How do you recruit one of the world’s most famous architects? On the latest episode of The Long Game, Louis Birdman shares how he and his partners landed Zaha Hadid to design One Thousand Museum, her first residential skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most recognizable buildings on the Miami skyline. When they first identified Zaha as their architect, the team was convinced they'd never get her to come to Miami. She was a global brand at the peak of her career, with projects all over the world. Then everything fell into place. They happened to know a lawyer who was representing her on a project she was designing for the city. That connection led to an agreement, a trip to Miami, and a yes. Sometimes the biggest opportunities are one relationship away. You just have to be willing to go after the long shot. Watch the full episode on YouTube and Spotify, or listen on Apple Podcasts. #Architecture #ZahaHadid #RealEstate #Miami #Development

In a market where the average downtown unit is around 1,000 square feet, the team behind Villa Miami Residences made a contrarian bet. Build bigger residences, and fewer of them, to create a more exclusive way to live in Miami’s urban core. On The Long Game’s latest episode, Louis Birdman, co-founder of One Thousan Group, breaks down the thesis behind Villa Miami, the project his firm is developing with Terra, in partnership with Major Food Group. Edgewater was a natural fit. Waterfront living minutes from Downtown, Brickell and the Design District, with the space and residential feel to attract buyers coming from Miami Beach, single-family homes, or moving to Miami for the first time. To differentiate the project, hospitality would be key. David Martin’s relationship with Major Food Group brought the teams together around a shared vision for a residential building where food, service and lifestyle were central to the experience. Villa Miami was designed as a residential project with Major Food Group embedded into the hospitality experience - making it the brand’s first residential foray. Stay tuned for the full episode, dropping this Thursday, on YouTube and Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. #MiamiRealEstate #Hospitality #LuxuryRealEstate

What does it take to build a home that changes an entire market? In 2019, a property in Journey’s End sold for around $14 million, a neighborhood record in Coral Gables. Three years later, the remodeled estate sold for $44 million. On the latest episode of The Long Game, I sat down with Manny Varas, founder of MV Group USA, to talk about how he built a home that reset expectations for Coral Gables luxury real estate. Built for attorney Anthony Lopez and his partner, Dr. Nicole Martin of The Real Housewives of Miami, the home brought together exceptional design, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. It appeared on Bravo, earned a feature in Architectural Digest, and caught the attention of Jeff Bezos’ parents. Anthony and Nicole had just moved in and weren’t planning to sell. Then came an offer they simply couldn’t refuse from the Bezos’ family. At a time when top waterfront homes in Coral Gables were trading at roughly $1,500–$2,000 per square foot, this sale approached $5,000. This is part of what we unpacked with Manny - the decisions that go into building something extraordinary, and how one home can establish a new benchmark for an entire market. Watch the full episode of The Long Game on YouTube or Spotify, or listen on Apple Podcasts. youtu.be/8_qaAlzPJFo?si=0u3z… #LuxuryRealEstate #CoralGables #Miami #Architecture #Design

Manny Varas has created more than $45M++ in value for Rick Ross. Not many people can say that. The CEO and President of MV Group USA, the go-to builder for billionaires, entertainers, athletes and the world’s fashion and business elite, sat down with us for the latest episode of The Long Game. He breaks down the Star Island estate he built for @RickRoss and why the end goal went beyond a remodel. When Rick came to him looking to redo the entire property, Manny saw a bigger opportunity to ultimately create value for his client. His team took a multi-pronged approach, adding square footage to the existing house to drive terminal value and then layering in a full renovation with no expense spared. To bring it to life, Manny assembled a dream team of design talent, including renowned architect @KobiKarp on the expansion and Kai Williamson (@kaistudio7) of LA-based @studio7designgroup to create a truly one-of-a-kind estate. The result? More than $45M in value created in under two years and a coveted Architectural Digest spread. This is what playing The Long Game is all about. It’s seeing the value before anyone else. Watch the full episode on YouTube and Spotify, or listen on Apple Podcasts this Thursday. #RealEstate #Luxury #StarIsland #Miami

