Articles by
Jeff Hamann
Janover's editorial director, Jeff Hamann, has written extensively about all things CRE since 2017. He previously worked as an editor for Commercial Property Executive and Multi-Housing News. Prior to his journalism experience, Jeff worked as a human resource analyst, a musician, a teacher, and a war-time conflict mediator across eight countries. He currently lives with his wife and two children in The Netherlands, where he's failing at learning Dutch while avidly training for his next marathon.
The Top 5 Online Communities for CRE Debt Brokers in 2025
Networking is a key way to get ahead as a commercial debt broker. Here are five excellent communities you should consider joining.
The Commercial Property Insurance Claims Process
My hope is that you don't need to file a claim. But if you do, here's what you need to know to get your claim handled as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Earthquake Insurance for Commercial Properties
Earthquakes are generally excluded from property insurance. And just because your property isn't in California doesn't mean you're not at risk. Learn what you need to know to protect your investment.
How to Build Your Commercial Property Inventory for Insurance
It's not just your building you need to insure, but your contents as well. Tracking your property's inventory is essential for effective coverage. Here's what you do.
Flood Insurance for Commercial Properties: What You Must Know
Floods are nearly universally excluded from commercial property insurance. If you're in an area at risk of flooding, you'll need to take a few steps to get protected.
Why (and When) You Need to Review Your Commercial Property Insurance Policy
Reviewing your policy annually is a great idea, but there are times when that may not be often enough.
7 Key Limitations in Commercial Property Insurance
Every insurance policy has its limits, and knowing your commercial property's coverage limits is an essential part of understanding your risk (and how to ensure you're sufficiently protected).
8 Common Exclusions in Commercial Property Insurance
Learn what (probably) isn't covered by your commercial property insurance policy and why.
General Liability Insurance for Commercial Construction: A Guide
Commercial construction projects come with a lot of risks, and general liability insurance is one way to solve for those. Here's what you need to know about how these policies work, and what they do — and don't — cover.
Business Interruption Insurance: Protect Your CRE Income
If your commercial real estate is impacted by a disaster, whether natural or manmade, you could miss out on rental income if tenants need to shift to a new location. Here's how you can protect against lost income.
Mixed-Use Property Insurance: Everything You Need to Know in 2025
Insurance for a mixed-use property can be complicated, so it's essential you understand what to look for — and how to find it.
How to Find Competitive, Comprehensive Insurance for Hotels and Motels
Discover the essential types of insurance for your hotel, motel, or bed & breakfast. Our guide walks you through what affects the premiums you get, and how you can find your best policy.
Finding the Right Warehouse or Industrial Property Insurance in June 2025
Learn how to get great (and affordable!) insurance for your industrial property with our comprehensive guide.
How to Insure a Self-Storage Property
Learn what you need to consider when insuring your self-storage facility with our reference guide.
Getting the Right Retail Property Insurance
Learn how to find the best comprehensive insurance for your retail building. Understanding the unique risks of these properties is essential.
Understanding How to Insure an Office Property in June 2025
Understand how to find the best policy for your office property investment, and learn what could impact your costs.
Protecting Your Commercial Property's Contents
Contents insurance is usually something for your tenants to worry about, but not always. Find out when you should consider getting your own coverage.
Your Guide to Commercial Building Insurance in 2025
There are all sorts of additional insurance policies that you may need, but the core of your commercial real estate insurance is the policy you take on the building itself.
Understanding Liability Insurance for Commercial Real Estate
Finding the right commercial liability insurance policy can be a challenge, but it needs to be done right to protect your investments.
Your Comprehensive Commercial Property Insurance Guide for 2025
Finding comprehensive CRE insurance coverage that doesn't break the bank is possible. Understand your coverage options with our guide.
4 Costly (and Common) Commercial Property Insurance Mistakes
Finding the right commercial insurance can be complicated. Go through four common mistakes CRE owners make, and learn how you can avoid them.
“Should I Buy a Data Center?”: A 1st-Time Investor’s Guide
Understand the ins and outs of buying a data center, and get to know the market dynamics and your varied financing options.
