What really drives commercial real estate?

It's not the headlines.
Not the reports.
Not the analysts.

It's the people in the trenches.

In this debut episode, Joseph Aquino—President of J Crest Commercial Real Estate—pulls back the curtain on a global, unofficial network of brokers who know their markets street by street, building by building, landlord by landlord.

He calls it the Secret Broker Society.

From Madison Avenue to Mayfair…
SoHo to Beverly Hills…
Miami to Hong Kong…

This podcast takes you inside the real conversations shaping the world's most iconic markets.

Each week, we sit down with the brokers, developers, retailers, and insiders who are actually doing the deals—unpacking where rents are going, which streets are heating up, and where the next big opportunities lie.

Because in this business, it's not just about buildings.

It's about relationships. Timing. And knowing what others don't.

If you live in real estate—or just love great cities—you're in the right place.

About Your Host:

Joseph Aquino is the President of JAACRES, with over 40 years of experience advising retailers, restaurateurs, office tenants, and property owners across the world's most competitive markets. From Madison Avenue and SoHo to Beverly Hills, Miami, and London, he has negotiated deals at the highest level—working with global brands like Cartier and leading major projects including the transformation of Times Square's 42nd Street corridor.

He began his career selling watches door-to-door in New York City—an experience that shaped his instincts for relationships, timing, and deal-making. That foundation led to a decades-long career in commercial real estate, where he became known for his deep market knowledge and global network.

Joseph is also the author of Memoirs of a Watch Salesman: A New York Real Estate Story. Through the Secret Broker Society Podcast, he brings listeners inside the real conversations, insights, and relationships that drive the world's most iconic markets.