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Work From Home By Numbers

By Cameron Williams, Director of Research, SVN International Corp.

Coming off the pandemic, a scorching hot economy and jobs market placed the power of choice in the hands of job seekers. Reports of a ‘Great Resignation’, and ‘quiet quitting’ were widespread. Now, with conflicting ideas of what office work should look like, the ‘Great Mismatch’ is upon us. Large layoffs continue to dominate headlines and a looming possibility of a recession, the pendulum of power has swung back in favor of employers and the numbers say that they want you in the office.



The Rise of Data Center Investment

By Cameron Williams, Director of Research, SVN International Corp.

Despite the highly reported cutbacks many companies are making in the start of 2023, experts agree one area that none of these companies are cutting spending in is data center investment. With more and more cloud computing necessary to maintain the infrastructure of the internet and changing work and digital consumption habits of modern populations, data center construction can’t happen fast enough.



SVN® Expands Presence In Indiana with the Addition of SVN | Northern Commercial

Boston, MA — (January 26, 2023) — SVN International Corp. (SVNIC), the full-service commercial real estate franchisor of the SVN® brand, announces the addition of its newest franchise office, SVN | Northern Commercial, headquartered in Carmel, Indiana. Led by Managing Director Jess Lawhead, the firm was established to offer a unique specialization for the rapidly expanding Indianapolis commercial real estate market.

With over 30 years of experience in the state of Indiana, Northern Commercial has built a reputation for its expertise in the region. By aligning with SVN, the firm gains access to the resources, exposure, and depth that can only be provided through the structure of a national organization, enabling them to expand their reach and offerings in the Indianapolis market.

“SVN provides a very collaborative platform, not only within the SVN network, but in the philosophy to be collaborative with other brokers, buyers & the real estate market as a whole,” said Managing Director Jess Lawhead. “This methodology is contagious and creates a very positive work environment for all involved.”

SVN | Northern Commercial is excited to join the SVN family and is eager to expand their services in the Indianapolis market. For more information, visit www.svnindianapolis.com.


About SVN | Northern Commercial
SVN | Northern Commercial now serves clients with real estate projects throughout the United States and in major International markets. Our team works with both investors and business owners who are looking for strategic space to support their enterprises and financial growth. With our half-century experience in Central Indiana, we know how to plan for future developments. No matter what your commercial real estate needs might be, reaching your goals will always be our focus.

About SVN®
The SVN® organization is a globally recognized commercial real estate entity united by a shared vision of creating value with clients, colleagues, and our communities. The SVN® brand is comprised of over 2,000 Advisors and staff in more than 200 offices across the globe in six countries. Our brand pillars represent the transparency, innovation, and inclusivity that enables all our Advisors to collaborate with the entire real estate industry on behalf of our clients. SVN’s unique Shared Value Network® is just one of the many ways that SVN Advisors create amazing value with our clients, colleagues, and communities.  For more information, visit www.svn.com.
All SVN offices are independently owned and operated. To learn more about becoming an SVN commercial real estate business owner, visit http://www.svn.com/franchise/.

SVNIC® Is Deeply Saddened By The Sudden Passing of President & Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Maggiacomo

SVN International Corporation announces the sudden passing of President & CEO, Kevin Maggiacomo.

BOSTON, MA – (August 22, 2022) – It is with deep sadness that we confirm the passing of SVN International Corporation’s longtime and beloved President and CEO, Kevin Maggiacomo (50). 

Kevin passed away peacefully in his sleep over this past weekend. A charismatic and truly admirable leader, Kevin embodied the values and culture that SVN® is known for, and his loss will be felt deeply throughout the SVN community. He is survived by his wife and five children. 

“Kevin exemplified the values of SVN, and we are so proud of the culture that he nurtured in the SVN family. I know that as a community, we will come together to support one another in honoring Kevin, his legacy, and his vision.”

– Mark Van Ness, Founder, SVN International Corporation

Kevin joined SVNIC® in 2001 and served as Regional Director, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer before being appointed CEO in 2010. During his tenure leading various facets of the organization, he propelled SVN’s expansion across the globe, facilitating our growth from 7 US offices in 2001 to more than 200 offices in 8 countries today. Kevin played an integral part in building SVN® into one of the top 10 Commercial Real Estate service providers in the world, winning numerous awards including being named one of the Most Innovative Brokerage Firms in North America by Realcomm, named in Inc. Magazine’s list of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America, and acknowledged by the Lipsey Co. as one of the most recognized brands in Commercial Real Estate.

Please direct all questions to Sarah Vincent, Executive VP of Operations, at marketing@svn.com and all messages of condolences to km@svn.com.

About SVN®
The SVN® organization is a globally recognized commercial real estate entity united by a shared vision of creating value with clients, colleagues, and our communities. The SVN® brand is comprised of over 2,000 Advisors and staff in more than 200 offices across the globe in six countries. Our brand pillars represent the transparency, innovation, and inclusivity that enables all our Advisors to collaborate with the entire real estate industry on behalf of our clients. SVN’s unique Shared Value Network® is just one of the many ways that SVN Advisors create amazing value with our clients, colleagues, and communities.  For more information, visit www.svn.com.

SVN EXPANDS REACH IN MOBILE, ALABAMA WITH ADDITION OF SVN | TOOMEY PROPERTY ADVISORS

SVN International Corporation (SVNIC), a full-service commercial real estate franchisor of the SVN® brand, announces the addition of Mobile-based SVN | Toomey Property Advisors.

With over 12 years in the industry, managing director Justin Toomey has experience in every aspect of the commercial real estate business. As Justin’s client base and service offerings continue to expand, he has started to grow his team to maintain his high standards of service for his clients. SVN | Toomey Property Advisors specializes in tenant representation, landlord representation and investment sales.

Justin Toomey, Managing Director SVN | Toomey Property Advisors

 

“I joined the SVN brand for the culture, network and great reputation,” said Justin Toomey. “Having a strong national network for our tenant and landlord representation services is extremely valuable for our clients across the country.”

“Justin and his team are a great addition to the Mobile market and SVN as we share the same vision and dedication to the culture” said SVN’s Vice President of National Franchise Sales and Development Marc Seinfeld.

 

For more information, visit www.svn.com.

SVN’s Diane Danielson Featured in REI INK Magazine

SVN International Corp. COO, Diane Danielson, is featured in the August 2019, Women in Real Estate issue of REI INK magazine. The article, A Calling to Grow, written by Carole VanSickle Ellis, highlights Diane’s tireless advocacy not only for women, but also for diversity and inclusion within the commercial real estate industry.

“At SVN … we do not set out to recruit any one demographic group, but we do set out to recruit candidates who might otherwise have been overlooked,” Danielson said. “We bring the focus in on skills, which removes a lot of the biases anyone in the system or in our offices might have.”

 

Diane is featured along with eight other women who are making a difference within the real estate industry through their involvement in sectors such as real estate investing, private lending, and mortgage services.

Read the full article HERE.

CLICK HERE to check out the entire August issue of REI INK.


Editors Note:

According to SVN’s 2019 Diversity & Inclusion report, authored by Diane Danielson, the focus on skills and attitude raises the bar for all candidates in all populations in the process. The result: The entire playing field is both level and higher without sacrificing the highest ground or the most qualified candidates.

For more information and to read/download the full report, CLICK HERE.

 

 

Kevin Maggiacomo featured in GlobeST.com article, “Why Brokers Can’t Sleep on Tech”

Why Brokers Can’t Sleep on Tech





“What’s missing from most of the disintermediation questions posed to me is an appreciation for the wide range of possibilities and scale at which technology can impact CRE brokerage,” said Maggiacomo“Instead the discussion quickly turns to the more remarkable topic of if and when the traditional role of the broker will be rendered obsolete. That’s the biggest misconception out there.”

CRE owners appreciate the positive impact that technology-enabled brokerage can have on property values, Maggiacomo maintains. Sellers are capitalizing on syndication modules and to reach a critical mass of brokers and investors through tech platforms like Buildout and CREXi.

“Brokers need to get on the train before it leaves the station and harness the power of this category tech and abandon the hyper-focused practice of working to identify the buyers on their own,” said Maggiacomo.


Read the full article here.

SVN® Brand Ranked Nationally as 8th Top Brokerage Firm

Boston, Mass. — June 26, 2017 — SVN International Corp. (SVNIC), a full-service commercial real estate franchisor of the SVN® brand, announced today it has been ranked as the 8th Top Brokerage Firm in the UnitedCPR_Top_Brokerage_2017-01 States by Commercial Property Executive. SVN earned the number 8 ranking, climbing up four spots from 2016’s survey, based on investment sales and lease volume for the previous year.

Each year Commercial Property Executive, a leading resource for the commercial real estate industry, ranks the top brokerage firms by utilizing a weighted formula based on a variety of factors, including form performance in 2016 and over time, using factors like investment sales and leasing activity. Firms represented in the CPE Index are considered leaders in the commercial real estate industry.

kevin“This is an important indicator of the continued growth of SVN – in cold hard results,” says SVNIC President and CEO Kevin Maggiacomo. “This top 10 ranking solidifies the strength of the SVN brand, the reliability of our many online CRE tools and the talent of our hardworking Advisors.”

 

 

 

SVN is the only major commercial real estate brand that proactively markets all of its qualified properties to the entire brokerage and investment community. Participating in approximately $10.6 billion in sales and leasing transactions in 2016, SVN Advisors shared commission fees with co-operating brokers in order to close more deals in less time and at the right value for clients. Advisors also reap the benefits of our SVN Live® Weekly Property Broadcast, cloud-based leading-edge technology, and national product councils. This open, transparent and collaborative approach to real estate is the SVN Difference.

To learn more about SVN’s Core Services and Specialty Practice areas, visit svn.com/svn-specialty-practices.

 

 

Located outside of the US? Click here to find out how you can bring the SVN® brand to your country.

Click here to read the official press release.

Labor Shortage Not Likely to Effect Commercial Real Estate Values

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate has fallen to 4.3% as of May 2017. Most Quarryeconomists would describe this state of unemployment as near “full employment” as historical data analyses show that the country rarely dips below 4% and never for that long. Yet, this near historically low unemployment has occurred less from overly robust hiring, but instead from a lack of qualified workers able to fill open positions. In fact, the BLS reported in May a modest +138,000 jobs added to the economy, a good but not great number. Perhaps more importantly, the jobs report showed no single sector reporting significant losses, which indicates that all are hiring or holding steady. In addition, the only sector to have shown persistent losses over the last year, Mining (which includes energy production and exploration), has even reversed itself and is posting significant gains over the last few months. Therefore, the jobs report truly only supports the conclusion of an ever growing, albeit slowly, economy.

 

ECONOMIC GROWTH HELD BACK BY LOW LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE

The challenge lies in the measured economic growth rate which was reported as 1.2% first quarter revised annualized GDP growth by the BEA. Normally, such low unemployment would be accompanied by much higher GDP growth, as in the +3% range, but the U.S. economy has struggled to get above 2% over the past several years. The answer to this problem may be that the low unemployment rate is a result of a low supply of qualified workers and not an excessive amount of job creation. The labor force participation rate, which is the percentage of those theoretically able to work and/or desiring to work, remains low at 62.7%. This measure peaked above 67% in the early 2000’s, and has fallen in-part due to the retiring baby boomers. But following the Great Recession it fell rapidly down, approximately 66%, to this 62-63% range where it still hovers today. Why people are not desiring to or actually working as they did ten years ago is the subject of study and speculation beyond today’s scope. What is becoming clearer with each monthly jobs report, is that it is holding back broader economic growth.

 

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IS HOLDING ITS VALUE

The impact this will have on commercial real estate investments in 2017 and beyond is difficult to predict, but some insights are clear. First, some economists are forecasting a mild recession 12 to 24 months from now, based largely on historic Colorful Shops and Restaurants in Downtown Austin Texas USAmacroeconomic cyclical activity. In the past, such low levels of unemployment were often followed by a mild recession within the same timeframe. However, recessions are typically triggered by excessive speculation, risk-taking, and usually hyper aggressive lending that pushes the economy too far. The data does not show any such excesses, especially in the use of leverage or aggressiveness of lenders. So, such predictions may not come true. Second, the labor shortage is being felt very strongly in the construction services and materials sectors. This means the cost to build new properties is rising faster than market rents and prices can justify. The net result is commercial real estate will probably hold its value just fine, and in fact, appreciate in areas where there is short supply. In conclusion, according to the data, we are probably closer to the middle of the cycle than the end.

