Boroughs & Burbs, the National Real Estate Conversation

Hosts John Engel and Roberto Cabrera explore the intersection of beauty, function, and value in luxury landscape design. Joining them are two masters of the craft — Steve Griggs of Steve Griggs Design and Lisa Ricotta of Bella Garden Landscape Design — who share their secrets for transforming outdoor spaces into lifestyle destinations.

From sprawling estates to intimate gardens, this episode uncovers the latest trends in outdoor architecture, pool and terrace design, and sustainable landscaping. Learn how the best designers elevate curb appeal, enhance property value, and create cohesive environments that blur the line between indoors and out.

Whether you’re a homeowner, builder, or design enthusiast, this conversation will change how you see your own backyard.

🎧 Listen on boroughsandburbs.com
▶️ Watch on YouTube: @JohnEngelOfficial

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Hashtags: #BoroughsAndBurbs #LandscapeDesign #LuxuryLandscaping #OutdoorLiving #SteveGriggs #LisaRicotta #BellaGardenDesign #GardenDesign #PoolDesign #LuxuryHomes #JohnEngel #RobertoCabrera #DouglasElliman #OutdoorArchitecture #BackyardDesign #RealEstatePodcast

Hosts John Engel and Roberto Cabrera explore how simplifying your home can lead to financial and emotional freedom. Joining them are Stephanie Radman, founder of Mayflower Home Organizing, and Grant Panarese and Christie Spooner of Black Rock Auctions.

Stephanie shares her practical strategies for creating order, balance, and harmony—from taming overstuffed closets and kitchens to preparing homes for sale. Grant and Christie reveal how auctions can transform excess belongings, estates, and luxury assets into opportunities for profit.

Together, they illustrate how organization and auctions work hand in hand to free up space, reduce stress, and uncover hidden value. Whether you’re downsizing, staging a property, or simply striving to live with less, this episode offers actionable insights and plenty of inspiration.

🎧 Listen on boroughsandburbs.com
▶️ Watch on YouTube: @JohnEngelOfficial

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Hashtags: #BoroughsAndBurbs #HomeOrganization #Decluttering #MayflowerHomeOrganizing #BlackRockAuctions #EstateSales #Downsizing #Minimalism #LuxuryAuctions #HomeStaging #SimplifyLife #JohnEngel #RobertoCabrera #DouglasElliman #RealEstatePodcast #OrganizedLiving

In Episode 196 of Boroughs & Burbs, hosts John Engel and Roberto Cabrera sit down with Jonathan Tuttle and Alec McElhinny of Land Play to explore why flex space development has become one of the fastest-growing segments in commercial real estate.

Jonathan and Alec share how these multi-use properties—blending warehouse, office, and retail—are transforming communities while delivering strong ROI for investors. They explain how macroeconomic and demographic shifts are fueling demand, what metrics they analyze when evaluating a site, and why municipalities are embracing this hybrid model.

You’ll hear practical insights on:

• The tenant mix that drives sustainable returns, from small businesses to larger corporate users.

• How zoning laws, municipal incentives, and financing structures are shaping flex space projects.

• The role of modular construction and ESG principles in keeping developments cost-effective and future-proof.

• Why underserved markets present some of the biggest growth opportunities over the next five years.

Whether you’re an investor, developer, or business owner, this episode offers a masterclass in adaptive commercial real estate strategy.

🎥 Watch on YouTube: Flex Space Development | Boroughs & Burbs Ep. 196

Related Episodes

• Ep. 195 – Integrated Planning & Design Services with Benjamin Watson & Vincent Yan

• Boroughs & Burbs 190 || Large Luxury Renovation Projects. boroughsandburbs.com

• Boroughs & Burbs 189 || Texas New Development. boroughsandburbs.com

• Mobile Homes & Parking Lots as a Real Estate Investment | Boroughs & Burbs Ep. 181. boroughsandburbs.com

• Boroughs & Burbs 180 || The Greenest Buildings Are Already Built. boroughsandburbs.com

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Hosts John Engel and Roberto Cabrera sit down with Benjamin Watson and Vincent Yan of Douglas Elliman to discuss how integrated planning and design services are transforming the real estate process.

