From the Ballpark to the Brokerage: How Grit Built a Net-Lease Powerhouse

How did a former baseball player find his swing in commercial real estate?

This week on Retail Retold, Chris Ressa welcomes Tyler Bindi, an investment sales broker with Marcus & Millichap, who has quickly risen through the ranks of the net-lease sector after entering commercial real estate in the middle of COVID-19. From his college baseball career at St. Mary's College of California, to selling season tickets for the Colorado Rockies, now to closing deals nationwide, Tyler shares how perseverance, cold-calling, and curiosity built his foundation during one of the toughest markets in recent history.

Tyler reflects on the transformation of the net-lease landscape—from near-zero interest rates in 2021 to today’s higher-rate environment—and the resulting shift in buyer and seller psychology. He explains how many mom-and-pop landlords remain sidelined, while new, first-time investors are entering the space seeking stable, long-term income and tax advantages.

Together, Chris and Tyler break down how pricing expectations are finally converging, why quick-service restaurants remain a market bellwether, and how opportunistic investors are finding value in short-term, low-rent assets with strong real-estate fundamentals. Tyler also reveals his team’s path to scaling from a one-man operation to a ten-person brokerage and why he believes Q4 2025 will mark a powerful resurgence in net-lease transaction volume.

What you'll hear:

• How Tyler transitioned from sports sales to commercial real estate during COVID
• What’s changed most in the net-lease market over the last five years
• Why short-term leases in great locations are attracting investor demand
• How buyer and seller expectations are finally coming back into alignment
• Why Q4 2025 could be a breakout quarter for transaction volume