 

 

Why The Return of Uncertainty Could Be Good for Commercial Real Estate

As the new administration crosses its 100-day mark, there is great uncertainty about what types of policies, ranging from health care, immigration, tax, and regulatory reform, exist. In fact, the celebrated “Trump Trade” has more or less stalled as of today, but the gains remain locked in place for the most part. The business and investment world has collectively reached a “now what” posture. Overall, recent measures of consumer and CEO confidence continue to rise as consumer confidence rose to 125.6 in March, up from the prior reading of 116.1, and CEO confidence rose from its prior reading of 65 to 68. The bulk of the country remains steady with the rise of optimism detected post November 2016, despite the uproar presented by the nightly evening news

Unemployment Rate Near Historic Low

Recent economic data has added additional uncertainty into the discussion. The most recent monthly report shows that only 98,000 jobs were added, a decrease from the previously reported numbers which were well above 200 thousand each month. However, the headline unemployment rate also fell to a near historic low of 4.5%, indicating an overall tight labor market. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, also had its first negative reading of -0.3% in March after many successive reports of greater than 2% annualized inflation. The net result is less certainty that the Federal Reserve will raise rates in the near term or that aggressively over the next year. With long-term bond rates already down 20 to 30 basis points from recent highs, the potential for an “overheating” economy where inflation runs wild seems less likely as of today than it did three months ago.

3 Reasons Why Uncertainty Could Be Good News for CREmodern new apartment building on blue sky background

There are three main reasons why this level of political and economic uncertainty can be very good news for the commercial real estate sector.

  1. The market believes the uncertainty has a positive tilt. It’s more likely that we will unexpectedly receive good news rather than bad news (such as a surprise passage of a tax reform package that’s good for business).
  2. There appears to be a lower probability of rapid interest rate increases, and consequently cap rate increases. This should boost the confidence for real estate investors looking to make acquisitions today.
  3. The underlying fundamental demand for commercial real estate space, including apartments, continue to grow. Yardi reported the first increase in five months in average national multifamily rents with a gain of $6 per month to a rate of $1,312. As always, the likelihood of having a perfect world for commercial real estate is low given that interest rates are staying steady while rents and occupancies continue to rise. Right now this appears to be the condition for at least the near term.

Even though the future can be uncertain, real estate is set to outperform stocks and bonds in 2017. In the last month, REITs provided a total return of 6.03% while the S&P 500 index only returned 0.12%. In addition, REITs set a multi-year record for amount of capital raised in the first quarter of ’17. Historically, REIT performance serves as leading indicator of future returns to private real estate.

 

 

Confidence and Optimism in Today's Commercial Real Estate Industry

According to the most recent published reports by the Conference Board, CEO Confidence spiked a highly significant 15 points as of January and the Consumer Confidence Index sits at 114.8 as of February, making each measure sit at 6 year and 15 year highs respectively. Confidence at these levels, especially when true for both consumer and business segments, leads to increased levels of investment and spending, both critical for demand of real estate. To appreciate why confidence is so high, it is important to look at the underlying fundamentals of the macroeconomy in early 2017.

CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO DO WELL IN 2017

Job growth remains robust with multiple months of 200,000+ net new jobs, specifically 235,000 in February per the BLS, and a steady, low unemployment rate, presently 4.7%. This has led to continued wage growth and personal income growth, 0.4% in January alone. In addition, record high stock prices and growing home prices all add up to a (financially) happy household. Spending is up too with retail sales at a record high in the latest monthly reading and a 5.56% year over year growth rate as of January according to the Census Bureau. This has increased growth in manufactured goods order in the US, up 1.2% in January and up six out of the last seven months. In summary, the growing wave of positive news that began in the third quarter of 2016, appears to only have accelerated into the first quarter of 2017. Whether it’s due to raw macroeconomic fundamentals, or optimism following the election, the fact is, consumers are doing very well today.

The business sector still appears to be under investing, with only 0.04% growth in fixed investment in the 4Q2016 and there is a lot ground left to cover to get to full growth in the economy. If businesses invest more vigorously, as CEO confidence and stock market levels suggest could happen, GDP growth should easily exceed 2% and may even approach 3%. Despite all the recovery and improvement, the US economy only managed 1.6% growth in 2016. Regulatory rollback and reform is the one area of the new administration’s agenda most likely to advance in 2017, although not without controversy. These are the aspects President Trump can influence without needing Congressional approval, in many instances, and is more likely the most tangible, real, and immediate area that is causing the rise in business sector optimism. Even if there are small changes, the threat of sudden negative changes or complex new regulations is substantially reduced, such as the sudden change to the Department of Labor’s overtime compensation rules in 2016.

SMALLER DEALS AND OUTPERFORMING SECONDARY MARKETS TRENDS SET TO CONTINUE

A wide range of commercial real estate organizations have also begun intense lobbying on regulatory reforms due to the relaxed lending restrictions stemming from Dodd-Frank to energy use reporting provisions enacted by HUD in FHA multifamily lending. If these efforts are even somewhat successful, commercial property investors will have good reason to be optimistic. So far, commercial real estate has not yet felt the full impact of the Trump administration, rising stock prices and, even to some degree, long term interest rates. All evidence suggests that the commercial real estate industry is equally, if not more, optimistic than the general business community. CoStar, who issues monthly pricing indices for commercial real estate, reported that its value weighted index fell 0.9% in January, up 5.5% year over year, while its equally weighted index rose 1.4% that same month, up 7.5% year over year. The difference is due to the equally weighted index being more representative of secondary/tertiary markets and deals of smaller size. This trend of smaller deals and secondary markets outperforming core assets and primary markets looks highly likely to continue for 2017, especially if the confidence and optimism holds.

 

Commercial Real Estate Markets Expanding in 2017

Commercial real estate markets have been generally growing in terms of pricing, rental rates, and occupancies since approximately 2011 and many market participants are beginning to openly wonder where the market is in the “cycle”.

Since the topic of market cycles can be somewhat misunderstood, we want to offer some clarification before presenting our assessment. Some investors believe that markets experience cycles based on some uniform period of time; such as every “X” years. In reality, markets, such as those for commercial real estate, move from peaks to valleys based on changes in supply and demand and any observation of timing is purely coincidental. An asset will see a “peak” and then decline when supply exceeds demand and this is when investors should look at changes in fundamentals to determine the relative risks and rewards of their investment due to cyclical forces.

CRE Markets Remain Healthy in Early 2017

With data available through the end of 2016, it is easy to see that most commercial real estate asset types are in the middle of the expansion phase of the real estate cycle. These are periods of long term growth in rents and declines in vacancy. According to REIS, all four major real estate classes experienced rent growth in 2016; 3.6% for apartment, 2.0% for retail, 2.4% for office and 2.2% for industrial. Office and industrial markets are experiencing the most absorption and improvements in occupancies and thus appear “earliest” in the expansion phase with year-end vacancy rates of 15.8% and 10% respectively. Retail vacancy rates remained flat at 9.9%, which given the number of “big box” closures, is actually impressive and masks the reality that many retail properties are actually experiencing rental rate growth and near full occupancies. The apartment sector, which began 2016 as the most watched sector given its 1.8% increase in supply, ended at 4.2% vacancy which is unchanged from 2015. Early 2017 data from Yardi Matrix shows modest rent growth has resumed which when considered with the rate of job creation, actually suggests that the apartment sector is not anywhere near as oversupplied as some have feared. However, relatively speaking, it is certainly the “latest” in the expansion phase. Overall, in early 2017 the fundamentals of commercial real estate markets still appear to be relatively healthy. In addition, given the current growth and optimism in the economy, they have room left to run in most situations.

2016 Transaction Volume is 3rd for Highest Recorded CRE Sales Activity

Prices of commercial real estate are a result of interactions between space markets (supply and demand) and the capital markets (competition for investment dollars). According to Moody’s and Real Capital Analytics, commercial real estate prices grew 9% in 2016 for another record breaking year. However, transaction volume was down 11% in 2016, but the year still ranks third after 2015 and 2007 for highest recorded commercial real estate sales activity. Overall, increases in interest rates and the 2016 decline in sales volume suggest the capital markets may put less pressure on price growth in 2017 than in recent years. The question of what cap rates will do given recent rate rises remains open but early evidence suggests that spreads are compressing and cap rates have shown minimal increases, however, this is still “too early” to call.

As of mid-February 2017, the commercial real estate markets appear to remain in expansion mode and 2016 was by all measures, a great year. If growth sustains, as the stock market is suggesting with its setting of new record highs every so often, fundamentals of commercial real estate should keep on moving upward as well. Census Bureau data showed that 2016 was a year for growth in construction spending; up 7.8% for nonresidential (commercial) and up 4.5% for residential (includes apartments). Therefore, there is more new supply coming but all the data suggests there is more than sufficient demand to keep the market in balance and growing.

 

CRE is at a Crossroads by Diane K. Danielson, COO, SVN International Corp.

The commercial real estate industry enters 2017 at a crossroads. Baby boomer retirement will continue and may even accelerate due to economic headwinds, potential slowdowns in infrastructure projects, and the continued influx of new technologies and CRE challenges. As a result, our industry is facing a brain drain at the same time competing industries are embroiled in a war for talent. Yet, with every challenge comes opportunity.

In 2017, the CRE industry can rise to the challenge by becoming more proactive and inclusive of untraditional CRE professionals. Whether they are millennials, women or minorities, these professionals can bring with them a variety of background experiences, new and different job skills, expanded networks of influence, and a diverse array of leadership styles. Why is this important in 2017?

1. Major infrastructure improvements take long-term planning and patience.

As a nation, we need to focus on our infrastructure; but large-scale infrastructure projects take years to plan and complete. That process can last longer than any single economic cycle or government administration, and we need CRE professionals prepared to plan for them and see them through to completion.

Aerial view of fifth avenue2. Urbanization is happening across the country.

Our cities are experiencing unprecedented population growth. To handle this increase we are seeing a rise in place making, mixed-use, and urban infill developments that promote walkability and a live-work-play dynamic. The challenge is to resolve longstanding affordable housing and transportation issues. While we are also seeing a spillover urbanization effect in key suburbs, it’s this new group of urban professionals who are influencing the demographics and ultimately the design of our cities.

3. Smart buildings are evolving into smart cities.

This is the opportunity evolving out of the first two trends. Smart cities use digital technology to improve and sustain community life. Generally, smart city projects are very large, long-term investments that can help drive social change in an urban environment. This happens through the combination and the communication of data across the Internet of Things to improve efficiencies across power grids, transportation, and health and safety. The development and adaptation of buildings to support smart cities is going to be a key component of the CRE industry for years to come.

4. Climate change is already affecting CRE.

There is not a coastal municipality or Fortune 500 company that does not have a division focused on sustainability and the effects of climate change. This is especially a concern in cities like Boston where global headquarters are relocating into urban areas already marked as flood zones. Smart cities will need to incorporate innovative infrastructure design and the means to mitigate the effects of climate change. Existing buildings will have to be adapted not only to smart technology but to sustainability.

The combination of these four trends indicates the evolution of commercial real estate as an industry. CRE professionals today and in the future will draw upon a mix of STEM and social skills in order to best serve our clients and our communities. Our industry has a unique ability to impact the growth and development of our environments. As CRE professionals, we are the de facto stewards of our communities. As they change, we must change along with them.


Diane Danielson’s latest article, CRE is at a Crossroads, is featured in the special “2017 Outlook” section of the January 2017 digital edition of National Real Estate Investor®(NREI).

Commercial Real Estate Investors: How to Adjust to Rising Rates

Mortgage Rates Rise as Lenders React to Market Pressures

In response to a growing economy and inflation pressures, the bond markets, and now the Federal Reserve, appear positioned to support higher short term and long term interest rates. In a move that had been long anticipated, the Fed moved the target for the Fed Rates up 25 basis points from 0.5% to 0.75 % in December. It is expected that the Fed Rates could move two to three times more in 2017 depending on the rate of growth experienced this year. Prior to the Fed decision, long term bond rates moved in reaction to the election, with the 10-Year Treasury going form a three-month low of 1.74% to a three-month high of 2.60% in less than a month. Bond rates have since settled back below 2.40% as of January 17, 2017. This move represented a lot of pent up desire to sell bonds and buy stocks. Early indications are that mortgage rates, both residential and commercial, have moved in similar fashion as lenders quickly react to market pressures. This dynamic is likely to continue for much of 2017. If you invest in commercial real estate, here is how to adjust.

Future Growth in Economy, Jobs Could Increase Demand for Commercial Real Estate

First, realize that these moves in interest rates are related to the anticipation of good news, specifically, about the macro economy and to some extent stock prices. GDP has been reported to have grown at 3.5% in the 3rd quarter of 2016 before any potential “Trump” Man using a modern interfaceeffect could be measured. Job growth has mostly sustained at robust, consistent levels as unemployment sits at near full employment at 4.7%. Of course, the biggest impact has been stock equity prices. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average have risen approximately 10% since the election as a result of anticipated future growth. This future growth in the economy and jobs, if it materializes, will also mean increased demand for all types of commercial real estate, resulting in a possible rise of rental rates and occupancies.