How to Buy a Hotel in June 2025
Understanding the market is only part of the game in ensuring your hotel investment succeeds. Read our comprehensive guide.
How to Buy Commercial Real Estate in June 2025
Broken down into seven clear steps, learn how to buy a commercial property with our reference guide.
Top 10 Commercial Property Management Companies of 2024
Bigger isn't always better, and our rankings balance size with growth to provide you the definitive list of 2024's top commercial property managers.
Where Retail’s Headed in 2024
Unpack the misplaced apprehension around retail properties, and learn how they can be strong performers in your commercial real estate portfolio.
How to Sell a Commercial Property in June 2025
Thinking about selling your commercial real estate? Read our comprehensive guide to ensure you’re prepared and have realistic expectations.
Selecting a Market for Your Self-Storage Investment
Explore self storage market analysis best practices with our comprehensive guide, designed to help investors make well-informed decisions in the dynamic self storage sector.
New York’s Industrial Properties: Reviewing H1 2023
A look at AEBOV's recent market report on New York’s outer boroughs highlights changes in buyer profiles and what property features are impacting pricing the most.
The Comprehensive Guide to Industrial Property Financing in 2025
Understand how lenders will view your property or project, and learn how to find the best possible financing terms.
How to Find Good Office Investments, Even Today
While the sector as a whole may take more than a decade to recover, there are excellent opportunities out there if you know where to look.
The Role of Regional Banks in Commercial Real Estate Financing
Given the intense scrutiny some regional banks have fallen under, let's examine their role in providing commercial property loans.
Resilient Retail: Unpacking a Positive 2023 Outlook
Learn how retail's resilience has kept the asset type moving forward — especially for one niche type of shopping center.
How Work-From-Home Policies Impact Office Properties
With office occupancy hovering around the 50% mark on a daily basis, there's cause for concern. However, there's plenty you can do to protect your investment.
Finding a Strong Class A Multifamily Investment Today
While there's a significant wave of high-end multifamily development wrapping up this year, many luxury multifamily properties remain strong investment opportunities.
2023: The Year of the Hotel?
Discover the key factors driving the hospitality industry's growth in 2023, including RevPAR forecasts, GDP growth, easing travel restrictions, and strong business travel demand.
Retail Resurgence: Why 2023 May Be the Right Time to Buy
Despite wider challenges to CRE, the sector is set for a strong 2023, driven by a resurgence in demand in experiential retail alongside evolving consumer preferences.
7 Reasons Multifamily Should Be in Your CRE Portfolio
Multifamily properties are sometimes overlooked by commercial property investors — but that could be a huge mistake. Learn why apartment buildings can be such powerful investments.
The Advantages and Risks of Buying Distressed Properties
Distressed properties can offer excellent opportunities for savvy investors, but you've got to be careful. Read our guide and a couple case studies to understand what you could be in for.
Top 10 Commercial Real Estate Lenders of 2023
This year’s list of the top 10 commercial lenders highlights lenders which have thrived in the past year, despite rising interest rates and other challenges.
Top 4 Refinancing Loans for Industrial Real Estate in 2023
Our top four options for industrial property refinancing include SBA 504 and life company loans, but there are important caveats to understand for each.
How to Set Rent Rates for Your Commercial Property in 2023
Setting your commercial property's listing rates based on several key data points ensures your space is competitive and you earn a healthy return.
Self-Storage Refinance: Your 2025 Guide
Looking to refinance your self-storage property? Read our comprehensive guide to securing the best loan.
Top 10 Commercial Property Management Companies of 2023
Find out who earned the top spot in this year's commercial real estate management company rankings.
Top 5 Markets for Medical Office Investing in 2023
Not sure where to buy a medical office? Check out these five cities that have a clear shortage.
How Does ChatGPT Work With Commercial Real Estate?
I asked everyone's favorite chatbot to help me out with three important commercial real estate functions. Here's what happened.
The Top 10 Markets to Buy Industrial Real Estate in 2023
Find out which places are this year's best industrial markets. Most are in the eastern half of the U.S., but one California market stands out.
