There is a lot of buzz around new developments raising the bar on architecture, design, and amenities. Before any developer begins to draw up any plans, there’s a lot of work that goes down assembling the land. This niche in the commercial real estate industry is where Alexandros Kyriakos Tsoulfas stands out.
After studying at the University of Maryland, Alex moved to Miami where can enjoy the tropical paradise, while working hard and creating opportunities in our rapidly evolving city. Alex has been making a name for himself by closing large-scale deals and being part of the team at Apex Capital Realty.

What led you to your career in real estate?

After graduating from college I didn’t have a lot of job prospects. In 2018, I started working with a friend of mine from college who started a residential wholesaling business since I had always been a good negotiator I thought it might fit my skillset. My friend taught me a lot about work ethic and I was able to work under someone on a fast track to success but it ended up not being a good fit for me as the deals were more one-off situations and I found myself having trouble making traction – and most importantly didn’t love the job.

I decided to pursue something where I could benefit from forming long-term relationships and use more goodwill to produce business. In 2019, I received a mass email from Keyes Commercial trying to recruit people. I called the broker and went to interview. The broker, Floyd Cerf, gave me a speech that inspired me and I couldn’t sleep that night. The conversation completely changed my mindset and gave me the beginnings of a roadmap toward a career.

When I told him I wanted to start with smaller deals and move up towards the bigger ones, he told me he considered a deal small unless it was more than $4 Million. I decided from there on to focus on big deals. I have since left that brokerage but can credit them with inspiring my start.

What is a personal habit that contributes the most to your success?

If something is on my mind I do it. I do not wait.

As an entrepreneur, what do you believe is your biggest strength?

A positive mindset. 

817-847 N Andrews Avenue Listed for $12,550,000

How has social media contributed to your success as a realtor?

I haven’t used social media throughout my career so far and have been reluctant to do so. The vast majority of my leads have been generated by cold calling property owners and setting meetings and then sourcing buyers from listings. However, I did finally crack and created a real estate Instagram page about a month ago.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an agent? 

You don’t know until you try.

What is the biggest lesson you learned from a mistake?

Always follow up! You never know where a relationship may lead.

Is there a specific book that had a major impact on your life?

“Never Split the Difference – Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It” by Chris Voss. 

Do you have a non-profit or cause that is close to your heart?

A long-term goal of mine is to start an animal rescue shelter.

What are your top 3 places to take clients to in Miami?

Wynwood for lunch, dinner, and/or drinks, SLS Pool Party for tourist friends. 

How do you think the commercial market will change in the next 12 months?

Honestly, I think the commercial market will continue to go up. Miami is seeing an organic growth that sets it apart from other markets experiencing inflated prices.

What neighborhoods do you specialize in?

Edgewater, Little River, and the rest of the Urban Core between the Arts and Entertainment District and 79th Street.

What asset classes do you focus on?

Primarily development land and retail. I prefer to focus more on neighborhoods and forming relationships in those neighborhoods as opposed to specific asset classes.

Is there a deal you had this past year that you are most proud of?

In December of 2021, I sold 2634 NE 2nd Avenue in Edgewater for $9.8M. The seller of that property was the first property owner I ever cold called. It paid off three years after my first attempt – after a ton of follow-up and a moment of opportunity with the right buyer.

Do you have a property currently on the market that is your favorite?

817-847 N Andrews Avenue. $12,550,000. This is an incredible opportunity to acquire a 1.64-acre development site just on the border of Fort Lauderdale’s hottest emerging market – Flagler Village. An edgy art and entertainment hub similar to Wynwood. Flagler Village is a new market of focus for us and I am excited to bring our Miami buyers who are used to much higher prices for development sites.

How are sellers reacting to this market, are they being realistic with their expectations?

I think sellers often have lofty expectations, and we are at a unique moment where the market seems to be willing to match them.

What kind of buyers are you seeing an influx of?

$30,650,000 2201 NE 2nd Avenue

Hard to say – it is a combination and depends on the asset. We see a lot of developers coming into town. I like working with developers, they tend to be straight shooters.

What is the biggest challenge you see buyers nowadays facing?  

There isn’t much room for bargaining with sellers as demand is too high.

With unlimited capital, what kind of project would you personally invest in? 

Personally, I would invest in a hotel or resort with a restaurant component. Something I can enjoy as well.

If you were not working in Real Estate, what would you most likely be doing?

I would probably create a start-up. Working a normal 9-5 is one of my biggest fears in life and would not be an option.

Highest recent sale?

$30,650,000. 2201 NE 2nd Avenue. I represented the buyer on the purchase of a 1.64 acre landmark development site in Edgewater.

Is there an app or tool that you could not live without?

I constantly use DocuSign and Pipedrive, a customer relationship management tool.

Who was one of your favorite agents to work with?

My Edgewater partner Jamie Maniscalco. We share a similar intuition on how to approach deals and can operate simultaneously on different projects without having to communicate with each other.