This week on In the CRE Vault with Mike & Marc, the team at NAI FMA Realty dives into one of the most overlooked opportunities in commercial real estate: investing in tertiary markets.

While primary markets are crowded and increasingly competitive, tertiary markets offer a different story — often driven by a strong owner-user base, more balanced supply and demand, and slightly higher cap rates. Instead of dramatic peaks and valleys, these markets tend to grow steadily, supported by reliable economic drivers like universities and healthcare systems.

We break down why investors start shifting to smaller markets when larger metros heat up, what makes these markets resilient, and how places like Lincoln, Nebraska continue to provide stability even as overall activity begins to slow.

If you’re looking for a more consistent, long-term approach to CRE investing, this episode is worth a listen.

🎧 Tune in for insights from NAI FMA Realty on where smart investors are looking next.

This week, we’re joined by our very own Kari Knoedler—now officially the office AI expert (yes, she took a class, so it’s legit).

We dive into how AI is actually being used every day in commercial real estate—from cranking out marketing content and building better spreadsheets (seriously… better spreadsheets) to leveling up research and efficiency across the board.

But it’s not just about convenience—AI is already shaping the industry in bigger ways. Think data centers, energy consumption, and how site selection is evolving right in front of us.

We also tackle the big question: Should we be worried about our jobs? Short answer—relationships still win. CRE is still a people business.

Of course, we keep it real—talking about using AI responsibly, protecting confidential information, and how this all feels a lot like the early internet days (shoutout to AOL dial-up… no off switch then, no off switch now).

Bottom line: the more you use AI, the better it gets to know you—and the more powerful it becomes as a tool in your day-to-day business.

Tune in for insights, laughs, and maybe a few prompts you’ll want to steal.

In this episode, we crack open our annual Lincoln CRE Market Report—the one we obsessively track all year so you don’t have to. We dig into the trends behind absorption, sale prices, and what’s really happening in office, industrial, and retail.

Joining the conversation:

• Jared Froehlich, SIOR, CCIM breaks down the industrial market (spoiler: it’s still been on a tear since 2020).
• Tim Dornbos dives into retail, which turns out is less “retail apocalypse” and more “people still like stores.”
• Mike tackles office and the ongoing flight to quality—because apparently everyone wants the nice office now.

We also talk about our annual State of the Market event where we share this report with the community and discuss what’s happening in Lincoln’s commercial real estate market.

Key takeaways:

• Industrial: still the overachiever of the group.
• Office: upgrading is the name of the game.
• Retail: surprisingly stable… maybe even a little boring (but in a good way).

And in true Lincoln fashion, local businesses continue to get plenty of love from the community.

If you want the real story behind the numbers—and a few laughs along the way—this episode is for you.

Mike and Marc just got back from the NAI Global Convention in Las Vegas, and this episode of In the CRE Vault is a recap of what they learned—and maybe a little of what happened after the sessions ended.

They dive into how being part of NAI Global gives them a unique perspective on the market. One thing they consistently see: trends that hit major markets often show up in smaller markets like Lincoln about six months later.

At the convention, Mike attended a standout medical office breakout session and shares key takeaways from that sector, while Marc spent time in the industrial sessions, where the big message was that vacancy rates may finally be stabilizing. Another topic that kept coming up? Data centers—and the massive demand being driven by artificial intelligence.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Vegas trip without a little fun. There may have been some craps played, some dancing, and plenty of conversations with brokers from across the country.

The episode also explores the growing role of AI in commercial real estate. With technology moving fast and no real “off switch,” Mike and Marc ask the question a lot of people are starting to wonder: Are we becoming too dependent on tech?

A little Vegas, a lot of CRE insight, and a few stories from the convention floor—this one’s a fun one.

Season 4 is officially underway!

After a short break, Mike and Marc are back in the studio to kick off the new season of In the CRE Vault. In this quick opener, they talk about where the commercial real estate market stands today and what to expect from the show moving forward.

The market has definitely slowed down a bit—thanks in part to a mix of macroeconomic factors—but it’s not all doom and gloom. Deals are still happening… they just require a little more creativity than they did a couple of years ago. We’re seeing more deals fall apart, more shorter-term leases, and plenty of folks “window shopping” before pulling the trigger.

The good news? Mike and Marc are back on a steady release schedule, bringing you more conversations, market insights, and stories from the trenches of commercial real estate.

Season 4 starts now. Let’s open the vault.

Ever heard your broker throw around the term cap rate and nodded along like you totally knew what it meant? Yeah… we’ve all been there.

In this classic episode from Season 1, Mike and Marc break down what a cap rate actually is (spoiler: it’s not a hat size) and why it matters more than your morning coffee when it comes to evaluating a commercial property.

We’re talking risk, returns, and all the fun math your high school algebra teacher promised you’d never use in real life.

Whether you're a seasoned investor or just here for Mike’s dad jokes, this episode will leave you a little smarter — and a lot more entertained.

Put your calculator down (for now) and press play!

You know what’s harder than landing a new client? Keeping the one you already have from bolting because your voicemail says, “Out of office until further notice.” In this episode, Mike and Marc get real about customer service in commercial real estate—how it doesn’t stop at 5 PM, doesn’t care about time zones, and definitely doesn’t end when the ink dries.

Whether you're closing deals or just trying to find a decent Wi-Fi signal in the Caribbean, your clients expect answers—and our favorite duo has opinions. They dish on the golden rule of CRE: always answer the phone (yes, always), why post-deal follow-up is more than a courtesy, and how to turn complaints into future commissions.

So grab your earbuds and your best “sorry I missed your call” voice—it’s time to talk service with the guys who never let a voicemail go unanswered (unless it’s spam).

This week, Mike and Marc crack open the mysterious, often misunderstood world of commercial leases—aka that stack of legal paper that decides who pays to fix the HVAC and whether you’re allowed to hang your neon llama sign.

They’re not attorneys (disclaimer: seriously, they are NOT attorneys), but they have read leases so many times their eyeballs have legally changed shape. Tune in for real talk about what’s in a lease, what landlords might actually do versus what they’re required to do, and why your Letter of Intent is basically the lease’s awkward first draft.

Plus: the guys share some hilarious horror stories from the field—including one terrifying property tour featuring a life-size monster mannequin that almost sent Mike running for the exit. 😱

Whether you’re new to the lease game or you’ve been burned by vague repair clauses before, this episode is your survival guide—with just enough laughs to keep you sane.