Second, interest rates, assuming they continue to rise, are still far below long term averages. For historical reference, the yield on the 10-Year Treasury averaged 3.58% from 2001 through 2015, and they were much higher in the fifteen years prior. Through this same period of time leveraged private real estate averaged an annual total return of 13.71%, according to the Lakemont Group (analyzing NCREIF return data), beating the average annual return on REITs, 13.19%. Therefore, real estate has and can continue to perform well in higher rate environments.

Finally, rising rate environments require different management strategies than flat or falling rate environments. As inflation is the natural companion of rising interest rates, the ability to push rents upward over time should, in theory, be easier. Flat long term leases are not as advantageous, and will not create as much value on a relative basis. In general, the more realistic upside potential a property’s rent roll presents, the more it could be worth. On the other hand, expenses are likely to rise at a faster rate. Therefore, lease structures that pass expenses, or at least their annual growth, on to the tenant will result in better cash flow and higher valuations. There is also the issue of borrowing in a rising rate environment. For long term holds the answer seems simple – fix long term rates. In reality, it’s much more complex, as accepting a variable rate will result in the greatest present day savings, but with more long term risk. The spread between variable and fixed rates historically gets much wider when lenders expect rates to rise in the near and long term future. As counterintuitive as it sounds, it may actually be more prudent to borrow at variable rates today than before. As long as the property can grow rents and the tenants can absorb increases in expenses, cash flows may be higher, even for the long term.

Growth Expectations Return for 2017

BEA reports 3Q2016 GDP growth is highest in 2 years.

From the shadows cast by the Presidential Election earlier this month, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released a big “surprise” during the end of October. However, coverage of this news was relegated to the back page due to the election. That news was reporting that the first estimate of third quarter GDP growth came in at an annualized rate of 2.9%, the highest reading in two years (full report). Following the election, stock markets rallied to set new all-time highs and interest rates spiked considerably, with the 10-year treasury moving from 1.82% to 2.32%, a 27% increase. While much of the election’s impact on markets has since been discussed, the underlying status of potential growth (irrespective of the outcome of the election) is probably the bigger story.

While first estimates by the BEA are notoriously prone to error and likely to be revised, quarterly financial results of many publicly traded companies seem to be equally aligned as are recent readings of consumer health and sentiment. So for the time being, the market expects the US economy to grow at a more robust pace than the “slow” sub 2% expectations held just a month ago. For commercial real estate investors this is not new news. Rents and occupancies have been growing for years, but the reality of operating in a rising interest rate environment is a new phenomenon. Assuming the present situation holds, it is rational to expect treasury rates and bank lending rates to drift upwards, occasionally in big steps for much of 2017. This should not cause any great calamity, but upward movements in cap rates should be expected in some markets and asset classes. Losses from cap rate reversion will be offset, at least partially, by continued growth in net operating incomes. However, this is more of a long term effect.

Recent third quarter results from multiple real estate data providers, including REIS, CoStar, and NCREIF, were all positive with some slowing in the rate of appreciation and rental rate growth. If these growth expectations hold, it is quite possible for 2017, and even possibly in 4th fourth quarter 2016, to show that we will experience much faster growth. There is some evidence that the election and its uncertainty was holding back economic growth in 2016 more than previously thought. With this uncertainty gone, and with initial first impressions that a Trump presidency will be pro-growth, it is possible that pent up demand may be released. Still, the transition will not be complete until January, and even then it will take time to see what policy changes and enactments will actually transpire. Thus, cautious optimism is all that can be warranted today. Currently, the stock markets are firmly in this mindset, with growth expectations overpowering fear.

The specific impact by the Trump administration on commercial real estate remains to be seen. Infrastructure spending, tax cuts, and regulatory roll backs all portend signify positive results. Of course, an unpredicted increase in inflation and higher interest rates could mollify these impacts if too unbalanced. Although rents have paced ahead of overall inflation for the past several years, by nature, this trend should reverse itself over time. So celebrate the New Year as most expectations looks positive for the near future following the election, but be wary of too much of a good thing.

 

International Students Share Their Thoughts on SVN and CRE

SVN & the International Entrepreneurship Center

Our industry has a problem. The average age of a commercial real estate agent is around 60 — which is an issue as Millennials like me are starting to outnumber other generations in the workforce. And with SVN growing internationally, we wanted to know how the brand and industry resonate outside of the U.S. — so we partnered with a group of Brazilian students through Boston College’s International Entrepreneurship Center to find some answers. On Wednesday, July 29th the students presented their ideas on how to make the SVN brand and CRE industry more appealing to Millennials, from an international perspective.

International Insights: 3 Ways to Reach Millennials

  1. It all starts with the website. As tech-obsessed Millennials, the first thing we do when we hear about a company is Google it. So no matter the size of your office, you’d better have a good website. To the Brazilian students, a “good” website is one that is light on text and heavy on visuals. The students also pointed out that they need to identify with the content on the site. Quotes, testimonials, and photos of young Advisors can help solve this issue.
  2. Let’s talk money. A commission-only job sounds risky, and it certainly can be. But the students were comfortable with the idea because starting a company or similar entrepreneurial endeavors are basically commission-only until you have funding.  Due to language barriers and their just learning the business, the Brazilian students were initially confused with the SVN concept of “compensated cooperation.” Once they understood the benefits of splitting commissions it seemed to fit right in with their view of open and transparent business practices in a sharing economy.
  3. Emphasize the benefits of a franchise. Franchises are big in Brazil and can translate well in international markets. To attract Millennials to work for a franchise business, it’s important to highlight the upsides like training, tools, and independence that the franchise model can offer. As the Brazilian students said in their presentation, with a franchise “you’re on your own but you’re not alone.” You’re in charge of your own destiny, but the franchise system has your back.

If you’re ready to take your CRE career to the next level with the SVN franchise system, visit our Careers page here.

[bctt tweet=”To attract Millennials to work for a franchise business, it’s important to highlight the upsides like training, tools, and independence that the franchise model can offer. “]

Sperry Van Ness® Master Insurance Program

Two of the largest costs associated with owning commercial real estate are taxes and insurance.  While it is often a foregone conclusion that the costs are fairly fixed from year-to-year, Sperry Van Ness International Corporation  (SVNIC) has introduced a product exclusively for property management clients, which has shown success in reducing owners’ insurance costs. Through their sister company[1], SVNIC has established a Master Insurance Program (MIP) which focuses on the buying power of a national portfolio of properties to increase savings.

Clients of SVN offices, ranging from individual investors to institutions, have utilized the buying power to drive down the cost of insurance on their properties.  In the less than two years that the program has been in place, it has brought an average savings of over 31%[2] to landlords.  The smallest savings for a policy in this program was 20%, while the largest has been 51% of the previous annual policy premium.  In most instances, the new policies have provided increased coverage on the property.

The MIP is just one of the programs and products that the SVN organization provides its property management clients.  As a company that started by focusing on investment sales, our 1200+ Advisors and staff understand how to maximize the value of a property in order to get the highest return on their clients’ investment.  This comes by reducing operating expenses, effectively increasing net operating income.

Any great property manager should be focused on increasing the net operating income for an owner.  This program allows our offices to quickly accomplish that task while reducing the risk of owning and operating the asset.  In some cases, the cost savings on the annual premium has proven to offset the property management fees.  Property owners should not be shy in exploring this program for their assets.  Even in situations where a tenant is responsible for the property taxes and insurance, being able to market a savings on an asset allows owners to compete in competitive and down markets.  It says to tenants, “We care about controlling and reducing costs whenever possible.”

SVN-MIP-CoverTo explore how an SVN office can help you with the management of your property and how you can gain access to the Master Insurance Program and other cost savings opportunities, click here.

 


[1] SVNIA is a subsidiary of SVNIC and is a registered insurance agency.
[2] Savings are based on policies that have been underwritten to date and do not represent a claim that future policies will have the same savings

Sperry Van Ness® | In the News | September 4 – 17, 2014

Many of our Sperry Van Ness offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news.

The following is a list of some recent media coverage.

 

September 4, 2014
Commercial Real Estate Transactions
Advisor: Todd Franks
Office: Sperry Van Ness/TJF Investments (Dallas, TX)

September 5, 2014
CSP Dance’s New Studio One of Albuquerque’s Biggest
Advisor: Glenn Wright
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage (Albuquerque, NM)

September 6, 2014
Sperry Van Ness Rich Investment Real Estate Partners Adds $1-Billion Broker to Burgeoning Los Angeles Team
Advisor: Joe Penich
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Rich Investment Real Estate Partners (Los Angeles, CA)

September 8, 2014
Rochester Self Storage LLC Acquires Deep Discount Mini Storage
Advisor: Nick Malagisi, SIOR
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty (Nicholas Malagisi) (Buffalo, NY)

September 9, 2014
Warehouse Avoids Foreclosure After Sale
Advisor: Joel Kattan & Anthony Peragine
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty (Hialeah, FL)

SVN Crossroads Management Awarded 157,000 SF of Property Management Contracts
Advisor: Kirsten Bowersox
Office: Sperry Van Ness Crossroads Management (Schaumburg, IL)

Rochester Self Storage Buys Deep Discount Mini Storage in NY
Advisor: Nick Malagisi, SIOR
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty (Nicholas Malagisi) (Buffalo, NY)

Sperry Van Ness Launches Regional Auction Office
Advisor: Walt Arnold, CCIM, SIOR, Tim House & Larry Ilfeld, CCIM, ALC
Office: 
Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage (Albuquerque, NM)

September 10, 2014
Why Gender Balanced Leadership is Good for Business
Advisor: Kevin Maggiacomo
Office: 
Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

September 11, 2014
Broulim’s, Hobby Lobby Could Join Cabela’s in Ammon
Advisor: Douglas Page, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/High Desert Commercial (Idaho Falls, ID)

September 14, 2014
Doing Business: Movers & Shakers
Advisor: Wesley Cox, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

Town Sees Former Bank Building as Growth Anchor
Advisor: David Wilk, CRE, MAI
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Wilmington, DE)

Southwest Florida Briefs
Advisor: Ed Boeder
Office: Sperry Van Ness Real Estate, LLC (Naples, FL)

September 15, 2014
Wesley Cox Honored with Community Service Award
Advisor: Wesley Cox, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

Tavistock Sells Stake in The Grove Center
Advisor: Miguel de Arcos
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Winter Park, FL)

September 16, 2014
Mystery Bank Tenant Revealed
Advisor: Chris Baj, CCIM, CPA
Office: Sperry Van Ness | Imperial Realty (Allentown, PA)

Cook: Prairieville Site Purchased for New Keller Williams First Choice Office
Advisor: Justin Langlois, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Graham, Langlois & Legendre, LLC (Baton Rouge, LA)

Attorney Helps Atlanta Investors in Hialeah Warehouse Acquisition
Advisor: Joel Kattan & Anthony Peragine
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty (Hialeah, FL)

Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group Closes Several Lease Deals In Bradenton
Advisor: Debra Cooper, Angela Varga & Tony Veldkamp, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Bradenton & Sarasota, FL) 

September 17, 2014
DFG Sells Properties
Advisor: Steve Legendre, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Graham, Langlois & Legendre, LLC (Baton Rouge, LA) 

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All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness® | In the News | August 21 – September 3, 2014

Many of our Sperry Van Ness offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news.

The following is a list of some recent media coverage.

