Stella Top Seller

Stella Shalamova

Stella Top Seller is the podcast for real estate professionals, investors, and ambitious beginners ready to grow beyond traditional limits. Hosted by Stella Shalamova—an expert in residential, luxury, and commercial real estate - this show dives into building wealth, mastering mindset, and navigating high-stakes deals. Each episode delivers behind-the-scenes stories, practical strategies, and real conversations around luxury real estate and commercial investments - designed to help you rise above the competition and build lasting success.

  1. Oct 14

    Repeat Business in Commercial Real Estate | Joe Killinger

    What if growing your real estate business is less about finding more leads and more about creating repeat business? 🎙️ Stella Shalamova sits down with Joe Killinger, broker, investor, syndicator, and entrepreneur with Commercial Brokers International, to discuss repeat business, specialization, email marketing, content, and long-term market authority. 💡 Joe shares how agents can move beyond one-off transactions and build relationships and systems that create future opportunities. 🎤 Host & Guest Host: Stella ShalamovaHost of Stella Top Seller and a New York real estate professional with 20+ years of experience. Guest: Joe KillingerBroker, investor, syndicator, and entrepreneur with Commercial Brokers International and the Commercial Real Estate Affiliate Network. 📌 What You’ll Learn Turn one transaction into repeat business through stronger client relationships Build a focused commercial real estate niche before expanding Use CRM and email marketing to stay connected with your database Build market authority through useful, consistent content Use analytics and listening to make better business decisions 🔎 Key Questions Answered Q: Can real estate agents get leads from ChatGPT? A: Joe Killinger, commercial broker and entrepreneur, says agents in his network have received ChatGPT leads and recommends building authority through content and reviews. Q: What marketing works for commercial real estate listings? A: Joe Killinger, commercial broker and entrepreneur, recommends email marketing and maintaining an organized contact database. Q: What should real estate agents post on social media? A: Joe Killinger, commercial broker and investor, suggests focusing on your asset class, local market, and professional expertise. Q: How can real estate agents build market authority? A: Joe Killinger, commercial broker and entrepreneur, says agents should consistently share useful information, client work, and market activity. Q: Where are the current commercial real estate opportunities in Southern California? A: Joe Killinger, a Southern California commercial broker, says retail was strong, industrial was improving, and office activity was showing movement. ⏱️ Chapters (00:00) - Intro (00:18) - Meet Joe Killinger (03:15) - Building His Real Estate Business (05:27) - Scaling With Analytics (10:17) - Stop Chasing the Next Lead (11:10) - ChatGPT & Market Authority (12:44) - Building Repeat Business (14:19) - Educate, Don’t Oversell (16:53) - Choosing Your Real Estate Niche (18:50) - Commercial Property Marketing (23:00) - Content & Social Media Strategy (26:35) - Southern California Opportunities (29:08) - The Power of Listening  👉🏻 CONNECT WITH JOE KILLINGER: • Website: https://cbicommercial.com  • LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joekillinger  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oldmoneycapital • Instagram: https://instagram.com/joekillinger 👉🏻 FOLLOW STELLA SHALAMOVA: • Website: https://compass.com/agents/stella-shalamova • Instagram: https://instagram.com/stellashalamova • Facebook: https://facebook.com/stellashalamovarealtor • LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stella-shalamova Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔 COMMENT 💬 below! 💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate #StellaTopSeller #StellaShalamova #NewYorkRealEstate #NYRealtor #LuxuryRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateStrategy #EliteRealtor #RealEstatePodcast #NYCRealEstate

