CRE Cafecito - CCIM Miami District cover art

CRE Cafecito - CCIM Miami District

CRE Cafecito - CCIM Miami District

Written by: Ruben Ruban CCIM
Listen for free

About this listen

The CRE Cafecito - CCIM Miami Podcast is where commercial real estate professionals come to learn, connect, and grow, with a shot of Miami flavor.

Hosted by Ruben Ruban, CCIM (aka Ruben the Cuban) this podcast serves up real conversations with industry experts, deep dives into CCIM fundamentals, and timely market insights from South Florida and beyond.

Each episode delivers practical nuggets of wisdom you can put to work right away in your commercial real estate business.


Now, grab your cafecito, and let’s fuel success in commercial real estate.


Tune in biweekly for fresh episodes and subscribe to never miss your next CRE breakthrough.


© 2026 © 2025 CCIM Florida Chapter - Miami District
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Building Miami’s Future With A Market Maker, Daniel Guerra
    Feb 18 2026

    Send a text

    What does it take to turn a skyline into a story that buyers believe in? We sit with Miami native and market shaper Daniel Guerra to trace the real mechanics behind Brickell’s rise, from construction know‑how and brand strategy to policy wins that clear the runway for bold projects. Daniel grew up on job sites, ran a major subcontractor in his 20s, and now represents top developers delivering towers that anchor entire districts. That experience fuels a simple but powerful idea: the best operators don’t chase comps—they make them.

    We dig into how selling a condo stack differs from typical brokerage work: you must sell the first and last unit with a plan that holds under pressure. Daniel breaks down the role of curated ground-floor retail, hospitality partnerships, and branded residences like Viceroy and Baccarat in setting expectations—and prices—across Miami’s distinct submarkets. Brickell, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, and Doral aren’t interchangeable; each has its own buyers, pricing bands, and amenity logic. We talk through why larger floor plans came roaring back, how Coral Gables’ townhome niche defied skeptics, and how Doral’s amenity-rich model created a walkable, self-contained lifestyle.

    Beyond the projects, we go inside the civic engine: planning boards, design review, and RPAC’s issue-first advocacy that helped reduce Florida’s business rent tax and safeguard 1031 exchanges. With wealth migration accelerating and firms like Citadel, Microsoft, Amazon, and Blackstone expanding, Daniel highlights a pressing need for private and charter schools to support relocating families. Add Miami’s global flight network, tentpole events like Formula 1 and G20, and steady international demand, and the city’s long runway becomes clear.

    If you want a grounded playbook for creating value—one that blends construction literacy, brand strategy, and policy fluency—this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share with a colleague who loves Miami or market strategy, and leave a review with the insight that challenged your thinking most.

    For more information:

    Christie's International Real Estate

    Miami Realtors PAC

    Thanks for joining us on CRE Cafecito, the CCIM Miami Podcast where deals, insights, and Miami flavor come together.

    For more information on CCIM Miami District please visit:

    • CCIM Miami Website
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    You can find Ruben the Cuban on LinkedIn.

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Cafecito Talk with Patricia Quintana, CCIM: Patience, Guidance, and Grit
    Jan 28 2026

    Send us a text

    A warm smile at the door led to a powerhouse career in Miami’s industrial real estate. We sit down with Patricia Quintana to explore how a hospitality background, bold career pivots, and the CCIM designation combined to unlock leadership roles, resilient deal flow, and ultimately the freedom of early retirement. Patricia opens up about her leap from the Miami Heat’s VIP lounge and ad shoots to the gritty, numbers-driven world of warehouse leasing—where she managed 3.5 million square feet, closed hundreds of transactions, and learned why small bay tenants often outlast the headlines.

    We dive into the mechanics that make South Florida hum: free trade zones that supercharge re-export, the airport and seaport advantages, and the steady pulse of freight forwarders and import-export firms. Patricia breaks down the practical playbook for new and seasoned brokers alike—document representation, master the financial calculator, and build a follow-up system that turns no into not yet. She shares unfiltered stories from the field, from real-life Miami Vice moments to the everyday wins that come from knowing ceiling heights, dock configurations, and power loads cold.

    What makes Patricia’s story stand out is the human arc behind the numbers. She stepped back to care for her husband, then returned with focus to invest, mentor, and give back. Her message to women in industrial is clear and empowering: show your technical depth, own the room, and let your expertise lead. If you want a grounded, inspiring guide to thriving in commercial real estate—backed by CCIM rigor and Miami street smarts—this conversation delivers insight you can act on today.

    If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find conversations like this. What’s the next skill you’re committing to master this quarter?

    Thanks for joining us on CRE Cafecito, the CCIM Miami Podcast where deals, insights, and Miami flavor come together.

    For more information on CCIM Miami District please visit:

    • CCIM Miami Website
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    You can find Ruben the Cuban on LinkedIn.

    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Mike Pappas on Miami’s Real Estate Long Game
    Jan 17 2026

    Send us a text

    We chart Miami’s journey from a 1926 hurricane launch to a global finance hub, and how discipline, density, and demographics shape values. Mike Pappas shares cycles survived, why CCIM skills matter, and the long-game moves that keep firms resilient.

    • Keyes Realty’s origins, leadership transition, and growth strategy
    • CCIM as the language of real estate and decision framework
    • Owning real estate to stabilize a brokerage through downturns
    • Lessons from cycles: 1981, early 1990s, and 2008 to 2011
    • Miami’s post‑COVID inflows, land scarcity, and density premium
    • Office recovery, construction costs, and negative leverage risk
    • Affordability pressures, regional shifts, and micro‑CBD growth
    • Conservative debt, swaps, and cash flow discipline
    • Street‑level prospecting, database rigor, and client motivation
    • 2030 goals to double volume and expand commercial platform

    www.keyes.com

    Thanks for joining us on CRE Cafecito, the CCIM Miami Podcast where deals, insights, and Miami flavor come together.

    For more information on CCIM Miami District please visit:

    • CCIM Miami Website
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    You can find Ruben the Cuban on LinkedIn.

    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
No reviews yet