 

August 21, 2014
Fetzer Foodservice Relocating, Selling Downtown Building
Advisor: Bob Trabue
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Ward Commercial Group (Louisville, KY) 

August 23, 2014
A ‘White-Hot’ Market for Self-Storage Businesses
Advisor: Bartow McDonald
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Ocala, FL)

August 24, 2014
Owner of Cowboys Dancehall in Arlington Looking for New Location Following Sale of Property
Advisor: Steve Fithian, CCIM, CPM, SEC & David Cook, SIOR, SEC
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Visions Commercial (Ft. Worth, TX) & Sperry Van Ness/David Cook Co. (Dallas, TX)

Tonney Insley Joins Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate
Advisor: Tonney Insley
Office: Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

August 25, 2014
This 48-Unit Deal in Baltimore is Great News for Apartment Owners
Advisor: Justin Verner
Office: Sperry Van Ness/RealSite Commercial Group (Baltimore, MD)

August 26, 2014
Marcus Pointe Golf Club Closing at End of Year
Advisor: Rodney Sutton
Office: Sperry Van Ness/SouthLand Commercial (Pensacola, FL)

Harley Davidson Stays Put in Green Oaks, IL
Advisor: Vincent D’Amico
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

August 27, 2014
Uptown Remains a Strong Market for Investors of Multifamily
Advisor: Dawn Overstreet, Ph.D.
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

NAI Isaac Facilitates Lease with Smyth Automotive
Advisor: Matt Stone
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Bronaugh & Pulliam (Lexington, KY)

Indiana: A Family Affair with Steve Martin of Sperry Van Ness Martin Group
Advisor: Steve Martin, CCIM, CPM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Martin Commercial Group (Evansville, IN)

August 28, 2014
Former Arlington Hts. Applebee’s sold
Office: Sperry Van Ness. LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Developer Finally Closes on Without Walls Site in Westshore
Advisor: Bill Gross & Kenny Anderson
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Real Estate, LLC (Tampa, FL)

August 29, 2014
Alder Land Group Lists Agricultural & Hunting Land Lease Project of Over 3500 Acres
Advisor: Ben Alder
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

Home Builders Association Pays $4.35M for New Memphis HQ
Advisor: Holice Jeffries
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services (Memphis, TN)

Trinity Partners Leases 176KSF at Shopton Ridge; Trinity Capital Buys Two Office Buildings in Toringdon
Advisor: Harry Cole
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Percival Partners, LLC (Charlotte, NC)

There’s Always Tomorrow
Advisor: Patti Peixotto
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

August 30, 2014
Palm Beach County Business Notes
Advisor: Robert Hamman
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Jupiter, FL)

August 31, 2014
Business and Professional Briefs
Advisor: Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Ramshaw Real Estate Inc. (Champaign, IL)

September 2, 2014
Local Brokers Open New Sperry Van Ness Firm
Advisor: Steve Legendre, Ben Graham & Justin Langlois
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Graham, Langlois & Legendre (Baton Rouge, LA)

‘Without Walls’ Set for Massive Redevelopment
Advisor: Bill Gross & Kenny Anderson
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Real Estate, LLC (Tampa, FL)

Tenants Sign Leases for 176,000 Square Feet at Shopton Ridge
Advisor: Harry Cole
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Percival Partners, LLC (Charlotte, NC)

Leases/Leasing Contracts
Advisor: Hugh Kennerk
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Sycamore Commercial Real Estate (Indianapolis, IN)

September 3, 2014
Home Builders Group Buys Building for Headquarters
Advisor: Holice Jeffries
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services (Memphis, TN)

 

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All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

 

5 for Friday with Craig Hau with Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC

Craig Hau | Senior Advisor | SVN/The Group Commercial
Craig Hau | Senior Advisor | SVN/The Group Commercial

This week, our 5 for Friday features Craig Hau, Senior Advisor with Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC based out of Fort Collins, Colorado.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?

I specialize in the sale and leasing of office and industrial properties as well as the development and construction of small office commercial real estate. My geographic market is in North Colorado/North Denver to the Wyoming border, East (including Greeley, CO) and West into the Foothills communities.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?

I use DocuSign for coordinating contract and LOI client signatures electronically on-line.  It saves time and works great, I highly recommend it.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?

Over the past decade we have been doing a lot more buyer broker listing agreements with larger regional/national buyers/tenants. We locate land to buy for their proposed business improvements, as well as buildings for their proposed business expansions.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?

“Brokers Who Dominate: 8 Traits of Top Producers” by Rod Santomassimo.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?

When asked a question that I do not know the answer for, I always respond with, “I’m sorry, but I do not know that answer to that question”.  I then say, “I will find out what the answer is and I’ll get back to you”.  I then find the answer, follow up with them, and let them know what it is. Most people think you’ll forget so it’s really fun to see how they respond.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness® | In the News | August 7 – 20, 2014

Many of our Sperry Van Ness offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news.

The following is a list of some recent media coverage.

 

August 7, 2014
Mid-Year Commercial Real Estate Review
Advisor: Jonathan Tuttle
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Sperry Van Ness International Corporation Appoints Solomon Poretsky Vice President of Organizational Development
Advisor: Solomon Poretsky
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

DealPoint Merrill Closes Escrow On 15.9 Acres In St. Charles, Missouri
Advisor: David Frank, Sterling McGregor, Mark Mimms & Mike Gustafson
Office: Sperry Van Ness/DealPoint Merrill Properties Corporation (Fresno, CA) & Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Former Daymar Campus on Fern Valley To Be Sold
Advisor: Bill Menish, CAI, AARE, BAS
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Menish Auctions (Louisville, KY)

Bill Luck Attends Realtors Environmental Summit
Advisor: Bill Lucks
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

Retail Building in Erie Sold for $1.4 Million
Advisor: Steve Kawulok, Dan Leuschen & Cobey Wess
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

August 8, 2014
Drowning in Regulations: EPA Could Have a Much Bigger Say in Arizona’s Future Because of Clean Water Act Proposal
Advisor: Mary Ridberg
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Downtown Apartment Building Saratoga Lofts Sells for $3 million
Advisor: Justin Verner & Tony Casalena, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/RealSite Commercial Group (Baltimore, MD)

August 11, 2014
SVN-RICORE Receives Two CoStar Power Broker Awards
Advisor: Joe Gilligan
Office: Sperry Van Ness – RICORE Investment Management, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH)

SVN-RICORE’s Dan McDonald Receives CoStar Power Broker Award
Advisor: Dan McDonald
Office: Sperry Van Ness – RICORE Investment Management, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH)

August 12, 2014
 SVN Auction Services Announces Sealed Bid Auction of a Louisville College Campus
Advisor: Bill Menish, CAI, AARE, BAS
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Menish Auctions (Louisville, KY) 

St. Matthews Lots Up for Auction After Decades of No New Construction
Advisor: Bill Menish, CAI, AARE, BAS
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Menish Auctions (Louisville, KY)

August 13, 2014
Bill Lucks of SVN-Miller Attends NAR Environmental Summit
Advisor: Bill Lucks
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

Forno Rosso Joins West Loop Pizza Invasion
Advisor: Scott Maesel
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Former Applebee’s in Arlington Heights Sells
Advisor: Tim Rasmussen & Olivia Czyzynski
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

August 16, 2014
West Side Marble Taproom Expanding
Advisor: Richard Gallegos
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Team Southwest (Albuquerque, NM)

August 17, 2014
More Than Half of FoCo Restaurants Owned by Locals
Advisor: Cobey Wess
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

August 19, 2014
My Best Friend’s Closet Opening at Campus West Shops
Advisor: Cobey Wess
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

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All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

 

Sperry Van Ness® | In the News | July 24 – August 6, 2014

Many of our Sperry Van Ness offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news.

The following is a list of some recent media coverage.

 

July 24, 2014
CRE Is Still an Uphill Climb for Women, but the Effort is Worth It
Advisor: Kirsten Bowersox
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Crossroads Property Management (Schaumburg, IL)

Pork Shoppe Barbecue Opening in Former Kingfisher Restaurant
Advisor: Tim Rasmussen
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Sperry Van Ness Represents the Buyer in Sale of Commercial Land in Mesa
Advisor: Shari A. Tucker-Gasser & Trenton McCullough
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Local Company Acquires Transit Friendly Property
Advisor: Rodrigo Gonzalez Velarde
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Rich Investment Real Estate Partners (Los Angeles, CA)

SVN Crossroads Bowersox: Giving the Keys to a Successful Property Management Division
Advisor: Kirsten Bowersox
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Crossroads Property Management (Schaumburg, IL)

Palmer’s Namesake Palmer Plaza Expected to Sell for About $50M
Advisor: Anthony Lopes, CCIM, CPM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services (Brentwood, TN)

July 25, 2014
Mall Makeovers Face Varied Challenges
Advisor: Steve Kawulok
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

July 27, 2014
Junior Achievement Gets Expanded Space in Salisbury
Advisor: Brent Miller, CCIM, CPM & Rick Tilghman, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

July 28, 2014
Harbor Freight Tools Moves into Former Boaters World Location
Advisor: Wesley Cox, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

Real Estate Deals
Advisor: Linda Emery & Bruce Dilges
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

The Deal Sheet
Advisor: Olivia Czyzynski, Wayne Caplan, Vince D’Amico & Joel Miller
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Crossroads Property Management (Schaumburg, IL), Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL) & Sperry Van Ness/Landmark Commercial Real Estate (Geneva, IL) 

July 29, 2014
Harbor Freight to Open Store in Salisbury
Advisor: Wesley Cox, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

July 30, 2014
SVN Auction Expands, Opens Office in Columbus
Advisor: Richard Kruse & Sean Parker
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Gryphon Parker (Columbus, OH)

Leadership Brentwood to Begin 2015 Class
Advisor: David W. Creed, Jr.
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services (Brentwood, TN)

Advocate Offices May Relocate Downtown
Advisor: Doug Wilson
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Wilson Commercial Group, LLC (Columbus, OH)

Fort Collins/Loveland Air Park Property Sells for $1.25 Million
Advisor: Larry Hawe
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

July 31, 2014
AuctionWorks to Host Real Estate Auction August 25-27
Advisor: Diana Peterson
Office: Sperry Van Ness/AuctionWorks (Chicago, IL)

August 1, 2014
Space Still Available at Achievement Park
Advisor: Bradley Gillis, CCIM & Joey Gilkerson
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

August 3, 2014
Taylor, Bean & Whitaker: Five Years Later
Advisor: Bartow McDonald, IV
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Ocala, FL)

August 4, 2014
The Sperry Van Ness® Brand Recognized Nationally as 8th Top Property Manager
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

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All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Joey Godbold of Sperry Van Ness/Percival Partners, LLC

This week, our 5 for Friday features Joey Godbold, Managing Director of Sperry Van Ness/Percival Partners, LLC out of Charlotte, North Carolina.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?

Joey Godbold | Managing Director | SVN/Percival Partners, LLC
Joey Godbold | Managing Director | SVN/Percival Partners, LLC

The Charlotte MSA, encompassing ten counties in North Carolina and South Carolina and a population base of 2.3 million, is my primary market area. For investment properties in excess of $1MM, I consider “the Carolinas” to be my extended area. Managing an office with multiple specialties, I try to stay connected with the five major sectors – office; industrial; retail; land; and investment properties. As to my personal practice, I tend to deal in multi-tenant investment properties.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?

After you have decided on a specialty, do what it takes to know the players in that field. That may include joining – and being active in – trade associations; LinkedIn groups; SVN Product Councils, etc. Take the time and put forth the effort required to become an expert.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?

It used to be that a real estate broker earned a commission, primarily, by introducing a qualified buyer to a reasonably-priced asset. Today, through the Internet, buyer and seller can find each other without our assistance. Therefore, more focus is placed on adding value to the transaction by advising clients and creating a competitive market in order to achieve the desired price level.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?

I just completed re-reading “Goals!” by Brian Tracy and am currently reading “Coaching Salespeople Into Sales Champions” by Keith Rosen. Both are commendable but the point is that we should always be reading something. Reading a so-so book is much better than reading nothing.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?

I am often accused of having a boating “compulsion.” I do own too many floating vessels.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: Sperry Van Ness/BlackStream Commercial, LLC in Greenville, SC

This week, we turn the spotlight on Sperry Van Ness/BlackStream Commercial, LLC with offices in Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina.

Ford Elliott | Managing Director | SVN/BlackStream Commercial, LLC
Ford Elliott | Managing Director | SVN/BlackStream Commercial, LLC

What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?

From day one, our strategy at SVN/BlackStream Commercial, LLC has been providing premiere service to our clients. We always go the extra distance to satisfy their needs, making them feel they are getting more by working with us.  Over time, we have built a nice reputation in our market. Our level of service has spread by word-of mouth and business has flourished as a result, garnering more referrals than by any other marketing means. We are generally a 100% referral program, though we are always looking to get new leads through additional avenues. Another strategy we utilize is staying informed, and on top of, trends in the market place. We try to be very innovative and think outside of the box, often presenting sites to our clients that most people may not know about, i.e. The city has plans to put a new park at a certain location.  It is necessary that we have a pulse on our market in order to help our clients understand where the value is, and where it is headed. We also look to the Sperry Van Ness platform whose systems and name recognition have been extremely beneficial for business.

What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team? 

Our number one motivation is helping our team understand and hone their respective talents. Once defined, we aim to help them stay focused and specialized by utilizing their best strengths.  We hold a staff meeting every week where we collaborate and share ideas. On the horizon, we plan to have more team building activities.

What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?

The biggest challenge has been recovering from the commercial real estate market downturn. It was difficult with banks not loaning money to investors and the market just not being where it needed to be. As the market has recovered, more and more opportunities have been presenting themselves.

How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now? 