For The Long Game, I sat down with Eric Silagy, Vice Chairman of Related Ross, the firm behind a nearly $10B bet on West Palm Beach. Eric spent two decades at NextEra Energy and Florida Power & Light. He's now the person Stephen Ross brought in to sell this region to the rest of the world: recruiting the companies, brokering the partnerships, and making sure the infrastructure keeps up with the growth. His track record speaks for itself. • Leads the economic development and public-private partnerships behind roughly 8M SF of development in downtown West Palm Beach. • Directed more than $60B in Florida infrastructure investment at FPL and built the nation’s largest portfolio of utility-owned solar plants. • Landed ServiceNow’s second headquarters and AI innovation hub at 10 CityPlace: 200K+ SF and roughly 850 jobs with an average salary near $170K. • Helped bring Vanderbilt University and Cleveland Clinic to downtown West Palm Beach. • Chairs the Florida Council of 100 Foundation He started in the mailroom of a U.S. Senator’s office. Ten years later, he left as chief of staff. That tells you everything about his work ethic and conviction toward progress. Now, he’s applying the same gusto toward the city’s future, because if you build it right, capital follows. That takes playing The Long Game for decades to come. Thank you for joining me in the studio, Eric. Episode dropping soon. Stay tuned.

“Going into real estate is like diving into the deep end before you learn how to swim,” says Alicia Cervera Lamadrid, Managing Partner of @cerverare. On the latest episode of The Long Game, Alicia shares what separates exceptional agents from the rest. It starts with an entrepreneurial mindset, and the discipline to build your own success. At Cervera, that mentality extends across the team. There is no nine-to-five mindset or salary cap. The freedom to be your own boss comes with the responsibility to push yourself, day in and day out. Having trained some of the best agents in Miami and Palm Beach, Alicia is still looking for people with that drive. Learn more about how she plays The Long Game in real estate by watching the full episode on YouTube and Spotify, or listening on Apple Podcasts. youtu.be/HiveSUZeLo0 #RealEstate #Miami #Brokerage #Entrepreneurship

Residents continue to flock to South Florida, and so do real estate developers. Not only to meet demand, but because the development math simply adds up better here. In Florida, buyer deposits are used to fund construction. For example - the breakdown of a $100M project: $60M construction loan $25M in buyer deposits $15 equity check Solve for a 30% margin and you’ve made $30M on $15M in a 3x multiple 200% ROI In other states, deposits sit in escrow: same $60M loan, but now the developer is writing a $40M check. Same $30M profit. 1.75x. 75% ROI. The gap is the missing incentive. That’s why we have more towers, more brands, more product, and more lenders willing to underwrite them. Presales and deposits are the clearest signal a project is real before groundbreaking. It’s yet another case study on how Florida policies attract more business, capital, and wealth. #realestate #development #florida #condos

There’s no such thing as being “too female” for the job, and neither is being “too Cuban,” especially in Miami. On the latest episode of The Long Game, Alicia Cervera, Managing Partner of Cervera Real Estate (@cerverare), tells the story of the moment in her career where the discrimination was undeniable, and what happened next. Rejection turned into a positive redirection that would skyrocket her career. After this incident, she was put into contact with The Condo King himself - Jorge Perez of Related Group. He hired her on the spot to sell Portofino, Apogee, Murano, Murano Grande, Icon… Every unit south of Fifth at that time, facing the City of Miami, was sold by her team. One door closed, and another burst wide open. That’s the power of playing The Long Game. Watch the full episode this Thursday on YouTube and Spotify, or listen on Apple Podcasts. #RealEstate #Miami #Women

What if you could buy real estate with your @Bitcoin without selling it? 👀 @Coinbase and Better (@betrmortgage) are introducing a structure that lets qualified buyers pledge Bitcoin as collateral for a down payment while financing the rest with a traditional mortgage. Why it matters: - You can buy real estate - Your Bitcoin isn’t sold - You retain potential Bitcoin upside - You may avoid triggering capital gains from a sale - The loans are combined into one monthly payment Wealthy investors have borrowed against appreciating assets for decades. Now Bitcoin is taking a page out of that same financial playbook. Now, you can hold onto your Bitcoin, while own your home too. Would you leverage your Bitcoin to buy a home? *This video is not financial advice and is made for educational purposes only. #Bitcoin #RealEstate #Crypto

