What can a commercial real estate virtual assistant actually do for your brokerage?

In this episode of Did It Close?, we sit down with Kevin Hanan, CEO and founder of CRE Task Wizard, to break down how offshore talent is transforming commercial real estate teams. From lead generation and transaction management to underwriting support and AI workflows, Kevin explains how brokers can leverage virtual assistants to scale efficiently—without sacrificing quality.

If you’ve ever felt buried in admin work, CRM cleanup, prospecting lists, marketing coordination, or underwriting prep, this conversation will help you understand what to delegate, how to onboard correctly, and how to avoid common mistakes when hiring offshore talent.

We cover:

- What a commercial real estate virtual assistant actually does

- The four core verticals offshore talent can support (lead gen, transaction management, marketing, financial analysis)

- Why most first-time VA hires fail—and how to prevent it

- How cold calling offshore can work in CRE

- The difference between generalists and specialists

- How AI tools like ChatGPT integrate with virtual assistants

- Best practices for onboarding (Loom videos, SOPs, recurring standups)

- Typical cost ranges for part-time and full-time offshore support

- Whether you're a solo broker, team leader, or managing a growing CRE platform, this episode will give you a practical roadmap to building leverage in your business.

About Kevin Hanan

Kevin Hanan is the CEO and founder of CRE Task Wizard. A former broker, Kevin built his company after successfully using offshore talent in his own brokerage career. Today, he helps commercial real estate professionals hire and manage virtual assistants trained specifically for CRE workflows.

🎙 About Did It Close?

Hosted by Bryan McCann and David Dirkschneider, Did It Close? is a commercial real estate podcast focused on deals, strategy, and actionable insights for CRE professionals.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with top operators in commercial real estate.

👍 Like & comment if you’re considering hiring a commercial real estate virtual assistant.

#CommercialRealEstate #VirtualAssistant #CRE #LeadGeneration #AIinRealEstate #Brokerage #Productivity

What do commercial real estate investors need to know about 1031 exchanges and DSTs in today’s market?

In this episode of Did It Close?, we sit down with Dave Bulger of Perch Wealth to break down the mechanics, timelines, and strategy behind 1031 exchanges, Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs), and 721 exchanges.

If you’re advising clients on capital gains deferral—or considering selling an investment property yourself—this episode walks through the key rules, risks, and opportunities that can make or break a successful exchange.

We cover:

- What a 1031 exchange actually is (and what “like-kind” really means)

- The critical 1031 exchange timeline (45-day identification & 180-day closing rules)

- How depreciation recapture and capital gains are deferred

- What happens when you take partial cash out (“boot”)

- When refinancing after an exchange may create IRS scrutiny

- How DSTs provide passive, institutional-quality replacement options

- The fee structure, debt replacement mechanics, and diversification benefits of DSTs

- How 721 exchanges into REIT structures work

Whether you’re a broker, investor, developer, or advisor, this conversation offers practical insight into structuring exchanges strategically—not just compliantly.

About Dave Bulger

Dave Bulger is a 1031 exchange specialist with over two decades of experience in securities and commercial real estate investments. He focuses on DSTs, Opportunity Zones, and tax-advantaged real estate strategies designed to help investors preserve capital and transition into passive ownership structures.

🎙 About Did It Close?

Hosted by Bryan McCann and David Dirkschneider, Did It Close? is a commercial real estate podcast focused on deals, development strategy, and market intelligence for CRE professionals.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with leading operators in commercial real estate.

👍 Like & comment with your experience using 1031 exchanges or DST structures.

#1031Exchange #DST #CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateInvesting #TaxStrategy #DelawareStatutoryTrust #InvestmentProperty

Ep. 7: Creative Placemaking & Adaptive Reuse | Jeremy Waldrup, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

Video Description:

What is creative placemaking—and why does it matter for downtown revitalization today?

In this episode of Did It Close?, we sit down with Jeremy Waldrup, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, to break down how creative placemaking and adaptive reuse are reshaping urban cores across America.

As cities navigate post-pandemic office vacancy, shifting residential demand, and changing workforce dynamics, creative placemaking has emerged as a powerful framework for economic resilience. Jeremy shares real-world insights from downtown Pittsburgh, including office-to-residential conversions, public-private partnerships, and transformational civic investment strategies.

We discuss:

What creative placemaking actually means in urban development

The economic and environmental benefits of adaptive reuse

Why downtowns must compete on quality of life

How public investment can unlock private capital

Lessons from Oklahoma City’s MAPS program and Tulsa’s Gathering Place

The future of office buildings and mixed-use development

Whether you're a commercial real estate broker, developer, investor, or city leader, this episode offers practical insights on building resilient, vibrant downtowns.

About Jeremy Waldrup

Jeremy Waldrup leads the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, driving strategy around safety, vibrancy, sustainability, and economic growth. With prior experience in New York City government and urban economic development, he brings a national perspective to local transformation.

🎙 About Did It Close?

Hosted by Bryan McCann (SVP, Colliers) and David Dirkschneider (EVP, Colliers), Did It Close? is a commercial real estate podcast focused on deals, development strategy, and market intelligence for CRE professionals.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with top operators in commercial real estate.

👍 Like & comment with your thoughts on adaptive reuse and downtown recovery.

#CreativePlacemaking #AdaptiveReuse #CommercialRealEstate #DowntownRevitalization #UrbanDevelopment #CRE #OfficeToResidential

Apartment Afterhours with Reid 2nd

Join hosts Bryan McCann, Reid Bennett, and David Dirkschneider as they share their journeys in real estate, unpack the evolution of collaboration in the brokerage world, and explore how technology is reshaping industry practices.

"Hot under the collar in the humidity department" has won best double entendre on this podcast, and we're only four episodes in.

Bryan and Dirk sit down with Wes Easly of Icebreaker Resources to chat about market narratives, investment insights, housing supply, and business accountability.

Check out Mike Scott's (not The Office guy, the other guy) book: You can Count on Me

We're traveling back in time to December of 2024 (when we recorded this episode) to introduce co-host Bryan McCann, get his background, and let him take a guess at some CRE suggestions for 2025.

In this episode of the "Did It Close?" podcast, Bryan introduces us to co-host David Dirkschneider. Get the backstory on David's career in commercial real estate, what he loves about his work, and where he's at today.