When we joined Sperry Van Ness we had a staff of  6: 2 Managing Directors, 3 Advisors and an Administrative Assistant. We recently added another Advisor, bringing our team total to 7.

Contact:
Ford Elliott
Managing Director
Sperry Van Ness/BlackStream Commercial, LLC
Greenville & Columbia, SC

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness® | In the News | July 9 – July 23, 2014

Many of our Sperry Van Ness offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news.

The following is a list of some recent media coverage.

 

July 11, 2014
Sperry Van Ness Gryphon Parker and Parker Kruse Asset Management Open For Business
Advisor: Richard Kruse & Shawn Parker
Office: SVN/Gryphon Parker (Columbus, OH)

Albany Park Apartments Fetch $1.7 million
Advisor: Dawn Overstreet, Ph.D.
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Packaging Properties For Profit
Advisor: Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office: SVN/Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc. (Champaign, IL)

July 12, 2014
Strawberry Fields For Sale
Advisor: Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office: SVN/Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc. (Champaign, IL)

Peek Honored with Wicomico Executive’s Fitness Council Award
Advisor: Chris Peek, CCIM
Office: SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

July 14, 2014
Self-Storage Brokerage Firm Sperry Van Ness Adds Franchise in Greenville, SC
Advisor: Ford Elliott & Carlos Salgado
Office: SVN/BlackStream Commercial, LLC (Greenville, SC)

Real Estate Deals
Advisor: Angela Varga
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Bradenton, FL)

Developers Circling Around Last 1,500 Undeveloped Acres in Carolina Forest
Advisor: Joe Garrell & Andrew Vicens
Office: SVN/Founders Group (Myrtle Beach, SC)

July 15, 2014
Rosemont’s Sycamore Office Plaza Listed for $8 million
Office: SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

July 16, 2014
BB&T Sells Foreclosed Offices to Kislak
Advisor: Caroline Camus, MBA
Office: SVN/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

Nearly 500 Apartment Units Planned in Firestone
Advisor: Bill Reilly
Office: SVN/The Group Commercial, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

Sperry Van Ness Reports Recent Summer Transactions
Advisor: Mary Ridberg, Rommie Mojahed, Judy Jones, Erin Schrauth, Peter McQuaid, Greg Vanierberghe, Barbara McKenney, Ryan Mojahed, Beau Flahart, Justin Horwitz, Nicole Ridberg, Neil Sherman & Michael Gaida
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

July 17, 2014
Why is Content Marketing Important for B2B Marketers? Part 4
Advisor: Diane Danielson
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

SVN | Chicago Commercial Welcomes Tim Franz
Advisor: Timothy Franz
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Sperry Van Ness Launches Greenville CRE Franchise
Advisor: Ford Elliott & Carlos Salgado
Office: SVN/BlackStream Commercial, LLC (Greenville, SC)

July 18, 2014
Denver Couple Buys Full Circle Ranch B&B in Cave Creek
Advisor: Carrick Sears
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

July 19, 2014
Achievement Park Leased in Easton
Advisor: Bradley Gillis, CCIM & Joey Gilkerson
Office: SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

July 21, 2014
SVN Auction Services Expands Presence in Midwest with Addition of New Office in Ohio
Advisor: Richard Kruse & Shawn Parker
Office: SVN/Gryphon Parker (Columbus, OH)

Office Market Vacancies Leap Higher in Q2
Advisor: Patti Peixotto
Office: SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

July 23, 2014
Undisclosed Bank May Enter Valley Market on Airport Property
Advisor: Chris Baj, CCIM, CPA
Office: SVN/Imperial Realty (Allentown, PA)

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All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: Sperry Van Ness/Fortune Real Estate in El Paso, TX

Karen Hurd, Vice President of National Franchise Development for Sperry Van Ness International Corporation, recently sat down with Laura Salome, CCIM, Managing Director of Sperry Van Ness/Fortune Real Estate out of El Paso, Texas.  Karen is the host of the Sperry Van Ness (SVN) CEO Roundtable Webinar and invited Laura to join the June Roundtable discussion as a guest speaker. Below is what Laura had to say about SVN.

Laura Salome, CCIM | Managing Director | SVN/Fortune Real Estate
Laura Salome, CCIM | Managing Director | SVN/Fortune Real Estate

Laura, Please tell me about yourself, SVN/Fortune Real Estate and how you came to Sperry Van Ness.

I joined Sperry Van Ness two years ago in December. My father has had Fortune Real Estate for 40 years and when I joined him full time, I knew we were was missing something….I was searching for something bigger than what our little local firm could accomplish. I wanted bigger and national deals, and I knew that an affiliation with a national flag was the answer.  I spent 13 years in California and remembered that Sperry Van Ness was a well recognized brand among a few others.  So I decided to call a few.  In an exhausting interviewing process of several companies, I ultimately chose Sperry Van Ness because it was a national CRE firm where the people make the company.

What did you find different about our SVN Brand versus the other firms you were talking to, and what have you found since you joined?

The model and the culture is different than other models, in that the environment at SVN is much more entrepreneurial in nature.  Of course, we want to stay consistent in our look and there are franchise policies to which we must adhere, but it is very much MY business.  Being affiliated with SVN has empowered me to grow into the direction I want to go.  I have felt empowered since the day I joined and continue to feel that way. There is a high level of professionalism that comes with the Sperry Van Ness name.  There is a certain culture within this organization that is contagious. I joined the group shortly before a national sales meeting which was in Miami.  That trip reaffirmed that I had made the right decision.  The friends and colleagues I met on that trip I still talk to and work on deals together.

What do you find working with other SVN Advisors in other markets?

Collaboration is the key component to get the most you want out of this franchise. Each week I try to talk to at least one SVN colleague either by phone, text, or email…or personal visit, even when I travel. I am a bit of a generalist here in El Paso and partnering up with experts in other cities has most definitely won listings for me.  Mark Alexander from Florida, who is on our Medical Product Council, and I joined forces a little over a year ago on a medical building. I would not have gotten that listing without Mark’s expertise in medical office.  Mark prepared a colorful slide presentation showing the physician medical investment cap rates and the SVN national reach and we won the listing.

This week we just signed a new $2 million dollar listing for a NM Nursery and I partnered with Tim House in Albuquerque.  It was my relationship with a banker here in El Paso that started the lead, but it was the fact that I told him I would partner with a SVN NM colleague that got us the listing.  The client felt comfortable that he was getting a local boots on the ground with a national “army” behind me. It’s fun to partner, and clients feel that we have “reach” , “national appeal” and that we are a “unit”.  This SVN fraternity is a very strong selling point to win listings.

I know you believe in the Compensated Cooperation model and actively participate in our National Sales Call each week.  What do you find most important about these calls?

The National Sales Call is like the backbone of SVN — the SVN Difference.  It’s a 30 minute national sales call held every Monday morning that highlights recent sales made, and Advisors pitch their properties for sale.   Promoting a client’s listing on these calls is a key selling point when I compete for a listing.   No other firm offers these calls!  It’s rare that I don’t get on one of these calls.

How useful have you found the CRE tech tools, systems and platforms offered by SVN?

The tech tools within the company are efficient and streamline marketing efforts.  Each time I need to do a proposal or put a new listing online, I jump on BuildOut which syndicates real time to multiple commercial search engines with a single point of entry automatically.  Our brochures look consistent and professional.  It’s very simple to use and my clients are happy.

Client Look I’ve used from the beginning.  It has the ability to categorize your contact by type.  This feature I find very useful.  If I want to narrow my marketing efforts to “retail developers” or “multifamily”, I can do so.  Virtual Assistant is another very useful feature of Client Look that enters contacts into the system.  You can do this with a phone call while you are driving or even snapping a photo of a business card and emailing it to them.  All of this syncs to your phone and iPad which is great!

SVN Resource Portal is the center of information gathering and posting.   There I can blog on the SVN blog, create postcards for marketing, customize newsletters, see the calendar of events, or just log on to my email.  It’s colorful and easy to navigate.  In today’s world where speed and simplicity is coveted, this tool fits right in.

What SVN Product Councils do you participate in regularly?

There are 14 product councils within the company that are lead by veterans and experts in that asset class type and I am involved in several.  Once a month or so, there are product council calls where ideas are shared, challenges are discussed, and deals are made.  I make it a point to participate each week on the 15 minute Single Tenant Net Lease one that happens right before the Monday Morning Call.  I like it because Peter Colvin creates an environment where everyone feels comfortable to share a quick thought and I always hang up learning something new and it helps create value for my clients, especially the 1031 exchange clients.

Bottom line, the tech systems and tools are some of the best available in the industry, and I leverage them all so I can be more efficient, visible and productive in my business.

What do you like best about SVN?

What I’ve realized is that it’s the people within SVN that make the company.  I’m the kind of person that works best in a collaborative environment and I like to be known within in the company.  SVN is a national CRE company where collaboration thrives — it’s like a family. Clients’ interests are ALWAYS placed above everything else and I like that because reputation is very important to me.  If I can ever help anyone on the call, I’m available anytime for help, advice, deal making, market insight in El Paso or SVN.  Happy to be a resource.  I can be reached at laurasalome@svn.com  or 915.474.0306.

To view the most recent Sperry Van Ness CEO Roundtable Webinar, click here.

To learn more about franchising opportunities, or to join an existing SVN Team, please contact Karen Hurd at karen.hurd@svn.com or 781.812.4272.

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness® | In the News | June 26 – July 9, 2014

Many of our Sperry Van Ness offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news.

The following is a list of some recent media coverage.

 

June 26, 2014
Former Seahawk Brady Quinn Helps Wounded Iraq Vet
Advisor: Tom Hoban & Blake Stedman
Office: Coast/Sperry Van Ness (Everett, WA)

June 30, 2014
SVN Sells Multifamily/Mixed-use Building for $1.7M in Offmarket Deal
Advisor: Dawn Overstreet, Ph.D.
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Longtime San Mateo Chili’s Becoming Retail Store
Advisor: Rusty Lober
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

Leases & Sales: Week of June 30, 2014
Advisor: Martin Perlmutter
Office: Sperry Van Ness/MG Property Advisors, Inc. (San Rafael, CA)

July 1, 2014
Percival McGuire Joins Sperry Van Ness, Rebrands as Percival Partners
Advisor: Joey Godbold & Bob Percival, SIOR, CPM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Percival Partners, LLC (Charlotte, NC)

Retail’s at a Crossroads in the Recovery
Advisor: Shari Tucker-Gasser
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Sperry Van Ness/Gilmore Auction to Auction New Homes, Lots & Gulf Shores Beach House for New Orleans Bankruptcy Case
Advisor: David E. Gilmore, CCIM, CAI, AARE
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Gilmore Auction & Realty Co. (Kennar, LA)

July 2, 2014
BB&T Sells Miami Lakes Office Condos at 18% Discount to Foreclosure
Advisor: Matthew Rotolante, CCIM, SIOR
Office: Sperry Van Ness/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

Sperry Van Ness International Corporation Adds Franchise in Charlotte, NC
Advisor: Joey Godbold & Bob Percival, SIOR, CPM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Percival Partners, LLC (Charlotte, NC)

Presbyterian’s North I-25 Move Bumps City’s Office Vacancy
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM) 

July 5, 2014
Doing Business: Movers & Shakers
Advisor: Will Moore, Bob Rich & Chris Peek, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

July 6, 2014
Bulk Office Condo Portfolio Trades For $6,200,000
Advisor: Matthew Rotolante, CCIM, SIOR, Eric Amat & Caroline Camus, MBA
Office: Sperry Van Ness/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

Optimism On the Rise for Buzzing Nokomis Strip
Advisor: Brad Lindberg
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

July 7, 2014
CSP Dance Studios Boogies into Former Laffs Space
Advisor: Glenn Wright
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

Real Estate Deals
Advisor: Tony Veldkamp, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL) 

July 8, 2014
Bob Rich of Sperry Van Ness-Miller Earns Real Estate License for Delaware
Advisor: Bob Rich
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

July 9, 2014
Office Still Lags Outside Energy, Tech Markets
Advisor: Albert Lindeman
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

In Focus: Four Tips for Renewing Your Office Lease
Advisor: Stephen F. Graw
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services (Brentwood, TN)

Former Marigold Indian Restaurant Could Be Replaced by Ramen, Comfort Food
Advisor: Tim Rasmussen
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

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All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness® | In the News | June 11 – June 25, 2014

Many of our Sperry Van Ness® offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news.

The following is a list of recent media coverage.

