We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Moses Hall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Moses, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

In 2019, I made the boldest move of my career: I stepped away from the safety of working under another brokerage and launched MoHall Commercial & Urban Development. It wasn’t just about building a business—it was about building something that reflected my vision, my values, and my community.

I had no blueprint, no investor backing, just years of hustle in commercial real estate and a deep calling to do business differently—especially in overlooked, underserved neighborhoods. I wanted to be more than a broker. I wanted to be a force for ownership, empowerment, and economic transformation.

Then, less than a year later, the pandemic hit.

Almost overnight, my fledgling business faced what felt like a death sentence. Transactions froze. Clients paused. Uncertainty blanketed the entire industry. And here I was, a new entrepreneur, still figuring out payroll, processes, and how to keep my dream alive. I had every reason to fold and return to something “stable”—but I didn’t.

Instead, I leaned into the storm.

I made calls when no one else would. I built relationships rooted in trust, not just transactions. I focused on people—first-time investors, legacy-driven families, nonprofits, and small businesses—those the big firms often ignored. And in doing so, I found my niche.

The risk of launching my own firm just before a global crisis wasn’t just financial—it was emotional and spiritual. There were nights I questioned everything. Days I went without pay. But I stayed the course because I believed in the vision: that commercial real estate could be a tool for generational change in Black and brown communities.

That belief paid off.

Today, MoHall Commercial is a thriving firm. We’ve represented municipalities, worked with land banks, facilitated redevelopment projects, and helped everyday people become commercial property owners. We’ve proven that you don’t have to choose between purpose and profit.

That risk I took in 2019? It didn’t just change my career—it changed my life. It made me a leader, not just in business, but in how I show up for my city and my community. And that’s a bet I’ll never regret.

Moses, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Moses Hall, and I’m the founder of MoHall Commercial & Urban Development, a Chicago-based commercial real estate brokerage. We focus on helping people navigate commercial property deals with purpose, transparency, and vision—especially in neighborhoods that have historically been overlooked.

My journey into real estate wasn’t planned, but looking back, it feels like every step led me here. I was always drawn to entrepreneurship—I liked building things, solving problems, and bringing people together. Early on, I started in residential real estate, helping families find homes. But something shifted when I got involved in commercial deals. I began to see the bigger picture.

I saw how owning a storefront, an office building, or even a vacant lot could change the trajectory of someone’s life—and the life of a community. I saw how real estate wasn’t just about buildings, it was about opportunity. That realization hit me hard.

In 2019, I decided to take a leap of faith and start my own firm—MoHall Commercial & Urban Development. I didn’t have all the answers, but I had a deep desire to serve, to be a resource, and to advocate for ownership in places where ownership had been denied for far too long.

A few months later, the pandemic hit. And I’ll be honest—there were days I wondered if I made the wrong decision. The phone stopped ringing. Deals fell through. But I kept showing up. I stayed connected to my clients. I answered every call. I found ways to help people pivot, stay afloat, or take that first step into investing. And little by little, things began to grow.

Today, our firm helps clients buy, sell, and lease commercial properties—from medical offices and retail spaces to land and redevelopment sites. We’ve worked with small business owners, nonprofits, first-time investors, and even local governments. What we do isn’t flashy—it’s often quiet, behind-the-scenes work—but it matters.

What sets us apart isn’t just what we do, but how we do it. We lead with integrity. We listen. We educate. We care about the long-term impact of each deal, not just the commission. I want my clients to feel empowered and informed—like they’re gaining more than just a property. They’re gaining a piece of their future.

I’m most proud of the trust we’ve built. When someone tells me, “I didn’t know someone like me could do this,” that’s everything. That’s why I wake up every day ready to keep going.

At the end of the day, MoHall Commercial is about more than real estate. It’s about legacy, about community, and about making sure people know they belong in every room—even the ones they were never invited into.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I first started building my social media presence, I wasn’t trying to be an influencer—I was just trying to be seen. I had just launched MoHall Commercial & Urban Development, and like many entrepreneurs, I quickly realized that it didn’t matter how good I was at closing deals if nobody knew who I was.

I didn’t have a marketing team or a big ad budget. What I had was my phone, my story, and a desire to show people what commercial real estate really looks like from the inside—especially in neighborhoods like the ones I come from.