The Top 10 Self-Storage Companies of 2023
Although 2022 was a far less explosive year for self storage, most of the 10 largest owners and operators continued to grow in this fragmented sector.
Commercial vs. Residential Real Estate: A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding the key differences between residential and commercial real estate is critical when it comes to financing, property management, and more.
5 Proven Tips for Your Next Value Add Investment
Doing most, if not all, of these is essential to make your next commercial real estate value-add investment succeed.
7 Tips to Keep Your Office Portfolio Recession-Proof
Is office safe in a recession? Find out some steps you can take to ensure your commercial real estate portfolio weathers what's on the horizon.
4 Commercial Property Loans for Borrowers With Bad Credit
Has your credit score taken a hit? That doesn’t mean there aren’t options for your next commercial real estate acquisition, development, or refinance.
Get Better Loan Terms With a Commercial Mortgage Alert
When looking for your next commercial real estate loan, it can pay dividends to keep up to date on what's happening in the financing world. Find out more on the blog.
5 Methods for Handling Balloon Payments
If you have a partially amortizing loan, you no doubt have a balloon payment awaiting you at maturity. Find out five ways of handling these lump-sum payments.
4 Ways Self Storage Is Recession Resistant
As we head into what increasingly looks like a recession, self-storage properties appear to be a strong example of recession proof real estate investing.
What's the Difference? SBA 7(a) and 504 Loans in Commercial Real Estate
For small business owners looking to acquire commercial property, the SBA offers some excellent financing choices — learn the differences here.
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Markets for Industrial Real Estate Investment in 2022
Commercial Real Estate Loans examines the 10 U.S. industrial markets where transaction volumes have grown the fastest.
5 Considerations for Taking an Office Loan
Looking to finance an office building? There’s lots to think about, but don’t overlook these five key elements.
Is Non-Recourse Financing Right for You?
There are plenty of advantages and disadvantages that come with non-recourse financing for your commercial real estate property. Find out if this type of loan fits your needs.
How Do Wage Requirements Impact HUD Projects?
The nearly century-old Davis-Bacon Act requires that workers on federally funded construction projects are paid prevailing wages. Find out how this affects your development.
Defeasance or Yield Maintenance: Which Is Better?
While there’s no easy answer, read our comparative guide to prepayment options to see which may be the most suitable for your situation.
5 Myths About FHA-Insured Multifamily Loans
HUD multifamily loans are often the most competitive options available — yet many misconceptions persist about these financing packages. Let’s break down the five most common myths.
Top 5 Advantages of HUD Construction Financing
HUD loans typically have some of the best terms for multifamily properties — and they’re not just for affordable housing. Find out how a HUD 221(d)(4) loan could work for you.
Janover Closes Central Colorado Industrial Construction Loan
A credit union provided the $2.7 million financing package, which features a 24-month interest-only construction period followed by 10 years of permanent financing at a fixed rate.
How to Finance a Build-to-Suit Industrial Development
As the industrial real estate sector continues to perform, new development is essential. Find out how to finance a build-to-suit property.
Top 5 Industrial Real Estate Markets in 2022
We examine the driving forces and outlook for each of the top five industrial markets across the U.S. While four of the markets on our list may be commonsensical, one entry on our list may surprise you.
4 Reasons to Refinance Your Office Loan Today
Now may be the perfect time to refinance your office asset, regardless of the sector’s headwinds.
What to Know Before Making Your 1st Industrial Property Investment
Important considerations for investors looking to acquire or develop their first industrial property asset.
Idaho Hilton Sells for $32M
Noble Investment Group took a $24 million loan from Huntington Bank to finance the 132-guestroom deal.
5 Key Considerations for Your Hotel-to-Apartment Conversion
Construction costs, location, and zoning regulations are the key factors to consider before deciding on a hotel-to-multifamily project.
Top 3 Medical Office Investment Considerations
The medical office sector is booming and considered to be recession proof in many respects. Find out three major factors to weigh before diving into the sector.