 

June 11, 2014
Sperry Van Ness Brokers Sale of Development Site in Chicago
Advisor: Wayne Caplan
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL) 

Commercial Corner: What is Placemaking?
Advisor: David Wilk, CRE, MAI & Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office:  Sperry Van Ness Miller Commercial Real Estate (Wilmington, DE) & Sperry Van Ness/ Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc.  (Champaign, IL)

June 12, 2014
Bank-Owned Property Sales Increasing
Advisor: Wayne Caplan
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Sperry Van Ness International Corp. Adds Franchise in Holland, Michigan
Advisor: David de Maagd & Peter Colvin
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investment Property Advisors (Holland, MI) 

June 13, 2014
Dormant Office Building Sees Fresh Activity with Renovation Project
Advisor: Tom Skeans, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness | Imperial Realty (Allentown, PA)

Hundreds Expected For Realtor Event
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

June 14, 2014
Sarasota Investor Buys Bradenton Cardiology Building
Advisor: Mark Alexander, CCIM & Bob Morris
Office: Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) (Ft. Myers, FL) & Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

June 17, 2014
How DTZ’s $1.2B Sale Could  Shake Up Chicago
Advisor: Jeffrey Baasch
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL) 

DealPoint Merrill Closed Escrow on 325,500 SF for Redevelopment in Columbus-Ohio, Tucson-Arizona and Saginaw-Michigan
Advisor: Mike Gustafson & Mark Mimms
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ) & Sperry Van Ness/DealPoint Merrill Property Corporation (Fresno, CA)

Leases/Leasing Contracts
Advisor: Ben Andrews
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

June 18, 2014
Done Deals: Dirt and retail in Brandon; new restaurant lease in Carrollwood
Advisor: Enon Winkler, CCIM Jad Richa, Deucie Bies & Brian Hunsicker
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Boynton Beach, FL) 

Sperry Van Ness International Corporation Appoints Diane Danielson Chief Operating Officer
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

NAIOP Arizona Reports Philanthropic Efforts, Achievements
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

June 19, 2014
DealPoint Merrill Targets Redevelopment Properties
Advisor: Mark Mimms
Office: Sperry Van Ness/DealPoint Merrill Property Corporation (Fresno, CA) 

June 20, 2014
Business briefs: BB&T selects clubs for Lighthouse project
Advisor: Reid Bennett, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Candelaria Business Center For Sale
Advisor: Joel White, MAI, Patti Peixotto & Hunter Green
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM) 

June 21, 2014
Heron Mural Makes Second Landing
Advisor: Rick Tilghman, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

The Ticker
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

June 22, 2014
Wesley Cox of Sperry Van Ness-Miller presented with Humanitarian of the Year Award
Advisor: Wesley Cox, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD) 

Walworth County Subdivision, Condo Project Revived After Bank Sells Land
Advisor: Jay Hintze
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Hintze Group (Glendale, WI)

June 23, 2014
Apartments: Watch the Numbers in Jobs and Units
Advisor: Tony Veldkamp, CCIM, Angela Varga, Linda Emery & Bruce Dilges
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Historic Brennan’s Trade Name, Registered Service Marks, Wine Collection & Remaining Assets to be Auctioned July 9
Advisor: David E. Gilmore, CCIM, CAI, AARE
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Gilmore Auctions & Realty Co. (Kennar, LA)

Lipsey_2014_BadgeAll Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Bill Menish of SVN Auction Services

This week, our 5 for Friday features Bill Menish, CAI, AARE, BAS, Senior Advisor/Real Estate Auctioneer with SVN Auction Services out of Louisville, Kentucky.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
Through SVN Auction Services, we are capable of conducting auctions coast to coast, but our office focuses on the five-state region of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Our specialty is auctions but we execute them in many ways. In fact, we are about to roll out the brand new SVN Auction Services proprietary online bidding platform for timed and simulcast auctions. We also offer live onsite auctions, ballroom multi-property auctions and sealed bid auctions for all property types.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
“Use the media to your full advantage. Don’t worry, they realize they are being used.” I can say that with confidence having been a broadcast journalist in 4 states over a 20 year period with my final stop in San Diego where I was the morning anchor of the top rated morning news cast for 7 years. The walls of our SVN office are covered with framed newspaper articles and we have plenty of newscast footage saved that shows our success at inspiring the media to cover our auctions. They will cover your listings too “IF” you can find the story that their viewers and readers want to hear or see. You can load every listing platform ad buy every ad you can afford, but that free media is what is really going to help you get the word our about your property and why they should buy it. Every property has a story to tell, you just have to find it.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
In a word, it is Technology. It is not a bad word. In fact, we embrace the technological changes the industry is seeing. I heard someone the other day say that nothing has changed in the way we sell real estate or conduct real estate auctions since the economic downturn. I don’t think that could be further from the truth. So much has changed! How we get the listing, how we promote the listings and the sale, how we close them and especially how we turn that success into the next success has absolutely changed. I do believe that face-to-face time is invaluable, but with the clock moving faster than ever before, clients don’t feel they have the time, so you have to be able to connect and inspire even when you are not face to face, and often, that is through the proper use of technology.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
I don’t have a business book recommendation, but rather just one word: Auctions! SVN Advisors don’t realize the powerful tool that could be in their toolbox, that if used, would deliver more checks and create extremely satisfied customers. We know why they are not using it. It is that darn word AUCTION. People have a pre-conceived notion of what it means and most of the time, they have the wrong pre-conceived notion. We are selling a c-store / gas station now with a 60 day listing that transitions into an absolute auction after the listing period. That is what this seller needed and we created a solution set that fit their needs. They can test the traditional waters, and if we cannot produce the buyer, the absolute auction will absolutely produce the buyer. Auction clients are easy to spot if you listen to them. Every seller wants top dollar, but auction clients have a need to sell in a time defined manner, or they need the kind of exposure that auction marketing produces or  they have a product that will glimmer in the spotlight of national exposure with an event surrounding their sale. I promise that you have talked to a client who would have considered an auction. Maybe you just didn’t hear them asking for it, but hopefully you will now. I promise it will help you sell more properties and close more deals.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I have run 5 marathons and my wife has run 6. If someone ever claims I cheated, it would mean that I ran a marathon without her knowing so I could catch up with her. On a serious note, I am very proud of my accomplishments in my former career where I awarded 15 Emmy’s and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award. I tell people often that I was training to be an Auctioneer the whole time I was a newscaster, I just didn’t know it. The broadcasting business helped me hone skills that I use every day to succeed in commercial real estate.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: Sperry Van Ness l RICORE Investment Management, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH

This week, we turn the spotlight on Sperry Van Ness | RICORE Investment Management, Inc. with offices in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Rickert_John1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
We do this by understanding our clients’ investment objectives and formulating strategies to achieve these objectives in the context of the current and anticipated market forces. Specifically, our clients will experience SVN-RICORE’s superior real estate investment modeling, strategic thought process, rent collection and operating expense escalation management, attention to detail, prompt and accurate financial reporting.  We are enhanced by having the brightest and hardest working people join our firm who bring with them their expertise in the market and their specific disciplines.  Having seasoned professionals, we are able to position ourselves as a full service real estate firm, where we can provide professional services for Receivership, Property Management, Investment Brokerage, Leasing and Construction Services, with “Maximum Value and Minimum Risk” for our clients.

We have also implemented the use of our website www.svn-ricore.com for marketing our services and staff along with our properties, and have complemented it with our daily postings of property sales and lease listings on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram and Tumblr.  We also regularly advertise in the local Business Journals, Midwest Real Estate News and National Real Estate Investor publications. Our social media marketing initiative has opened up our client base to new avenues of advertising our services from listings to Property and Facility management.  It allows our firm the ability to have interaction with clients in the ‘new media market’ and the property owners are ecstatic to see their properties appear in this medium, along with case studies, well researched market reports and client testimonials.

RICORE2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team? 
We hold monthly birthday and anniversary cake tastings and go to and participate in events as a group.  We recently held an open house for our new space and invited clients, past, present and future, along with public dignitaries for an evening of food, social time and entertainment.  We have gone bowling, trap shooting, a vineyard and plan on attending a Cincinnati Reds games for team building events.  SVN-RICORE is also pleased to corporately sponsor and participate in many civic, community and philanthropic organizations that make a difference.

 3. What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
With the downturn then recovery of the Commercial Real Estate market, weathering the storm has been a challenge, however, with well positioned managed properties, accounting services, receivership services, along with a few good investment sales opportunities completed, we have been able to maintain and grow our staff in anticipation of the full boom currently beginning in our market. Bringing in additional staff in this economy for some firms could not have happened, but for us, it was a necessity in order to keep up with the business lines as they were expanding during these years.

RICORE Team4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now? 
In the beginning of our SVN Franchise in 2010 we started with 3 Property Managers, 2 Property Services Administrators, 1 Facilities Manager,  2 Advisors, 1  Brokerage Administrator/Office Manager/Marketing,  2 Construction Staff, and 2 Accounting personnel.

Currently we have 4 Property Managers, 5 Property Services Administrators, 5 Facilities Managers, 9 Advisors, 2 Brokerage Administrators, a Marketing Manager, 3 Construction Staff, and 5 Accounting personnel. We also have a CFO  & Controller to round out our services staff, in addition to the Executive Managing Director.

Increasing our staff has been an integral part to create an environment for well-rounded commercial real estate professionals the ability to provide services to clients that are world class in nature.

Contact:
John Rickert
Executive Managing Director
Sperry Van Ness | RICORE Investment Management, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Mark Alexander of Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander)

This week, our 5 for Friday features Mark Alexander, CCIM, Managing Director of Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) based out of Ft. Myers, Florida.

Alexander_Mark1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
I specialize in NNN medical office sale/leaseback closings and have been the National Director of MOB sales for SVN for many years. I currently host the SVN National Medical Call where I teach fellow Advisors how to work with doctors and list their MOBs. I have closed 87 MOB sales in my career to date located in six different states. Due to working with such a specific product specialty, I do not have a ‘defined’ geographic market, but rather work nationally across the United States, though most deals are in my home state of Florida.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
Get involved, both in communication and collaboration! First, no one will hear from you, and subsequently think of you, if you do not reach out. If you are not comfortable with that, than I suggest you get comfortable.  My two recent listings came about from me sending monthly post cards and a monthly e-newsletter called the “Alexander Medical Report” to my database of doctors who own medical office buildings. To collect additional content for my e-newsletter, beyond my own closings, I set-up a Google alert that sends me links each day to articles published with keywords “Medical Office”. Due to my research, I am able to share news of MOB closings from around the country, in addition to my own, each month. Second, get out there and collaborate with your fellow Advisors! The sales of my two recent listings (in Sebring and Bradenton totaling over $11 million combined) closed due to collaboration with SVN advisors who provided the buyers in each case. For additional information on those deals, see here and here.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
I joined Sperry Van Ness eleven years ago. When I first joined I had a 2000 SF office where I managed multiple Advisors (including the former Mayor of Ft. Myers) and personally did a good amount of office leasing and property management in addition to working on my MOB sale/leaseback specialty. I was spread too thin, in too many directions, all at once.  At one of my first SVN national conferences I was attending a session on “How to grow your SVN business” and I happen to sit next to Mark Van Ness. I mentioned to him that I did a little bit of leasing, property management and sales. Van Ness said, “Property management can be a decent profit center if you have critical mass”. In other words, you need a lot of it to make money. I realized that my dabbling in property management and leasing was eating up my most important asset – my time. It had created an artificial income ceiling for me.  Shortly after that national conference I started outsourcing my leasing and property management to focus on my specialty and passion…which is medical office sale/leaseback.

Before joining SVN, I had been so busy running my business as a small independent boutique firm, I had really not taken the time to look back and analyze my business and how I might improve it. Over the past ten years, thanks to things I learned from SVN, I slowly phased out my office and now work out of my home and focus solely on MOB sale/leasebacks. My model of business in not for everyone but it works for me. I am more happy now and making more money than I ever did in the past.  Thanks to coaching from SVN at national conferences, I had finally realized that I had been a reluctant manager of sales people in my office and my true passion was just working on deals.  SVN gave me the national network and support to compete on the national stage to provide the best possible service for my doctor clients.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
It can never be just one book. Our business is constantly evolving with changes in the economy and technology so it is important to consistently read as much as you can to keep your finger on the pulse of our industry and your specialty. Earlier this year, I helped an SVN Advisor in Milwaukee list a $35M MOB solely because I had recently attended two national conferences (one in Scottsdale, AZ and one in Miami, FL) on the medical office market. During a conference call, when the Wisconsin MOB seller started telling me what he thought was the state of the MOB market, I was able to correct him and quote national speakers (who were CEO’s of National Health Care firms) from both conferences on topics that countered this seller’s pre-conceived opinions. The seller grew suddenly quiet, and shortly after we signed the listing. That deal is under contract now with a 1031 buyer and due to close near the end of June for $33.5 million. Interestingly, after we signed the contract, the seller admitted to us that every other competing broker who had pitched this listing before SVN had said it would never sell over $30 million.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
my new viewAs a shameless sharer of news and family pictures on Facebook, there is probably little that people don’t know about me already. But I can say, the best part of my day is taking our dog buddy for a walk out our front door along the Miami Beach Marina each morning. I enjoy looking at boats while Buddy intently studies the bushes.  The picture to the right shows the view from the 17th floor condo where I live and work. I moved here in April after spending the previous 33 years in Ft. Myers. My daughter Lauren starts college in the fall at FIU in Miami.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

This week, we turn the spotlight on Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty with offices in Ft. Lauderdale and Hialeah, FL.

