Alex Reece and Costel Vanatoru share value-add tactics, auction strategies, picks, and operating levers to buy right, boost NOI, and exit efficiently.

In this episode of The Crexi Podcast, Bob Drury, Senior Managing Director on Crexi’s Auctions team, interviews Alex, a seasoned real estate investor and serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience, and Costel, a distinguished commercial real estate broker and founder of Vanald and Associates.

The duo dives into the mechanics of the Crexi auction platform and how transparency, competition, and certainty of close can unlock new opportunities for both sellers and brokers. They discuss overcoming the outdated stigma around auctions, highlight their success selling over 20 stabilized assets through Crexi Auctions, and share why more sophisticated buyers now prefer the process.

• Meet Alex Reece: Serial Entrepreneur
• Meet Costel Vanatoru: The Rockstar Broker
• Their Unique Partnership and CRE Dynamics
• Alex's Journey into US Commercial Real Estate
• The Value of Mentorship
• Early Adoption of Crexi Auction Platform
• The Auction Platform: Breaking the Stigma
• What Makes a Great Broker?
• The Importance of Trust in Broker-Client Relationships
• Alex's Investment Philosophy
• The Auction Process: Hesitations and Success
• Reflecting on Auction Successes and Challenges
• Early Adoption and Advantages of Crexi
• Market Trends and Investment Strategies
• Advice for Young Brokers and Investors
• The Future of Auctions and Final Thoughts

Watch “The Playbook Behind Alex Reece & Costel Vanatoru's 20+ Auction Successes” on YouTube

Alex Reece is a distinguished entrepreneur and real estate expert with over 30 years of experience building and selling companies, managing commercial real estate, and making technology investments. A University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting graduate, he currently owns and manages over 1.5 million square feet of mixed-use real estate across multiple states, focusing on power-saving technologies, smart site planning, and delivering high-quality affordable tenant space. 

As a strategic investor, Alex demonstrated remarkable foresight with early investments in companies like DraftKings, Crexi, Lyft, Addepar, Heavy AI, Clubhouse, Flexport, SoFi, Matterport, Unity, Ripple, and Airbnb, showcasing his deep understanding of market trends and ability to identify transformative business models. His leadership style combines inspiration with pragmatism, fostering team environments that encourage innovation and business growth through his pursuit of excellence and understanding of global market dynamics.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Costel Vanatoru, founder of Vanwald & Associates, is a top-producing commercial real estate broker with hundreds of millions in sales and millions of square feet leased. After immigrating from Romania to the U.S. in 1997, he built his career from hospitality into real estate during the 2009 financial crisis. Known for his expertise in investment sales and landlord representation across office and retail assets, he combines land-use planning and visual site design skills to help clients realize property potential. An early adopter of the Crexi auction platform, Costel has sold significant asset volumes nationwide since 2020 and earned Crexi Platinum Broker Awards from 2022–2025, recognized for his transparency, trust, and results-driven approach.

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