From concept to completion, Ben and Vincent guide clients through architecture, interior design, construction, and project management—long before a property hits the market. Their design-first approach helps avoid costly mistakes, optimize layout and flow, and add lasting value to every project.

Whether it’s ground-up construction or transformative renovation, this episode reveals how early collaboration between developers, designers, and agents creates homes that are both beautiful and profitable. A must-listen for agents, investors, and anyone building their dream home.

🎧 Listen on boroughsandburbs.com
▶️ Watch on YouTube: Boroughs & Burbs Ep. 195 – Integrated Planning & Design Services

🔗 Related Episodes

• Ep. 196 – Flex Space Development with Jonathan Tuttle & Alec McElhinny of Land Play

• Ep. 199 – Luxury Landscape Design with Steve Griggs & Lisa Ricotta

• Ep. 190 – Large Luxury Renovation Projects with Vincent DiSalvo, Matthew Berman & Brian McCarthy

• Ep. 203 – Pushing Your Client’s Boundaries with Lindsay Biondo-Lugo & Scott Hobbs

• Ep. 205 – Balancing Old and New with Carey Karlan & Antonio Vergara

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Hashtags: #BoroughsAndBurbs #DouglasElliman #IntegratedDesign #Architecture #Construction #ProjectManagement #BenjaminWatson #VincentYan #LuxuryHomes #DesignPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #JohnEngel #RobertoCabrera #Development #Renovation #HomeBuilding

Escalating premiums, climate exposure, and construction inflation are rewriting the rules of luxury-home insurance. In Episode 194 of Boroughs & Burbs: The National Real Estate Conversation, hosts John Engel (http://www.theengelteam.com) and Roberto Cabrera (http://www.robertocabrera.com) speak with Willis Gay of Howard & Gay Insurance and Bernice Rodriguez of PURE Insurance about the evolving world of luxury home risk and property insurance in 2025. The episode focuses on how escalating construction costs, climate exposure, and regulatory changes are transforming coverage expectations for high-net-worth homeowners.

Key takeaways include navigating premium increases, understanding policy exclusions, assessing replacement cost versus actual cash value, and best practices for advising clients proactively on flood and windstorm risk—based on real insurer protocols and strategies.

Listen on Spotify (or your preferred platform): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1IH5G3GFVKGkxpbU6Rjnhs
Listen on Podbean: https://boroughsandburbs.podbean.com/e/real‑estate‑insurance‑boroughs‑burbs‑ep‑194/

Related Episodes:
• Boroughs & Burbs 123 || Navigating the Changing Tides of Insurance – Coastal coverage insights from insurance experts Chris Marten (AssuredPartners) and Nicholas Phillips (Goosehead Insurance).
Watch on Podbean: https://boroughsandburbs.podbean.com/e/boroughs-burbs-123-navigating-the-changing-tides-of-insurance/

• Boroughs & Burbs 113 || The Changing Insurance Landscape for the High Net Worth Market – Brendan O’Brien (Rand Insurance), Frank DiGrande (PURE Insurance), and Joe Rossi (Joe Flood Insurance) explore trends and risk management strategies in luxury insurance.
Watch on Podbean: https://boroughsandburbs.podbean.com/e/boroughs-burbs-113-the-changing-insurance-landscape-for-the-high-net-worth-market/ 

• Boroughs & Burbs 192 || Home Inspections in New York and Connecticut – Stephen Gladstone and Jacqueline Gathers put insurance-adjacent home inspection practices under the microscope—essential for protecting high-value properties.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E_PPBWzKaB0?si=rohQ9-QdbeIng9hf

• Boroughs & Burbs 190 || Large Luxury Renovation Projects – Design-build leadership discusses risk assessment, liability considerations, and insurance coordination during high-end renovations.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I05WTKy7nA

• Boroughs & Burbs 92 || Uninsurable Florida with Sally Daley & Nevin Miller – A deep dive into why some Florida properties are becoming uninsurable due to rate hikes, fraud legislation, and climate risk—making it highly relevant for market risk assessment today.
Watch on Podbean: https://boroughsandburbs.podbean.com/e/boroughs-burbs-92-uninsurable-florida-with-sally-daley-and-nevin-miller/