How Office Use Is Changing in DC
Though the nation's capital has had one of the most resilient office markets, ongoing changes to the sector will have an impact.
Hines Pays $89M for Raleigh Retail Center
The 190,000-square-foot community retail center sale marks a more than one-third increase in value over the past eight years.
The Future of Seattle's Office Space
Seattle's office dynamics continue to be mixed as employers move back to the office. What does this mean for office investors?
Prologis to Buy Duke Realty for $26B
The all-stock deal, expected to close in the fourth quarter, will see Prologis gain 153 million square feet of industrial assets in 19 markets.
Retail's Comeback Is Here
Lee & Associates’ first-quarter retail report highlights the commercial retail real estate sector's struggles and how its recovery is now well underway.
SL Green Offloads Manhattan Office Condo for $101M
SL Green has sold the 132,542-square-foot office component of 609 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.
Industrial Real Estate Sector Hits New Heights
With more and more investors focusing on this golden asset class, where does industrial stand in the cycle?
Office-to-Lab Conversions Pick Up, Despite Costs
Strong rent growth amid soaring demand is bringing investors large and small into the life science sector.
What's Next for Coworking?
The office sector has largely struggled since early 2020, but coworking space may be taking a different path.
Seattle Office Tower Trades for $730M
The blockbuster office deal marks the largest multi-tenant transaction in the sector so far this year.
CRE Lending Jumps 72%
A report from the Mortgage Bankers Association highlights the strong rise of originations in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same time last year.
Top 3 Healthcare REITs
Despite a challenging past couple of years in most property sectors, healthcare real estate is thriving.
Stockdale Capital Trades 2 MOBs for $156M
Harrison Street acquired the 107,000-square-foot portfolio within two months of selling 35 other medical properties for a combined $815 million.
Hospitality Industry: On Its Way to Recovery?
While the sector still has a long way to go — particularly in markets reliant on business travel — there is much to be optimistic about.
Which Assets Are Investors Seeking in 2022?
CBRE’s 2022 U.S. investor intentions survey highlights some striking — though in many cases unsurprising — trends about where investor dollars will flow this year.
Picking the Right Industrial Investment
Find out about some key considerations before making an investment in industrial use commercial real estate.
The Top 10 Self-Storage Companies of 2022
Our list of the largest firms includes both REITs and private owners that continue to expand in one of the country’s fastest-growing real estate sectors.
Top 10 Commercial Real Estate Lenders of 2021
We have compiled a list of the top 10 commercial lenders of the year by examining the intersection of two leading mortgage banking firm rankings—the MBA’s and Commercial Property Executive’s—while weighting additional factors uncovered through a review of publicly available lending data, from loan diversity to recent growth in originations.
Class A, B, and C Office Buildings in Commercial Real Estate
Explore the different office asset classes and how properties are classified into each category.
What Is a Tenant Improvement Allowance?
A TI allowance is an incentive offered by many commercial real estate owners to cover the costs of customizing space for a tenant's needs.
What Is a Capital Stack?
Understanding the capital stack is critical for commercial real estate investors to evaluate potential risk and return on investment.
The Commercial Mortgage Broker's Guide to LinkedIn
Learn how you can generate real leads through your activity on LinkedIn as a commercial real estate mortgage broker.
Becoming the Go-To Financing Expert in Your CRE Niche
Specialization takes time and work. It can also be your ticket to sustainably growing your commercial loan brokerage.
Deal Sourcing: Balancing Inbound and Outbound Strategies
You can't rely on one single deal sourcing strategy and expect to stay afloat forever. There are important roles both inbound and outbound sourcing should play in your business.
Growth Metrics That Matter for CRE Brokers
Fancy tools and spreadsheets aren't needed, but you can't improve what you don't measure. Here's what CRE brokers need to focus on, at a minimum.
How to Grow Your Commercial Mortgage Brokerage in 2025
If your commercial mortgage brokerage hasn't taken off (or has hit a wall), there are real steps you can take immediately. Learn what you can do with this comprehensive guide.