What does it take to build a career that spans hands-on construction, finance, insurance, and entrepreneurship? In this episode, Scott Van Arsdale shares his unconventional journey and the lessons he learned along the way.

Scott’s story starts in construction, swinging a hammer and learning the trade from the ground up. Over time, he transitioned into management, launched his own framing company, and later returned to school to deepen his knowledge in real estate development and finance. His career then took an unexpected turn into banking during a turbulent economic period, where he gained firsthand experience navigating distressed assets and market downturns.

From there, Scott moved into construction defect litigation, blending his expertise across construction, finance, and legal processes. Eventually, he returned to his entrepreneurial roots by rebuilding and growing TCE Constructors, the company he founded years earlier.

In this conversation, Scott also shares how modern tools like AI are changing the construction industry. From using AI to generate detailed scopes of work to improving estimating and project communication, he explains how technology is helping streamline operations and reduce inefficiencies.

Scott offers valuable insights into market cycles, noting that he has experienced multiple economic ups and downs. He shares his outlook on today’s market, including the impact of interest rates and why he believes the real estate sector may be positioned for growth in the next 12 to 18 months

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What does it take to go from chemical engineering to owning 30+ multifamily properties in Los Angeles? In this episode, Maxx Feldman shares how he made an unconventional leap into real estate—and what it takes to survive and grow in today’s challenging market.

Maxx Feldman didn’t start in real estate. With a background in chemical engineering and early ambitions in professional baseball, his path shifted when he was introduced to real estate syndication through close connections. What began as a 60-day trial turned into an 8-year journey building a portfolio of over 30 buildings and 400+ units across Los Angeles.

In this conversation with Bruce Bean, Maxx walks through the realities of scaling a multifamily portfolio during both boom times and market downturns. He shares how his team aggressively acquired deals between 2018 and 2022, then shifted focus to operations as interest rates rose and market conditions tightened.

A major theme of the episode is adaptability. Maxx explains how today’s environment requires operators to prioritize cash flow, manage rising costs like insurance and maintenance, and maintain investor distributions. He also dives into their value-add strategy—renovating older properties, upgrading systems, and adding ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) to increase revenue and long-term value.

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In this episode of SF Commercial Property Conversations with Bruce Bean, Bruce sits down with Scott Furness of 7th Street Development to explore the fast-moving industrial market in Los Angeles and Orange County. From aerospace-driven demand to speculative development strategies, Scott shares what it really takes to build and lease industrial projects in today’s environment.

Scott walks through his career journey across residential, office, retail, and industrial real estate—bringing a well-rounded perspective to his current role managing and developing industrial properties. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look at a 70,000 square foot speculative industrial project currently under construction in West Orange County.

The conversation dives into how developers make key decisions without a committed tenant, including building design, power capacity, and flexibility for multiple use types. Scott also explains why aerospace and defense companies are dominating demand right now—and how that trend is shaping the future of the market.

You’ll also hear insights on leasing strategies, working with brokers, and how different submarkets across Southern California are performing today.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re excited to feature your voice in the conversation about building wealth and legacies through commercial real estate. Join us to share your journey and insights with our growing audience! Learn more and apply at https://sfcommercialconversations.com/guest