Keith Kidwell | President | Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty
Keith Kidwell | President | Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty

1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
For over the past 11 years our strategy has not been to grow the firm, it has been to keep the firm small with seasoned commercial brokers and to run a highly efficient office to better serve our clients.

2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team? 
We have goal challenges with rewards.  If agents meet their goal challenges we will offer free or discounted trips to our state and national conferences, gift certificates, etc.  In addition, we sponsor golf and sporting clay teams for charity fundraisers.

 3. What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
The biggest challenge has been in ensuring our agents have all the tools necessary to be as productive and as efficient as possible.  This includes keeping up with the latest in technology, social media, etc. and training them to use these tools.

4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now? 
We started the company 11 years ago with 5 agents and 1 staff member and currently have two offices, 6 agents and 2 staff members.  Small and efficient.

Contact:
Keith Kidwell, SIOR, CCIM
President
Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness® In the News

Many of our Sperry Van Ness® offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news. The following is a list of recent media coverage.

May 28, 2014
Jonathan Levy Joins Sperry Van Ness
Advisor: Jonathan Levy
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

People on the Move –  Professional Recognition
Advisor: Rommie Mojahed
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

May 29, 2014
Four Multi-family Transactions in Metro Phoenix 
Advisor: Neal Sherman & Carrick Sears
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

May 30, 2014
Delayed Recovery
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

June 1, 2014
H&R Block Leases Former Quiznos Building in Salisbury
Advisor: Brent Miller, CCIM, CPM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

June 2, 2014
MF Buyer Inks Healthcare Triple Net Sale-Leaseback
Advisor: Mark Alexander, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) (Ft. Myers, FL)

Business Winners
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Parke Group (Ft. Wayne, IN)

The Wood Shed Restaurant Coming to Central Station’s Retail Space in Evanston
Advisor: Ben Andrews
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Big Deals: CRE leaders Talk Key Transactions at OBJ Industry Outlook
Advisor: Miguel de Arcos
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Orlando, FL)

June 4, 2014
Industrial Trends: E-commerce, Reshoring, Post-Panamax
Advisor: Matthew Rotolante, CCIM, SIOR
Office: Sperry Van Ness/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL) 

Verizon Effect: 5 Businesses Coming to Lake Mary
Advisor: Miguel de Arcos
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Orlando, FL)

Group Buys Windsor Tract for Development
Advisor: Craig Hau & Robert Hau
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

Sperry Van Ness South’s Harrison Klein Earns CCIM Designation
Advisor: Harrison Klein, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

June 5, 2014
Sperry Van Ness International Corporation Adds Franchise in Oklahoma City, OK 
Advisor: Johnathan Russell, CCIM & Drew Dozier
Office: Sperry Van Ness/LandRun Commercial (Oklahoma City, OK)

Sign(s) of the Times as Bank Banners Compete at Chantilly Office Building
Advisor: Kayvan Mehrbakhsh, CCIM, MBA
Office: Sperry Van Ness/SVNMA (Herndon, VA)

June 6, 2014
Investor Buys Bradenton Cardiology Building
Advisor: Mark Alexander, CCIM & Bob Morris
Office: Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) (Ft. Myers, FL) & Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Storage Firm Buys Vacant Parcel for $1.2 million
Advisor: Wayne Caplan
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

June 10, 2014
Done Deals: A Big Lease in St. Pete; Retail in Wesley Chapel; Prime Dirt in Clearwater
Advisor: Mark Alexander, CCIM & Bob Morris
Office: Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) (Ft. Myers, FL) & Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Wesley Cox Named Sperry Van Ness’ 2013 Humanitarian of the Year
Advisor: Wesley Cox, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

June 11, 2014
New Medical Look for SW 17th Street
Advisor: Bartow McDonald
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Ocala, FL)

Lipsey_2014_BadgeAll Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: SVN/HINT Advisors in Houston, TX

This week, we turn the spotlight on SVN/HINT Advisors with offices in Houston, Texas.

1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
I focus on retail investments, retail stand-alone (NNN) and retail land. I have a focus in my practice where I go after markets first, then retail opportunities within.  One of my best Advisors continues to emphasize the importance of discipline, and I have a daily discipline that extends to a weekly and monthly schedule, divided in blocks of time and activities. It is driven by a set goal but it comes down to execution. My weekly schedule includes daily follow-up calls, business development calls, and conference calls with clients or colleagues morning to noon, followed by emails and computer related tasks after lunch.  Next, I do calls to West coast and Central time leads since I cover California and Houston, then I depart to business engagements in the evening or otherwise do research and plan an agenda for the next day. Just before going to bed I check emails for any last minute updates. Throughout the day I also read trade journals and news on relevant retail and check my social networks.

Libby Cadillo | Managing Director | SVN/HINT Advisors
Libby Cadillo | Managing Director | SVN/HINT Advisors

2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team? 
I believe in clarity and definition when it comes to relationships. Therefore I make an effort to communicate the goals upfront, to share the vision, and to share the expectations from each other. I use technology to send reminders, reconfirm agreements, and multitask as efficiently as possible.

 3. What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
Since starting my practice, the biggest challenge has been high productivity per hour.  Sometimes I have been guilty of getting distracted by events around me, but I am learning to minimize my distractions as much as possible when I am to be focused on work.

4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now? 
Right now just one, but I have a network of peers and three strong Board Advisory Members who assist me when I need something.

Contact:
Libby Cadillo
Managing Director
SVN/HINT Advisors
Houston, TX

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness® In the News

Many of our Sperry Van Ness® offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news. The following is a list of recent media coverage.

May 1, 2014

Awards and Accolades
Advisor: Justin Horwitz, Neal Sherman, Danny Lee, Rommie Mojahed & Mary Ridberg
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Deli 620 moves to PNC Center in downtown Fort Wayne
Advisor: Whitney Peterson
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Parke Group (Ft. Wayne, IN)

Deal Makers
Advisor: Ryan Imbrie, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness /Imbrie Realty, LLC (Portland, OR)

Done Deals: Apartments sold for $12.3 million
Advisor: Larry Starr & Brad Lindberg
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Tomorrow’s Leaders in Retail 
Advisor: Rommie Mojahed
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

May 5, 2014

Broward Bank of Commerce Invites Small Business Owners to Learn, Grow and Prosper from Complimentary Event Series Celebrating Small Business Week 2014
Advisor: Les Byron, SIOR, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

 Hot Real Estate Office Notches $43 Million in Sales
Advisor: Tony Veldkamp, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Sperry Van Ness Welcomes Sayavedra
Advisor: Jimena Sayavedra
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

May 6, 2014

Sperry Van Ness sells 26 of 49 condo units in Evanston development
Advisor: Jim Sears & Reid Bennett, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

May 7, 2014

Local Sperry Van Ness® Office Ranked #3 in the Nation
Advisor: Larry Starr
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

$7.25M Evanston Illinois Bulk Condo Sale
Advisor: Jim Sears & Reid Bennett, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Sperry Van Ness® Announces Property Management Survey Results
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation

The Deal Sheet
Advisor: Jim Sears & Reid Bennett, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

May 8, 2014

Why Illinois Leads In Sustainability
Advisor: Jimena Sayavedra
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Providing Value and Increasing Income Through Corporate Real Estate Services
Advisor: David Wilk, CRE, MAI & Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office:  Sperry Van Ness Miller Commercial Real Estate (Wilmington, DE) & Sperry Van Ness/ Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc.

May 9, 2014

Commercial real estate transactions
Advisor: David Dunn, CCIM, SIOR
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Dunn Commercial (Arlington, TX)

May 11, 2014

Sunday’s real estate roundup
Advisor: Mark Alexander, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) (Ft. Myers, FL)

May 12, 2014

MiBiz Growth Report
Advisor: Peter Colvin
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investment Property Advisors (Holland, MI)

The Deal Sheet
Advisor: Jacquelyn Faranso
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

May 13, 2014

A Trail Helps Open Up a Dallas Neighborhood to New Development
Advisor: Todd Franks
Office: Sperry Van Ness/TJF Investments (Dallas, TX)

Real Estate Briefs
Advisor: Stan Snipes, CCIM, David W. Creed & Stephen F. Graw
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services (Nashville, TN)

​Sperry Van Ness Advisors Close Several New Retail and Office Transactions
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Positive First Quarter
Advisor: Mary Ridberg
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

May 14, 2014

Golden Hill apartment on A Street sold
Advisor: Jim Taylor & Shelly Bird
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Finest City Commercial (San Diego, CA)

May 16, 2014

Family farm expands to Caroline
Advisor: Ben Alder
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

May 17, 2014

Scene: Budding musicians celebrate at CMS brunch
Advisor: Deborah Skeans, CCIM, MAI
Office: Sperry Van Ness | Imperial Realty (Allentown, PA)

May 18, 2014

Rangers owners buy more land near ballpark from Tom Hicks
Advisor: Clint Montgomery, CPM, RPA
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Visions Commercial (Ft. Worth, TX)

May 19, 2014

USDA to Auction Nine Michigan Apartment Complexes
Advisor: John Johnson, CCIM, ALC & David Gilmore, CCIM, CAI, AARE
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Interstate Auction Management (Atlanta, GA)  & Sperry Van Ness/Gilmore Auction & Realty Co. (Kennar, LA)

May 21, 2014

Vacant industrial building in Alsip sells for $1.1 million
Advisor: Beverly Hayes
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

May 22, 2014 

Add Value by Using 1031 Exchanges
Advisor: Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office: Sperry Van Ness/ Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc.  (Champaign, IL)

May 23, 2014

Cobblestone Inn & Suites going up in Eaton
Advisor: Cobey Wess & Dan Leuschen
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commerical, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

May 27, 2014

AuctionWorks to Host Real Estate Auction June 23-25
Advisor: Diana Peterson
Office: Sperry Van Ness/AuctionWorks (Chicago, IL)

May 28, 2014

Bankruptcy Trustee Files Motion to Sell Brennan’s Trade Name, Seek Competing Bids
Advisor: David Gilmore, CCIM, CAI, AARE
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Gilmore Auction & Realty Co. (Kennar, LA)

 

2014 Lipsey

All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Top 5 Things That Keep Property Management Executives Up At Night

Running a business can often be a thankless job.  When you couple that with the business being a property management company, the things that can keep you up at night are endless.  In January, the Sperry Van Ness® property management team conducted a survey of 100 commercial property management executives across the country to identify the issues with which they were struggling in their business.  The results overwhelmingly identified 5 issues that challenge property management executives in 2014.  Overwhelmingly, the executives surveyed stated that:

  1. We need a better pipeline for future business.
  2. We lack referrals for new business.
  3. We are not considered a preferred provider for larger or institutional landlords.
  4. We need more/better access to larger or institutional landlords.
  5. We lack marketing.

At Sperry Van Ness International Corporation our independently owned and operated Sperry Van Ness® franchisees tackle these issues and are able to sleep better at night knowing that they have a national brand with tools, resources, training and an entire community of real estate advisors standing behind them. Not only is Sperry Van Ness® a nationally recognized brand[1] with over 40 million square feet and 22,000+ multifamily units under management, our property management franchisees integrate seamlessly with our brokerage platform, which in 2013, participated in over $8 billion in transactions. This national platform provides our franchisees with multiple opportunities for:

  • Costs savings through our Master Insurance Program and other discounted services;
  • Unique offerings for your prospects and clients like SVNGreen for energy efficiency;
  • National account business; and
  • Expansion into brokerage through our SVN System for Growth™.

Download the “Top Five Things that Keep Property Management Executives Up at Night” white paper for free by clicking on the image below and take the next step in a better night’s sleep.

SVN-Upatnight-1

 

 

 

 

Want to learn more about Sperry Van Ness® property management franchises? Visit https://svn.com/cre-franchising-opportunities/ or contact us at pmfranchise@svn.com.


[1] Sperry Van Ness® brand was ranked the 12th largest Property Management firm for 2013 by Commercial Property Executive magazine.

Relating “The Extra Mile” by Glenn Morshower to the SVN Core Covenants

How does “The Extra Mile” by Glenn Morshower correspond and relate to the SVN Core Covenants?