"Taxing is one of the greatest responsibilities we have." On the latest episode of The Long Game, Miami Beach City Commissioner Joseph Magazine shares something that almost never happens - a city running a surplus and returning the money back to its residents. For the first time in a decade, Miami Beach lowered its tax rate. And for the first time in 20 years, the city sent a $500 check back to every homesteaded taxpayer. As Chairman of the Finance Committee overseeing a $1B+ municipal budget, Joe applies a simple test to every dollar spent: Can government use it more effectively than the resident who earned it? If it’s a “no,” the answer is to give it back. That’s a rare approach to public money, and exactly the kind of fiscal discipline that pays dividends over decades, not just election cycles. Watch the full episode on YouTube and Spotify, or listen on Apple Podcasts. 🎧 youtube.com/watch?v=9XHtaVTA… #MiamiBeach #Taxes #Government

For The Long Game, I sat down with Lucia Penrod. She's the Co-Founder, Owner and CEO of Nikki Beach Hospitality Group, the global luxury lifestyle company she and her late husband Jack Penrod launched on Miami Beach in 1998 as a tribute to his daughter Nicole. What began as a garden built in her memory became a brand that invented barefoot luxury and now operates across roughly 10 countries. "Celebrate Life" was created during one of the hardest moment of their lives, and 28 years later it still governs every decision the company makes: - Opened the first Nikki Beach at 1 Ocean Drive in 1998, creating a category that beach clubs worldwide are still emulating - Owns 100% of the company - spanning 12 beach clubs plus resorts, branded residences, restaurants and spas, with an estimated $150M in annual revenue - Named Chief Marketing Officer in 2008 and CEO in 2018, building the company's Lifestyle, Fashion and Music divisions along the way - Launched Lucia by Nikki Beach in Cannes in 2024 and Lucia Marbella in April 2026, a maximalist brand under her own name that she wholly owns - Leading the $400M Residences at Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Antigua, spanning 84 keys and 134 residences, and the first Nikki Beach resort in the Western Hemisphere - Founded Nikki Cares, the group's 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm - Named to the Forbes 2026 50 Over 50 list What stayed with me was how personal the company still is. Lucia has fought for 1 Ocean Drive, carried the company forward after losing Jack, and is now building something new under her own name, with every one of those decisions tracing back to the same place it started. Stay tuned for the episode, dropping soon. Thank you for coming into the studio, Lucia. #MiamiBeach #NikkiBeach #Hospitality #BrandGrowth

While others were making headlines, @MoisheMana was quietly pulling off one of the biggest land grabs in Florida history. Starting from zero after immigrating from Israel, Mana built his fortune by founding the largest moving company in the New York tri-state area. Then, he set his sights on real estate, flipping the entire playbook. - Wynwood: Started assembling land in 2010. Today, he controls 45 acres, the largest single land assemblage in the entire neighborhood. - Downtown Miami: He’s bought up ~80 properties around Flagler Street, including the SunTrust Tower ($110M), Museum Tower ($74M), and the historic Downtown Post Office ($20M). The real strategic takeaway: Moishe bought enough of an area’s footprint that he decides what its next evolution should be. Controlling the neighborhood means controlling the narrative, the culture, and the future equity. To play the long game, don’t just look at where a city is going, own enough leverage to determine its direction. What direction do you think he’s taking Wynwood and Downtown Miami in?👇 #RealEstate #Wynwood #DowntownMiami #Miami

Ken Griffin is doubling down on Miami, this time with a reported $700 million deal for @MoisheMana’s Wynwood campus and plans to transform it into a major AI and FinTech hub. While most people focus on short-term market cycles, institutional heavyweights think in decades. This isn’t simply about real estate development; it’s a long-term bet on Miami’s future. The potential impact is immense: - Billions in institutional capital flowing into central Miami - Significant job creation driving demand for nearby housing and retail - Greater property-tax revenue supporting infrastructure and schools - Downstream growth for local businesses, restaurants, and coffee shops Miami’s momentum continues to compound as major investors commit capital, create jobs, and build for the future. When some of the world’s most influential investors are choosing Miami, it’s worth asking: why shouldn’t you? #RealEstate #Wynwood #KenGriffin #Tech