So I just started posting.

Some days it was behind-the-scenes videos of properties I was listing. Other times, it was a simple photo and a caption about a win, a setback, or a lesson I was learning. I wasn’t trying to be perfect. I was trying to be real. And over time, I found that people connect more with the journey than the highlight reel.

The growth didn’t happen overnight. I didn’t go viral. But what I did do was stay consistent. And that’s the first piece of advice I’d give to anyone starting out:

1. Be consistent—especially when no one’s watching.
In the early days, I might’ve gotten 10 views or a few likes. But I kept posting. I treated every post like it was reaching the right person, even if I couldn’t see it yet.

2. Show up as you.
Your personality is your brand. People do business with people they trust. I didn’t try to sound like a corporate brochure. I talked how I talk. I shared what I knew. I celebrated wins, but I also shared lessons when things didn’t go as planned. That transparency builds credibility.

3. Don’t just sell—educate and inspire.
Especially in real estate, people want to learn. I would break down deals, explain terms, talk about zoning, leases, ownership—things that seem complex but are life-changing once you understand them. That turned my content into value, not just marketing.

4. Repurpose your content.
I’d take a video tour I made for a client and turn it into a reel. A quote from a deal I negotiated became a caption. One property photo could turn into a mini story about how we got it sold. You don’t have to create something new every day—just be creative with what you already have.

5. Engage with people.
Social media is a conversation, not a billboard. I respond to comments. I DM people back. I comment on other people’s pages. It’s how relationships are built, and in this business, relationships are everything.

6. Use what you’ve got.
I didn’t have a studio or a camera crew. Sometimes I’d be in my car between showings or walking a property with my phone. People appreciate real-life moments more than highly produced content. Just start with where you are.

7. Lastly—trust that your audience will come.
There were times I felt like I was talking to myself. But every post was planting a seed. And slowly, those seeds grew. Today, I’ve built a following of people who trust me—not because I’m loud or flashy—but because I show up, share knowledge, and serve.

If you’re just starting out, my advice is simple: don’t worry about being perfect, just be present. Your story, your expertise, and your authenticity are enough. Share what you know. Talk about what you love. Stay consistent. And trust that the people you’re meant to reach will find you.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

If I’m being honest, the most effective strategy for growing my clientele hasn’t been some shiny ad campaign or going viral online. It’s been consistency. It’s been relationships. It’s been doing right by people—even when no one was watching.

When I launched MoHall Commercial & Urban Development in 2019, I didn’t have a big name behind me. I wasn’t handed a portfolio of clients. I had to earn it one connection at a time. I spent a lot of days knocking on doors, introducing myself, following up after events, sending emails that sometimes never got responses—but I kept going.

For me, the turning point came when I stopped trying to “sell” and started focusing on serving. I made it my mission to help people—really help them. Whether it was a first-time buyer trying to purchase a commercial building, a small nonprofit in need of affordable space, or a land bank looking to reactivate vacant lots—I leaned into the problem and tried to bring solutions. That built trust. And trust, more than any ad or algorithm, is what keeps clients coming back and referring others.

Another thing that’s helped me grow is being transparent about the journey. Social media has played a role—not in a flashy or overly curated way—but as a platform to educate and share what I’ve learned. I post behind-the-scenes moments, break down real deals, and speak to the challenges as much as the wins. I think people appreciate that level of honesty. It shows them that I’m not just here to close a deal—I’m here to walk with them through the process.

I also believe strongly in showing up for my community. Whether it’s attending neighborhood meetings, mentoring aspiring brokers, or working with local government agencies to help revitalize underinvested areas, I’ve always believed that presence leads to opportunity. When people see you working, serving, and staying committed, your name starts to circulate—organically.

At the end of the day, I’m grateful. Growing a business—especially as a Black entrepreneur in commercial real estate—hasn’t been easy. But it’s been deeply rewarding. The clients I serve today didn’t just come from one strategy. They came from years of planting seeds, nurturing relationships, and staying faithful to the mission.

If there’s any advice I could give someone looking to grow their clientele, it would be this: Don’t chase numbers—build trust. Show up, stay consistent, and serve people well. The growth will come.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mohallcommercialud.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mohallcommercial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoHallCommercialUrbanDevelopment
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/19018754/admin/dashboard/