    Repeat Business in Commercial Real Estate | Joe Killinger

  2. Sep 30

    Passive Real Estate Investing: Why Lower Returns Can Be Safer | Vaibhav Puranik

    Can a lower projected return actually signal a stronger real estate deal? On Stella Top Seller, Stella Shalamova talks with multifamily investor Vaibhav Puranik about passive real estate investing, syndication, and conservative underwriting. Vaibhav explains why he budgets an extra 10–15% for renovations, why a deal projecting 12–15% returns may be more realistic than one promising 20–25%, and why he prefers roughly 60–65% LTV to leave more room for market changes. Vaibhav also breaks down California’s 5% + CPI rent-increase framework and 2% annual property-tax growth limit, then uses a memorable $400 gardener + $100 saw = $500 lesson to explain why passive investors may choose syndication instead of managing properties themselves. 🎤 Host & Guest Host: Stella Shalamova is the host of Stella Top Seller and a New York real estate professional with more than 20 years of experience. Her real estate strategy podcast shares practical insights for agents and investors across residential, commercial, and investment real estate. Guest: Vaibhav Puranik is a Los Angeles-based multifamily real estate investor whose firm acquires apartment buildings across the Southwestern United States. He raises capital for his own syndications, operates properties directly, and uses that hands-on experience to build more realistic underwriting assumptions.💡 What You’ll Learn Build more realistic renovation budgets by adding a 10–15% cushion for unexpected costs. Review property-management statements more effectively by knowing which expenses and fees deserve closer attention. Understand when growing a real estate business may justify leaving another career behind. Evaluate California multifamily investing by weighing rent regulations against property-tax considerations. Understand passive real estate syndication without having to manage acquisition, financing, and operations yourself. Avoid overly aggressive projections by stress-testing rent growth, expenses, exit cap rates, and leverage. Create more room for market shocks by using lower leverage instead of maximizing loan-to-value. 🔎 Key Questions Answered Q: How does real estate syndication work for passive investors? A: Passive investors provide capital while the syndicator handles acquisition, financing, operations, and property management. Q: Why can lower projected returns be more realistic? A: Conservative underwriting uses more cautious assumptions for rent growth, expenses, exit cap rates, and leverage, which can produce lower projections with more room for market changes. Q: What should investors review before joining a syndication? A: Investors should understand how projected returns were calculated and perform due diligence on the general partner instead of relying only on the headline percentage. ⏱️ Chapters (00:00) - Intro (00:40) - Meet Vaibhav Puranik (01:10) - How Vaibhav Started Investing (03:40) - Operator Experience & Underwriting (06:08) - Leaving Tech for Real Estate (07:28) - California Multifamily Investing (10:08) - Real Estate Syndication Explained (13:58) - Investing With a Team (14:49) - Conservative Underwriting Explained (17:59) - Own Real Estate, Not the Headaches (20:39) - Connect With Old Money Capital (21:07) - Advice for Passive Investors (22:12) - Closing  👉🏻 CONNECT WITH VAIBHAV PURANIK:  • Website: https://oldmoneycapital.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaibhav-puranik-935637209 • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oldmoneycapital • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldmoneycapital123 👉🏻 FOLLOW STELLA SHALAMOVA: • Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/stella-shalamova • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stellashalamova • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stellashalamovarealtor • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-shalamova Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔 COMMENT 💬 below! 💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate

    Passive Real Estate Investing: Why Lower Returns Can Be Safer | Vaibhav Puranik

  3. Sep 16

    Can a $100K Renovation Turn a 10-Cap Deal? | Mike Preshman

    What if chasing certainty in real estate deals is the exact mistake holding you back? In this episode of the Stella Top Seller Podcast, host Stella Shalamova sits down with Mike Preshman, President of BA Capital LLC, who transitioned from software architecture to owning and managing over 200 multifamily units. Mike shares how analytical thinking, downside protection, and probabilistic decision-making keep commercial investors in the game. About Stella Shalamova: Stella Shalamova is the host of Stella Top Seller and an award-winning New York real estate professional with 20+ years of industry experience. On this episode, she unpacks the disciplined commercial strategies behind scaling holdable apartment communities. 🎙 In this episode, you'll learn: ✔️ How to apply poker probabilistic thinking to commercial acquisitions ✔️ Why asymmetric risk and downside protection beat chasing speculative upside ✔️ How to move a 32-unit property from an 8 cap to 10+ cap with disciplined renovations ✔️ Why holdable assets with stable cash flow create true financial freedom Key questions answered in this episode: Q: How do you protect against downside risk in commercial properties? A: Focus on conservative underwriting, keep renovation budgets tight, and maintain cash reserves so the property remains resilient through rate fluctuations. Q: What is a holdable asset? A: A property with stable tenants, predictable operating costs, and minimal daily management friction that allows investors to scale without burnout. 🎧 HOSTED BY: Stella Shalamova | Stella Top Seller 👤 GUEST: Mike Preshman – President, BA Capital LLC Mike Preshman is a full-time multifamily real estate investor and the President of BNP Capital LLC based in Massachusetts. Drawing on a professional background in software architecture, he transitioned from managing vacation rentals to scaling a portfolio of over 200 multifamily units. He specializes in streamlining property management using lean team structures and efficient workflows.  ⏳ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction & Welcoming Mike Preshman 01:00 Commercial Academy in Florida 02:21 Leaving Software for Real Estate 03:43 From House Hacking to Cash Flow 06:10 Jumping to Commercial: Asymmetric Risk 07:10 Cash Flow & Holding Through Cycles 08:33 Protecting Downside: Sleeping at Night 09:10 Deconstructing Multifaceted Risk 10:07 Managing 200+ Apartment Units 11:40 Scaling Beyond Operations 15:05 1031 Exchanges & Cost Segregation 16:47 Case Study: 32 Units in New Hampshire 21:04 Property Management Systems 24:14 Deal Sourcing: Local vs Distant 27:05 Rules of Thumb: The 1.5% Rule 30:57 Protecting Downside & Cash Flow 32:41 House Hacking for New Investors 34:08 Poker Math & Probabilistic Thinking 35:10 Closing Thoughts & Connect with Mike 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH MIKE PRESHMAN: • Website: http://www/bnpliving.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-preshman-4347a31/ 👉🏻 FOLLOW STELLA SHALAMOVA: • Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/stella-shalamova/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stellashalamova/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stellashalamovarealtor/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-shalamova/ 🔑 KEYWORDS & SEO TOPICS:Stella Shalamova, Stella Top Seller, New York real estate podcast, NY realtor, luxury real estate New York, commercial real estate New York, Top Agent Magazine, real estate strategy podcast, NYC real estate agent, elite realtor, real estate investing NY, top producer New York, luxury agent podcast, commercial deals podcast, NYC investment properties, multifamily investing, BA Capital, Mike Preshman, asymmetric risk, holdable assets, probabilistic underwriting #StellaTopSeller #MikePreshman #CommercialRealEstate #MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstateInvesting Follow and rate the podcast on Spotify to stay updated on new episodes! 💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate

    Can a $100K Renovation Turn a 10-Cap Deal? | Mike Preshman

  4. Sep 2

    Scaling to $87M, Real Estate Losses & Private Equity Secrets

    What does it actually take to scale a business to $87 million? Host Stella Shalamova talks with Justin Freishtat, accomplished private equity investor and Managing Partner at Kerns Capital, about his transition from building retail companies to allocating capital at the highest levels. They discuss why he refuses to invest with difficult people, how he manages risk by holding heavy cash reserves, and the tough lessons learned from an Atlanta real estate deal that suffered massive losses. 🎧 Hosted by: Stella Shalamova 👤 Guest: 🏡 Justin Freishtat - Founder & President of Alpha Tactical Partners, Managing Partner at Kerns Capital Justin successfully scaled businesses leading to an $87 million acquisition. Today, he manages institutional capital, focusing on strategic sector rotation and helping companies grow through brand development. 💡 What You'll Learn:  ✔️ The major breakpoints every founder faces when scaling a company  ✔️ Why you must aggressively reinvest in marketing early on  ✔️ The importance of vetting the people behind an investment first  ✔️ Real-world lessons from losing capital on a multifamily real estate deal  ✔️ Why capping investments at 10% of your net worth eliminates financial anxiety  ✔️ Why your personal brand is the ultimate tool for long-term monetization 🎧 Listen now for actionable, real-world advice on private equity and wealth building. 💼 Connect with Justin Freishtat:  🌐 Website → https://atphedgefunds.com/ 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/justin.freishtat.2025/ 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinfreishtat/ 🔗 LinkedIn → http://linkedin.com/in/justin-freishtat-68063579/ 🎧 Follow Stella: 🌐 Website → https://eliterealtor.com/ 📘 Facebook  → https://www.facebook.com/stella.shalamova/ 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/stella.topseller/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellashalamova #PrivateEquity #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #Entrepreneurship #PersonalBranding #WealthBuilding #CapitalAllocation #StellaTopSellerPodcast

