Libsyn Directory

301: Award-Winning Design for Commercial Real Estate with Marcy Sagel

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

Release Date: 12/08/2025

318: The Rise of Mid-Term Rentals As Housing's Fastest-Growing Segment with Jeff Hurst

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnish Finder, to explore the fast-growing world of midterm rentals and why they’re becoming an increasingly attractive option for both renters and real estate investors. Jeff explains how monthly furnished rentals serve professionals, relocating families, and healthcare workers—distinctly different from traditional short-term vacation rentals. The conversation breaks down why midterm rentals often deliver better cash flow than long-term rentals with far less operational...

317: How Commercial Real Estate Can Enrich The Lives of People at Work with Jonathan Iger

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

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”...

316: How To Break Through Your Income Ceiling With Real Estate with Stuart Gethner

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

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...

315: Thinking Outside the Short-Term Rental Box with Nick Korwin

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

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...

314: Why Higher Short-Term Rental Rates Start With Better Design with Bri West

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Bri West, co-founder of Somerled Designs, to explore how strategic design has become a competitive advantage in today’s short-term rental market. Drawing on her background in marketing and real estate investing, Bri explains why design should be treated as a revenue-driving investment rather than a cosmetic expense. The conversation dives into how niching down on a clear guest avatar, using data to guide design decisions, and prioritizing high-impact spaces can dramatically increase ADR—even if...

313: Learning To Invest Beyond Multifamily In Growth Markets with Ash Patel

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Ash Patel, a commercial real estate investor with more than 15 years of experience investing beyond multifamily. Ash shares how an early mixed-use deal opened his eyes to the advantages of commercial assets and ultimately reshaped his entire investing approach. The conversation explores why many commercial assets are misunderstood or overlooked, including office, retail, medical, and mixed-use properties. Ash explains how changing work patterns, suburban growth, and market cycles are creating rare...

312: A Playbook For Buying and Holding Rental Properties with Jennifer Ruelens

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Jennifer Ruelens, a longtime property manager and unapologetic truth-teller in the real estate industry. With more than two decades of hands-on experience, Jennifer shares what buy-and-hold investors often misunderstand about property management, tenant relationships, and the real work required to make rentals perform over time. The conversation explores why real estate investing is rarely passive, how deferred maintenance and avoidance cost investors far more than management fees, and why many...

311: Building a Wealth Creation Value-Add System with August Biniaz

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

Jonathan Greene is joined by August Biniaz, co-founder and CIO of CPI Capital, to explore how early exposure to real estate shaped August’s investing philosophy and led him from single-family investing into large-scale multifamily and build-to-rent strategies. August shares how his family’s experience with real estate as a hedge against inflation influenced his long-term view on housing and capital preservation. The conversation dives into the realities of syndication, from learning the GP/LP structure through trial and error to building investor trust, infrastructure, and discipline over...

310: Learning How To Invest Like a Billionaire with Bob Fraser

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Bob Fraser, bestselling author of Invest Like a Billionaire and CFO and Chief Macro Strategist at Aspen Funds. Bob shares how billionaire investors moved away from traditional 60/40 portfolios toward alternative investments—and why everyday investors can adopt the same mindset without billionaire-level wealth. Throughout the conversation, Bob explains why professionally managed real estate is often the most approachable entry point into alternatives, especially for investors who want...

309: Redefining the Standards of Commercial Real Estate Services with Greg Trotter

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Greg Trotter, CEO and founder of Commercial Building Consultants, to unpack what real estate investors often miss during commercial due diligence. With over 40 years of experience in construction, inspections, and forensic building analysis, Greg explains how his role is to act as a “bodyguard” for investors—protecting their equity by identifying real risks before they close. Greg walks through how property condition assessments should align with an investor’s hold period and exit strategy,...

More Episodes

On this week’s episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with interior designer Marcy Sagel, founder and principal of MSA Interiors, a nationally recognized commercial design firm specializing in multifamily, senior housing, healthcare, and large-scale developments. They explore how smart design decisions can dramatically impact renter experience, tenant retention, and net operating income—often without blowing up the budget. Marcy shares the story of how a single project with a supportive architect-mentor evolved into a portfolio of large-scale multifamily and healthcare work across the country.

From there, Jonathan and Marcy dive into the details that operators often overlook: how lobby art and amenities shape first impressions, why designers insist on holding the spec once materials are chosen, and how transparency around product pricing can protect both developers and residents. Marcy explains why functionality is just as important as aesthetics—things like where the sofa and TV actually fit, whether you can get a couch down the hallway, and how closet space, bathrooms, lighting, and unit layouts influence who wants to live in a building and how much they’re willing to pay.

They also talk about how COVID changed amenity expectations, from coworking and Zoom rooms to package rooms, cold storage for grocery delivery, pet wash stations, and creative vending concepts for residents. Marcy highlights the unique demands of healthcare and senior living design, including memory care safety, assisted living functionality, and the importance of natural light and outdoor access in driving wellness. Throughout the conversation, she comes back to one central idea: if owners think about residents first and involve a design team early, they can future-proof their properties, reduce turnover, and outcompete newer projects for years to come.

In this episode, you will hear:

How Marcy transitioned from residential design into large-scale multifamily, healthcare, and senior living projects with the help of an architect-mentor.
Why involving an interior designer early in a project can save money, prevent costly change orders, and create a cohesive, long-lasting design.
Practical ways to upgrade B-class and affordable communities—on a HUD-constrained or tight construction budget—without sacrificing aesthetics.
The design details that residents care about most: closet size, bathroom finishes, in-unit laundry, lighting, circulation, and furniture-friendly layouts.
How COVID reshaped amenity programming with coworking areas, Zoom rooms, package rooms, cold storage, pet amenities, and flexible vendor spaces.
The role of design in building community, reducing turnover, and making residents—and their families in senior living—feel safe, connected, and at home.

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