MetLife Investment Management

Senior Analyst - Real Estate

Analyst - Hotels

Principal Global Investors

Acquisitions Intern

Selected as one of 38 student leaders to gain insight into UBS business teams and their wide-ranging financial products and career opportunities

UBS Virtual Professional Development Program

Clickstop, Inc.

Finance Intern

Solaris Hospitality Investments

Real Estate Intern

SpringHill Suites by Marriott

Guest Service Representative

3½ years ago, I left the University of Wisconsin-Madison, no longer able to pursue a path that didn't fuel my passion. 

I returned to my roots: hotels, a cornerstone of my childhood.

At four, my life revolved around the family-run motel in Iowa; we lived there, and I immersed myself in its operation. 

This upbringing taught me the hospitality industry's intricacies and the value of stellar customer service.

Fast-forward, and the former biology student pivoted to economics, joining a commercial real estate firm, taking my childhood pastime from nostalgia to career. In under two years, without formal education in the field, I landed a Senior Analyst role - proof that passion, knowledge, and experience are formidable assets.

Now, I’m committed to sharing what I’ve learned and helping others learn about this powerful asset class.

If commercial real estate, hotels, and hospitality pique your interest, follow my content for weekly insights and career boosters.

-Hemal

Hemal Patel

SVN | Stone Commercial Real Estate

Advisor

Young Life

Metro Director

As an Area Director, my responsibility was to build a team of adults, volunteers, donors, and trained students to fulfill Young Life's mission in the life of every student in Harrisonburg, Va, and Rockingham Co, Va.

Area Director II

Area Director

🏢🏘 I am currently a Commercial Real Estate Advisor with SVN Stone Commercial in Lexington, Ky. I am focused on assisting owners of commercial properties market and sell, and/or market and lease their properties, using the SVN difference. <— DM for details! 

📈 In addition to those duties, I also advise small business Owners in the valuation, marketing, and sale of their small to mid-sized businesses. Formerly operating as *The Pulliam Company (since the mid-80's) the freshly rebranded Bluegrass Business Advisors works in conjunction with SVN to help owners with their businesses and real estate needs.

📚I am very passionate about learning and deploying leadership concepts and tactics at work and in my personal life. My current goal is to become a CCIM in 2021. 

🗻 I previously worked for Young Life (one of the U.S.’ largest nonprofits), where I led teams of staff and volunteers as they mentored adolescents. Most recently I was a part of starting an metro area from scratch, and also the voice of Young Life’s corporate podcast.

😸 Having graduated from University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business & Economics, I’m humbled and thankful to be serving owners and entrepreneurs in the bluegrass. 

🏋️‍♂️ Most importantly, I have a wonderful wife and 3 daughters, and I have turned my garage into a small CrossFit gym and sometimes I use it. 


Justin Ryder, CCIM

Commercial agents born after 1980: 

“Here’s the lockbox code.”

Commercial agents born before 1980: 

“There’s a flat stone near the porch. Lift it and you’ll find a scroll. That scroll contains a riddle. Solve it, and it’ll point you to a scarecrow. The scarecrow is holding a shovel. Dig exactly 15 paces in the direction of its left elbow. There, you’ll find a mason jar with a bunch of keys wrapped in a cassette tape. You'll have to try them all..."

I help owners and occupants of Kentucky commercial properties & businesses maximize value.

“I want more deals.”  
→ Block 2 hours for cold calls every morning.  
“Too busy.”
 
“I don’t want to miss the AI wave.”  
→ Start using the tools.  
“Too expensive.”
 
“I want to stand out.”  
→ Post 3x a week.  
“Social media sucks.”
 
“I want to sound credible.”  
→ Know every comparable property in your market.  
“That will take forever.”
 
“I want it to be easy.”  
→ Accept that it’s hard.  
“I’ll just stay where I am.”
 
The battle rages inside every salesperson.

If this post strikes a nerve with you, let's hop on a quick Teams call to discuss asap 😗

Don't know about you all, but AI has turned me into a Super Advisor. 

Up at 5 am, as if it mattered.
 
Prospecting emails... one click.
The next LI post is written for me.
“More Sean Ward please.” 
Shipped.

Perplexity researches. 
Claude creates and polishes.
Zapier connects the dots.  

Easy.
 
Marketing is a month ahead. 
BOVs are generated in seconds. 
The pipeline is a self-driving car.
 
I just show up, sign the docs, and collect the checks. 

The perfect automated life... which hasn't happened yet.

Actually...
 
I’m signed up for 7 AI tools with 4 different emails.
 
“Out of prompts for today.” 
Jump up a tier 💸
 
Back to YouTube to learn a new skill. 
Learn the skill. 
4 days later… skill obsolete.
 
I prompt.
AI seems to make something up.
“Where the hell did you get that?” 
AI apologizes. 
This is my life. 
 
I meet with someone and remember nothing can replace this.
Open X five minutes later. 
Someone is vibe-coding their entire market. 
I will be replaced.

Some days I feel 10x faster. 
Other days I’ve just built a more expensive, complicated to-do list.

The truth?
 
I’m thoroughly enjoying the chaos. 
The world is wide open right now. 
It’s a total land grab. 

The "experts" are just people who started two weeks before you.
 
I’m experimenting, breaking things, and building.
 
We are the 0.04% actually trying to figure this out. It’s a work in progress.
 
Don't be too hard on yourself. 
We're all just learning a new language.

Easy to be a desk jockey in CRE.  

Ken AshleyGuns & Grits 2026 was a reminder that business doesn’t have to be so buttoned-up.

The best brands aren’t built in boardrooms — they’re built in moments people don’t forget.  

What Quail Hunting Taught Me About CRE Sales:

Nothing like a CRE Speed Round on a Saturday...

Nick Huber shares his personal goals and insights into the self-storage industry and major market headwinds, plus motivating people, being humbled, and working with some of the world's most well-known folks via his DMs:

I don’t want an RV.  

I don’t want a second home.  

I don't even want a prestigious title.  

I want a quiet life that is absolutely efficient... 
...with an AI bot that handles my work.

"I once saved $____ by doing absolutely nothing"

—You. (If you're in CRE long enough)

-

Everyone wants an answer. Fast. 

The seller. The lender. Your boss. 

You are on someone else's deadline.

Until you're not.

Once again this week reminded that the most nuanced skill is strategically waiting a minute. 

Brokers that constantly fill the silence end up negotiating against themselves. 

Put someone on ice. Let them stew over it. Picture losing the deal. 

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬?

Powerful question, and typically favorable result. 

And you never had to say a thing. 🤫

I do try to ask myself why follow-up feels pushy sometimes.   

Best guess?   

The value or the opportunity wasn’t clear enough to begin with.   

Emphasize the quality of the first touch.

Everyone is “doing AI” right now

If you are starting, I recommend listing out points of friction first.

What problems would you kill for tech to solve or complete faster?  What is consuming your time? 

• Constructing BOVs
• Completing templates
• Drafting first-pass emails
• Meeting notes into clear action items
• Creating FAQs from repeated questions

Early 2026 AI is helping me to do these faster.

Mid-26 AI? Late 27 AI? No clue... scary to think. But at least you have your foot in the door.

taplio

The Battle

Hemal Patel

Justin Ryder, CCIM

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