$1.3 million extra a year, over five years. A 46-cent raise. That was the math that ended @JohnRParsiani’s airline career. On the latest episode of The Long Game, John shares the moment that pushed him out of corporate. He was running about $76 million in accounts across Southeast Florida, and his job description was clear: maintain the contracts. Don’t negotiate them. Naturally, he negotiated anyway. This resulted in an extra $1.3M a year on a five-year deal. When he asked his boss if he’d receive a bonus, he received the following answer: he’d get 46 cents more per hour. Systems that don’t incentivize ambitious people for going above and beyond usually lead to them taking their talents elsewhere. For John, that began his foray into real estate, where he ultimately became the founder of Parsiani Real Estate. Watch the full episode on YouTube and Spotify, or listen on Apple Podcasts. #RealEstate #Corporate #Sales

District 4 - Flagami, West Flagler, Little Havana, Coral Gate, Shenandoah, Golden Pines and Silver Bluff - is the Miami most people drive through, but few take the time to study. Commissioner Ralph “Rafael” Rosado (@ralphrosado305) represents all of it while chairing the Miami Downtown Development Authority (@downtownmia), and holding what’s often the swing vote on a five-member commission. Today for The Long Game, I sat down with the Commissioner, a Miami native, Ph.D. urban planner, and former city manager who has spent 25+ years in local government. He’s one of the most integral part of actually building the policy that shapes this city. We got into the affordability crisis, the “Yes In God’s Backyard” zoning fight, permitting reform, the Flagler Street rebuild, what the World Cup left behind, the Miami Loop, and what it really takes to get a big project built here. In 2017, he ran for this seat and lost. The eight years in between, spanning North Bay Village, the Miami Forever Bond oversight board, the C.A.S.A. plan - resulted in worthwhile experience that makes him even more qualified for where he is now. It’s truly a testament to playing The Long Game. Stay tuned for the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, coming soon. #Miami #Affordable #Downtown #Government

Would you ever purposely walk away from a huge commission? On the latest episode of The Long Game, top real estate broker, @JohnRParsiani of Parsiani Real Estate, shares the story of how a mystery call from a Beverly Hills number led to a deal with Marc Anthony - only for John to talk the Latin music icon out of it. While the commission was significant, especially at that time in his career, John knew that establishing trust and a relationship were far more important in the long run. His take: a lot of brokers think they’re in sales. They’re actually in the trust business. The real test comes when doing the right thing is expensive. That moment revealed more about John as an advisor than any successful sale could. Learn more about how John plays The Long Game on the full episode, dropping this Thursday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. #RealEstate #MarcAnthony #Trust #Relationship

"Obviously, very bad for us. But, terrible also for New York City." That's how @MatthewMBaron, President and Founder of Baron Property Group, describes the day a quarter-billion-dollar deal disappeared. When Amazon was planning HQ2 in New York, they came to Matthew and his partner about their Long Island City site to build on it. A million square feet of office, developed as a joint venture. The deal they cut would have put them substantially north of $270 million. Then came February 14, 2019. Amazon picked up the ball and left. And the loss wasn't just theirs. The city was also left with a deficit of ~50,000 jobs averaging $150,000 a year. In development, you can do everything right and still watch it come apart for reasons completely outside your control. To play The Long Game, you have to fail, and get back up, time, and time again. Watch the full episode on YouTube and Spotify, or listen on Apple Podcasts. youtu.be/Y68AG3ozOUI?si=0Cff… #RealEstate #Development #NYC #Amazon

Kobe Bryant holds the NBA record for the most missed shots in league history. One of the greatest to ever play the game also failed more than anyone else. 🏀 That’s the framing @matthewmbaron, President and Founder of Baron Property Group brought to the latest episode of The Long Game when asked what it actually takes to be a real estate developer. It isn’t about capital stacks or entitlements. It’s about your tolerance for failure. People see the final skyscraper. They don’t see the dead deals, bad sites, or years of unseen losses. Failure is just the price of admission. Do you want it badly enough to keep trying? Watch the full episode on YouTube and Spotify, or listen on Apple Podcasts, this Thursday. #Development #RealEstate #Failure

The crab pot theory. Put a bunch of crabs in a bucket. One tries to climb out, and the others grab it and pull it back down. On our trip to Europe, it was a common theme. Smart, ambitious, people were so quietly frustrated that standing out invites someone to take you down a peg. It resulted in an entire continent of talent underperforming its own potential. We take it for granted here in the U.S. that success gets celebrated instead of resented. That's the reason talent, and capital keeps landing in America, and lately, in Miami. Europe has the history, the hospitality, the brainpower. The hardest thing to import is a culture that roots for the person climbing out of the pot. #throwback #culture #miami