew – Renegotiate!
Learn about renegotiating, not exercising your renewal option, for your commercial lease by listening to our latest podcast - https://anchor.fm/landlordconfessions/episodes/0005-Dont-Renew---Renegotiate-ecqn0e/a-a1uml1n. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor &...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #4 – Renegotiating in a Down Market
Bob and Jan discuss what options are available to tenants when negotiating lease extensions, expansions or reductions in a market where rental rates are expected to fall - https://anchor.fm/landlordconfessions/episodes/0004-Renegotiating-in-a-Down-Market-ecjjuj Bob...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Episode #3 – Landlords Respond to Rent Relief
In this episode, we explore the ways that landlords are responding to tenants that request rent relief during the COVID-19 crisis. https://anchor.fm/landlordconfessions/episodes/0003-Landlords-Respond-to-Rent-Relief-ec5sa2. Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate Advisor...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord – Podcast Episode #2 – Business Interruption & Rent Relief
COVID-19 has brought this week's topic front and center in many people's mind. Learn how to approach your landlord if you need rent relief. https://anchor.fm/landlordconfessions/episodes/0002---Business-Interruption--Rent-Relief-ebldtl Bob Gibbons is a Real Estate...
Emergency Space Helps Prevent Hunger During COVID-19 Crisis
What does a non-profit in North Texas do when it needs emergency space in a crisis? Tell Jamee Jolly. Jamee is the Executive Director of the Plano ISD Education Foundation and the past president of the Plano Chamber of Commerce. Jamee is amazingly connected and loves...
Rent Relief Request Template
After writing our March 17, 2020 blog post titled Business Interruption & Rent Relief, we recorded two podcasts on the same subject. Many discussions followed with clients and friends asking for help in the actual implementation of the advice we provided. The...
Business Survival in Crisis
We’ve all heard more about COVID-19 than any of us ever wanted to hear, so I’m not going to comment on how to avoid the virus or how often you should bath yourself and everything you own in Purell. Instead, I’m simply going to ask, how will this crisis affect your...
Business Interruption & Rent Relief
Sorry this will be so long, but over the last couple days, we have received several inquiries from clients asking how to go about seeking rent relief from their landlords. Their businesses have no income due to shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic and they won’t...
Confessions of a Recovering Landlord
We've begun a new podcast entitled, Confessions of a Recovering Landlord. Wait, before you write it off as a boring old monologue, let me tell you that it is filled with delightful dialogue and cheerful (?) banter as Jan is on it with me, grilling, I mean questioning...