Keywords:
#realestate #insurance #luxuryhome #risk  #insurancepremium #escalation #disastercoverage #propertyreplacementplanning #climaterisk #RealEstateInsurance #HighNetWorthInsurance #RiskManagement #LuxuryHomeInsurance #PolicyExclusions #ClimateRiskCoverage #JohnEngel #RobertoCabrera #BoroughsAndBurbs #InsuranceTrends2025 #HowardGay #PUREInsurance

Zen Home Design for Wellness & Luxury Living – Hains, Lubin & Lydon | Boroughs & Burbs Ep. 193

Discover how design, wellness, and real estate intersect to create peaceful, intentional living spaces. In Episode 193 of Boroughs & Burbs: The National Real Estate Conversation, hosts John Engel and Roberto Cabrera welcome three leading voices who turn homes into sanctuaries of calm and connection.

🧘‍♀️ Deanna Hains – Founder of Zen Home, Deanna explains how scent, cleanliness, and energy awareness shape a calm and centered home environment.

🏡 Mike Lubin – Brown Harris Stevens luxury broker, shares what high-end buyers want today: mindful design, tranquility, and emotional resonance.

🎨 Katie Lydon – Interior designer and founder of Katie Lydon Interiors, Katie reveals how lighting, color, and layout directly impact mood and behavior.

Whether you're designing, staging, buying, or selling, this conversation offers practical ideas and inspiration for curating harmony in an increasingly chaotic world.

🎧 Related Episodes Featuring Today’s Guests:

• Ep. 89 – The Brooklyn Show
Jared LaFrenais, Lee Solomon & Katie Lydon discuss design and development in one of NYC’s trendiest boroughs.
▶️ https://youtu.be/Dpnc2kFm2_8

• Ep. 49 – Top Realtors in New York
Mike Lubin & Matt Cohen unpack buyer psychology and post-COVID trends in Manhattan real estate.
▶️ https://youtu.be/13Ke829ulg0

🔗 Stay Connected:
🌐 Visit our website: https://www.boroughsandburbs.com
📧 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn0GRA-Kf96kkb9rEmIYyTdWknPpx_ghi

💬 Leave a comment and share your thoughts!

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Hashtags: #BoroughsAndBurbs #ZenHomeDesign #LuxuryLiving #WellnessDesign #MindfulInteriors #DeannaHains #MikeLubin #KatieLydon #InteriorDesignPodcast #RealEstateWellness #LuxuryRealEstate #HomeDesign #JohnEngel #RobertoCabrera #DouglasElliman #PodcastLife #Architecture #WellnessHomes

What do homebuyers really need to know about inspections — and why do standards vary between New York and Connecticut?

In Episode 192 of Boroughs & Burbs, we break down what makes a good home inspection with two industry veterans from both sides of the state line:

Stephen Gladstone – Founder of Stonehollow Home Inspections (stonehollow.com), Steve brings decades of experience inspecting homes across Connecticut. Learn about common pitfalls, what buyers should expect, and how a great inspector can protect your investment.

Jacqueline Gathers – Licensed inspector with Pillar To Post – The Gathers Team (pillartopost.com/inspectors/jacquelinegathers), Jackie offers insight into the unique challenges of New York City and suburban inspections, including co‑op requirements, multi‑unit dwellings, and scheduling logistics.

This episode is essential for real estate professionals, homebuyers, and sellers who want to understand what to inspect — and what to expect — during one of the most critical steps in a real estate transaction.

Related Episodes to Explore:

• Ep. 113 – The Changing Insurance Landscape for the High Net Worth Market
A look at how insurance influences risk and inspections in luxury real estate.

• Ep. 75 – The Science of Selling
Covers pre-listing strategies and how inspection findings impact pricing and staging.

• Ep. 66 – Big Brokerage in the Big Apple
Featuring Richard Ferrari & Richard Grossman, exploring the high-stakes New York luxury market and how inspections affect deals.
▶️ Watch on YouTube

Stay Connected:
Website: https://www.boroughsandburbs.com
To join our mailing list: Email info@theengelteam.com
Have questions or feedback? Leave a comment!

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