    Scaling to $87M, Real Estate Losses & Private Equity Secrets

  5. Aug 19

    Stop Waiting 39 Years for Your Tax Deductions

    Are you leaving a massive down payment on the table by waiting 39 years for tax write-offs? Buying commercial property is only half the battle; the real wealth is built in how you manage your tax liabilities. Many investors assume their CPAs are automatically applying the most aggressive tax strategies available, but when it comes to cost segregation, general practitioners rarely have the specialized engineering knowledge required. In this episode of Stella Top Seller, Tom Brodie demystifies cost segregation and explains why accelerating your property's depreciation is the ultimate cheat code for immediate cash flow. He breaks down the recent return of the 100% bonus depreciation rule, how to split your asset into faster-depreciating buckets, and why you can still claim these massive deductions even if you bought your property years ago. 🎧 Hosted by: Stella Shalamova 🎤 Featuring: Tom Brodie Tom Brodie is a tax strategy specialist at Cost Segregation Services, Inc., specializing in engineering-based cost segregation and tax planning. He helps commercial building owners and businesses nationwide maximize cash flow and reduce tax liabilities through accelerated depreciation and specialized tax credits.   💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔ Unlocking immediate cash flow by accelerating property depreciation write-offs. ✔ Navigating the reinstatement of the 100% bonus depreciation for commercial assets. ✔ Identifying non-structural building components to drastically reduce taxable income. ✔ Reinvesting six-figure tax savings into a 1031 exchange to scale your portfolio. ✔ Protecting yourself from IRS scrutiny by selecting an engineering-based cost segregation provider. ✔ Bridging the gap with your CPA to implement advanced tax strategies without friction. 🎧Connect with Tom: 🌐 Website → https://www.thefoundmoneyguy.com/ 👻 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tom.brodie.798 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thefoundmoneyguy 💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-brodie/ 🎧 Follow Stella: 🌐 Website → https://eliterealtor.com/ 👻 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/stella.shalamova/ 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/stella.topseller/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellashalamova ⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/ 🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below! #StellaTopSeller #CostSegregation #CommercialRealEstate #TaxStrategy #BonusDepreciation #MultifamilyInvesting #TaxSavings #PropertyOwnership #RealEstateWealth #CashFlow #StellaShalamova #TomBrody

    Stop Waiting 39 Years for Your Tax Deductions

  6. Aug 5

    The $200K Path Into Commercial Real Estate with Joe Downs

    There is nothing sexy about self-storage. But those metal boxes print beautiful cashflow. Host Stella Shalamova talks with Joe Downs, CEO of Belrose Storage Group, about why self-storage survived 2008, how to spot a mom-and-pop facility worth buying, and why the SBA loan makes it half the cost of multifamily to enter. 🎧 Hosted by: Stella Shalamova 🎤 Featuring: Joe Downs Joe Downs is the Chief Executive Officer of Belrose Storage Group and host of the Storage Moguls podcast. He leads the sourcing and acquisition of self-storage facilities across the eastern United States.His background includes commercial real estate, distressed debt investing, and financial advising. He educates investors on self-storage acquisitions and passive income strategies. 💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔ Why self-storage held up when every other commercial asset class crashed ✔ Reading a market fast using population, occupancy, and the 10x10 rule ✔ Buying below market from mom-and-pop owners who built the facility themselves ✔ Getting into a million-dollar deal for $200K using an SBA loan ✔ Cutting a 45-minute market study down to under a minute with AI Chapters: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:59) From Stepchild to Darling of CRE (00:04:03) Why Storage Is Recession Resistant (00:06:56) What Belrose Actually Does (00:11:18) The First Thing to Check Is the Market (00:12:50) Why Mom-and-Pops Are the Opportunity (00:17:15) The Real Value Add Is Management (00:20:57) The SBA Loan Advantage (00:22:32) $200K vs $400K: The Real Math (00:23:31) No Toilets, No 2 AM Calls (00:27:37) How AI Changed Acquisitions (00:30:39) AI-Written LOIs That Actually Land (00:33:51) How to Connect With Joe Connect with Joe: 🌐 Storage Moguls → https://joedowns.ai/ 🏢 Belrose Storage Group → https://storagemoguls.ai/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-downs-7990851/ 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/josephmdowns/ 🎧 Follow Stella: 🎙 Podcast → https://hub.iconsofrealestate.com/podcasts/stella-top-seller 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/stella.shalamova/ 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/stella.topseller/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellashalamova/ ⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/ 🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

