What do a contractor, an acting studio, and a growing startup have in common? They might all be looking for the same type of commercial real estate.

Flex space combines office and warehouse space in a layout that businesses can adapt as their needs change. But for investors and developers, the opportunity goes beyond offering smaller units. Understanding who will lease the space, what features they need, and whether the development costs make sense can shape the success of a project.

In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich and Hamza, a flex space developer and founder of the Flex Space Network, discuss how flex space works, why its tenant base is expanding, and what investors should consider before buying or developing flex properties.

Hamza shares how he progressed from his first 12,000-square-foot project to planning a roughly 400,000-square-foot mixed-use flex development. He explains how tenant expectations have changed, why different markets call for different development strategies, and what he has learned about financing projects and designing properties around the businesses that will occupy them.

Key Topics Discussed

• What flex space is and how combining office, warehouse, and adaptable open space serves different types of businesses.
• How flex space has evolved from basic industrial buildings into properties with higher ceilings, mezzanines, additional bathrooms, and more flexible layouts.
• Why contractors, recreational businesses, and startups are using flex space for different operational needs.
• How Hamza is planning a mixed-use flex development with retail-oriented, office-oriented, and traditional flex buildings.
• What investors should evaluate when choosing between buying an existing flex property, renovating it, or developing a new one.
• How construction costs, zoning, permitting, location, and achievable rents influence flex space development decisions.
• How Hamza financed his first development and used subsequent projects to expand his business.
• Why understanding tenant needs before construction begins is central to Hamza’s development approach.

About the Guest

Hamza Ali is the Chief Executive Officer of THEEBE Properties, Founder of Flex Space Network, and Founder and Chairman of Hamza Invests. With more than a decade of experience in U.S. real estate, he leads development projects across multiple asset classes, from identifying opportunities and structuring partnerships to land acquisition and project execution. Through Flex Space Network, Hamza connects investors with the experts, resources, and education needed to pursue office-warehouse and flex space investments across the country. He also shares his own flex space development and investment projects through Hamza Invests, offering a firsthand look at how deals are funded, built, and sold.

About the Host

Aviva Sonenreich is the Managing Broker and Owner of the Warehouse Hotline, a Denver commercial real estate brokerage specializing exclusively in industrial properties. She leads the firm’s brokerage operations, negotiates industrial sales and leasing transactions, advises clients on acquisition and disposition strategies, and oversees the company’s marketing and business development efforts. Through Commercial Real Estate Secrets, she interviews leading investors, brokers, developers, and industry experts to provide actionable insights on commercial real estate investing, brokerage, leasing, development, and market trends.

Invest in Looking to Buy or Sell a Flex Property?

Whether you’re evaluating an existing flex building or considering the sale of an industrial property, understanding tenant demand, property configuration, and local market conditions is an important part of the decision.

The Warehouse Hotline helps owners and investors navigate industrial real estate transactions in the Denver metro area. Our team can help you evaluate acquisition opportunities, understand your property’s market position, and develop a strategy for buying or selling.