    The $200K Path Into Commercial Real Estate with Joe Downs

  7. Jul 22

    Why Traditional Financial Advice Fails Entrepreneurs

    🚀 Financial strategist Curtis May shares why traditional financial planning often fails entrepreneurs and investors. Learn how to build wealth through cash flow, eliminate financial leaks, reduce taxes, protect assets, and create lasting financial freedom with practical strategies that put you in control of your money. 🎧 Hosted by: Stella Shalamova 👤 Guest:🏡 Curtis May – Financial Strategist & Founder of Practical Wealth Curtis May is a financial strategist with over three decades of experience working with business owners, families, and investors. He specializes in tax reduction, debt elimination, and cash flow optimization for entrepreneurs and high-income earners. His practice is built on financial education and strategic planning, with a focus on delivering measurable results in the present rather than projections for the future.   💡 Key Topics Covered: ✔️ Cash flow vs. wealth accumulation ✔️ Building a financial GPS for your business ✔️ Protecting assets and reducing financial risk ✔️ Tax strategies and eliminating wealth transfers ✔️ How to achieve financial freedom through cash flow 🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights! 💼 Connect with Curtis May: 🌐 Website → https://www.practicalwealth.net/ 📘 Facebook→ https://www.facebook.com/findoutmorenow 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/curtismay4766/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtismay/ 🎧 Follow Stella Shalamova: 🌐 Website → https://eliterealtor.com/ 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/stella.shalamova/ 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/stella.topseller/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellashalamova 📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below! ⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/

    Why Traditional Financial Advice Fails Entrepreneurs

  8. Jul 8

    How to Raise Capital Without Breaking SEC Rules

    🚀 In this episode, Stella sits down with securities attorney Jonathan Tavares to discuss the legal side of real estate syndication, SEC compliance, and raising capital the right way. Learn the biggest mistakes sponsors make, how to structure compliant investment offerings, and why having the right legal team can protect both investors and operators from costly mistakes. 🎧 Hosted by: Stella Shalamova 👤 Guest: 🏡 Jonathan Tavares – Managing Partner, Premier Law Group Jonathan Tavares is the Managing Partner of Premier Law Group, specializing in real estate syndications, private equity fund structuring, and securities compliance. He advises commercial real estate operators and investors on the legal frameworks required for capital raising, GP/LP partnerships, and navigating SEC regulations.  💡 Key Topics Covered: ✔️ SEC regulations for real estate syndications ✔️ Capital raising best practices ✔️ Institutional vs. retail investment strategies ✔️ Building the right legal and tax team ✔️ Avoiding costly compliance mistakes 🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights! 💼 Connect with Jonathan Tavares: 🌐 Website → https://www.premierlawgroup.net/the-team 🔗 LinkedIn→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-tavares-esq-6076a546/ 🎧 Follow Stella Shalamova: 🌐 Website → https://eliterealtor.com/ 👻 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/stella.shalamova/ 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/stella.topseller/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellashalamova 📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below! ⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com

    How to Raise Capital Without Breaking SEC Rules
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About

Stella Top Seller is the podcast for real estate professionals, investors, and ambitious beginners ready to grow beyond traditional limits. Hosted by Stella Shalamova—an expert in residential, luxury, and commercial real estate - this show dives into building wealth, mastering mindset, and navigating high-stakes deals. Each episode delivers behind-the-scenes stories, practical strategies, and real conversations around luxury real estate and commercial investments - designed to help you rise above the competition and build lasting success.

Information

  • Creator
    Stella Shalamova
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stella Shalamova
  • Show Website
    Stella Top Seller