We had the distinct pleasure of being exposed to an outstanding keynote speaker, Glenn Morshower, recently at our SVN National conference in San Antonio. As always our Executive team, Advisory Board and conference team hit a home run in my opinion with Glenn; certainly entertaining, definitely memorable and hugely credible. I think he hit on all facets of our SVN life, our business and our sense of community. For fun, I overlaid his “Extra Mile” concept over our Core Covenants. See if you agree that they line up very well.

[slideshow_deploy id=’5754′]

Cooperating proactively with all brokers and agents and always placing my client’s interests above my own.

“Do unto others as you would have life do unto you”.

Showing respect and support to my clients and colleagues.

“Who I am anywhere is who I am everywhere”.

Honoring my commitments.

“There is no boundary on good or truth”.

Personifying and upholding the Sperry Van Ness® brand.

“We are winners by design”.

Creating tangible benefits for my clients, colleagues and community.

“It’s not I’ll believe it when I see it, but rather I will see it when I believe it”

Resolving conflicts quickly, positively and effectively.

“I am no longer disposed to be in conflict with myself or anyone”.

Taking personal responsibility for achieving my own potential.

Like the “Circle of Habit” for Gill in the Fish Bowl…we know how to find and fill a bathtub…no limits.

Excelling in my market area and specialty within the firm.

“What do I want to do most?”

Focusing on the positive and possible.

“Impossibilities become possibilities; possibilities become probabilities; probabilities become inevitabilities”; it is up to you.

Nurturing my career while valuing the importance of family, health and community.

The balance of life is Spiritual, Emotional, Financial and Physical. Is what you are doing a “contribution or a contamination?”

5 for Friday with Jimena Sayavedra of Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial

This week, our 5 for Friday features Jimena Sayavedra, an Associate Advisor with Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial based out of Chicago, Illinois.

Jimena Sayavedra | Associate Advisor |SVN Chicago Commercial
Jimena Sayavedra | Associate Advisor |SVN Chicago Commercial

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
My geographic focus is Metropolitan Chicago industrial corridors and my product specialty is Industrial sales and leasing.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
I believe that targeted well-planned networking is a very powerful tool to grow connections not only for career advancement but especially to grow our real estate practice. Either face-to-face networking or via social media, It creates opportunities to initiate conversations to connect with people and discuss problems and solutions with sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants.

Another foundation of any real estate practice is cold calling, which goes hand-and-hand with networking, since both require excellent communication skills, industry knowledge and confidence. Tackling these two tasks I think are fundamental steps to develop and maintain a strong database of clients, which is the groundwork for my practice as a commercial real estate advisor.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
Since I am newer to the brokerage business, I would say definitely social media is a game changer in all that we do. It makes us more efficient because it allows us initiating or following up on connections and relationships  with more people.  For us in the commercial real estate business, it is a great advantage to connect digitally with members within companies, groups, associations where we can start conversations and find leads. I think it is a great complement to the permanent cold calling that is part of our daily practice.

I am now focusing on prospecting and will follow with developing my “presence.”

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
“Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg. I think Sandberg with this book has opened up so many issues related to women and  work and how women tend to hold back when we actually have everything to succeed in the business world and bring more women to leadership positions. I think a lot of what she says in her book is very applicable to women in the male dominated real estate sector, where we women bring skills that add great value to this profession.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I am a marathon runner, I have completed 18 marathons, including 2 Boston, 10 Chicago, 1 New York among others. I just finished Boston.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: SVN/Walt Arnold Commerical Brokerage, Inc. in Albuquerque, NM

This week, we turn the spotlight on SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. with offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Walt Arnold | Managing Director | SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc.
Walt Arnold | Managing Director | SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc.

1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
The strategy has been to create an environment for brokers to have the tools to compete, fulfill and win business, employing brokers and staff that are committed to showing up and working hard, hiring quality brokers that fit into the culture of Sperry Van Ness, whether new to the business, mid-career or established veterans. And to have fun in the process, realizing that so much of our careers and life is about the journey. Sperry Van Ness has provided an outstanding platform to recruit high quality individuals to SVN/WACB, Inc. and the Sperry Van Ness story has been instrumental in growing my company and market share.

2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team? 
Almost every Monday is a “Lunch and Learn” and these sessions encompass not only title underwriters, attorneys, contractors, bankers and many other businesses associated with CRE, but we also work on sales skills and other activities that help us all grow in the CRE business. A recent series of Mondays involved going through Terri Sjodin’s tape series title, Small Message, Big Impact, which was about creating an elevator speech. We capped it of by bringing in a local expert on the subject and everyone developed a 30 seconds elevator pitch and presented it. It was a great exercise for everyone regardless of the years of experience.  We also schedule events (baseball games, football tailgate, bowling, billiards, non-profit events, etc.) outside the office quarterly to get out and spend some time together.

 3. What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
Obviously on of the biggest challenges has been to manage cash flow the past several years, which hopefully is starting to improve as we come out of the pit of recession. Another is our goal of continuing to create an environment that’s a great place to work. I mention this as a challenge because it has to be top of mind and takes some detailed effort and energy to continue to improve and to ask how we can do things better for our clients, customers and each other.

SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. Staff at Halloween
SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. Staff at Halloween

4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now? 
When I started with Sperry Van Ness 7 years ago, I had an assistant, a property manager and one broker. Currently now in the office are 8 brokers, a property manager, a property management accountant, a marketing director, and 3 part-time support staff in property management, brokerage and accounting.

Contact:
Walt Arnold, CCIM, SIOR
Managing Director
SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc.
Albuquerque, New Mexico

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness In The News

Many of our Sperry Van Ness offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news. The following is a list of some recent media coverage.

April 30, 2014

Deli 620 moves to PNC Center in downtown Fort Wayne
Advisor: Whitney Peterson
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Parke Group (Ft. Wayne, IN)

April 29, 2014

Broker: ‘Distressed’ Silver Springs hotel sold
Advisor: Bartow McDonald
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Ocala, FL)

Extraction Oil & Gas leases property in Greeley
Advisor: Dan Leuschen & Steve Kawulok
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Fort Collins, CO)

Premium Valve Services takes space in Loveland
Advisor: Craig Hau
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Fort Collins, CO)

April 28, 2014

Firm gets new $4M home, complete with big rig in the sky
Advisor: Mark Motley
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Motley’s (Richmond, VA)

Justice Brandeis’ boyhood home auctioned for $880,000
Advisor: Bill Menish & Don Erler
Office: SVN Auction Services | ErlerMenish (Louisville, KY)

April 25, 2014

SVN Sarasota Office Receives Award
Advisor: Larry Starr
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Sperry Van Ness brokers deal for Midtown Title, INETCO
Advisor: Stan Snipes & David Creed
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services (Brentwood, TN)

People On The Move
Advisor: Alex Ruggieri
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc. (Champaign, IL)

Timeco Systems moves to downtown office
Advisor: Angela Varga & Debra Cooper
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

April 24, 2014

SVN Awarded at Conference
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Sperry Van Ness closes deals
Advisor: Brad Lindburg, Larry Starr & Gail Bowden
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

April 23, 2014

Brandeis childhood home up for sale to highest bidder
Advisor: Bill Menish
Office: SVN Auction Services | ErlerMenish (Louisville, KY)

NNN Burger King Trades for $1.65 Million in South Carolina
Advisor: Adam C. Wells
Office: Sperry Van Ness/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

April 21, 2014

Brandeis home being sold at auction
Advisor: Bill Menish
Office: SVN Auction Services | ErlerMenish (Louisville, KY)

April 20, 2014

Louis Brandeis Boyhood Home Up For Auction
Advisor: Bill Menish
Office: SVN Auction Services | ErlerMenish (Louisville, KY)

April 18, 2014

Kevin Maggiacomo, Sperry Van Ness CEO, Delivers a Diversity Idea Worth Spreading at TEDx Orange Coast
Office: SVNIC

April 17, 2014

Sperry Van Ness Pushing Auction Services Program
Advisor: Jerry Anderson
Office: SVN Auction Services

Sperry Van Ness ramps up auction program
Advisor: Jerry Anderson
Office: SVN Auction Services 

April 16, 2014

Patty McClimmans Named as a ‘Top Achiever’
Advisor: Patty McClimmans
Office: Sperry Van Ness Real Estate, LLC (Naples, FL)

Sperry Puts Foot on CRE Auction Pedal
Advisor: Jerry Anderson
Office: SVN Auction Services

April 15, 2014

Sperry Van Ness advisors and staff attend national convention in Texas
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

 

5 For Friday with Gail Bowden of Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group

Gail Bowden | Senior Investment Advisor | Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group
Gail Bowden | Senior Investment Advisor | Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group

This week, our 5 for Friday features Gail Bowden, an Advisor with Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group based out of Sarasota, Florida.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
My major geographic market is Florida, with Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties being my sub-markets. I have also co-listed with other SVN Advisors on various projects outside of Florida. My specialty is in coordinating and completing complex commercial transactions with multiple players and many moving parts, such as when dealing with a 1031 exchange. I find this type of transaction interesting and challenging at the same time. It is always very rewarding to bring a complicated deal together for my clients. I have a significant amount of experience in dealing with venture capital, project finance, construction, and development.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
My best practice tip for Advisors is to utilize innovative thinking and collaboration. From a client relations perspective, I would recommend finding ways to nourish your relationships through embracing all the tools technology has given us, such as social media as a means for establishing greater relationships with existing clients as well a strong web presence for attracting new clients. If you are not very tech savvy, outsource it. You have to be where your clients are, and the importance of making yourself visible on the web will only increase with time.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
I would have to say technology has had the biggest influence on how I run my business as well as being a great contributor to my success. In fact, technology is changing the way everyone does business and has become a driving factor behind the shifting landscape of the commercial real estate industry as a whole. Technology has caused a major paradigm shift in regard to just about every aspect of our lives.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
“Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway”, by Susan Jeffers

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
Not everyone knows that I am a grandmother of two amazing grandchildren in Utah. They are an absolute joy and I frequently travel to see them just about every two months. It may also come as a surprise to most that I recently completed a 120-mile ride from Orlando to Sarasota on a Tandem bike with one of my SVNCAG coworkers, Bruce Dilges. I like challenging myself and trying new things. I always say that I will try just about anything at least once.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group in Bradenton & Sarasota, FL

This week, we turn the spotlight on Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group with offices in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida.

Tony Veldkamp, CCIM | Managing Director | Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group
Tony Veldkamp, CCIM | Managing Director | Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group

1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
We are very fortunate in our tertiary market to not have any other national commercial brokerage brands with a presence here.  The big firms dabble in our market from Tampa, but our biggest competition is three strong independents and a Coldwell Banker firm.  Commercial agents in our market were seeking a pure commercial real estate firm with national strength and power, but that was still very entrepreneurial and could adapt to the local market.  So Sperry Van Ness was a great fit for them.

My advisors are my best recruiters.  When they are out in the market they keep their ears open to hear of any agents with good talent, who might be looking to make a move.  They all believe in synergy and “activity begets activity”.  So they do not hesitate to bring someone of good quality, and reputation, to my attention.  Reputation and dealing fairly are very important attributes at our office.

Our market area consists of three counties with ten different cities to work in.  So while we have our main office in Sarasota and a branch office in Bradenton to show good market presence in those two counties, we will expand to add a branch office in our third county so no property is further than 30 minutes from any office.

2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team? 
Well you have to be self-motivated to be in this business for sure.  But I do believe in accountability.  I’m constantly questioning my team on their deals, market area, and specialty to have them constantly thinking about how to improve their business.  I also introduce “out of the box” ideas to get them thinking about alternative ways to seek new business.  I make prospecting suggestions and show them potential holes in the market that they can take advantage of.  But ultimately it is up to them.

 3. What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
Since we are only in our 3rd year as a group working together, one of the biggest challenges has been budgeting.  Determining what services we can afford to provide to our agents based on the split arrangement we agreed upon.  We are now able to look back at the past two years and arrive at something everyone is comfortable with.  Also since we only take on experienced agents, and we’ve had tremendous growth there in the past two years, a challenge has been trying to figure out how much coaching each agent will accept, what they need, and what they don’t need.  Some folks you just need to stay out of their way, but be there when they need to bounce ideas off of you.

4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now? 
When I joined the group there were nine advisors and two staff in one office.  Now we have 15 advisors, with 3 staff, in two offices.  Interestingly 4 of the original 9 left us due to poor performance.  So we’ve recruited 10 new advisors in two years.

Contact:

Tony Veldkamp, CCIM
Managing Director
Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group
Sarasota & Bradenton, Florida

The Sperry Van Ness Florida Team consists of experienced Commercial Real Estate Advisors in 22 offices throughout the State. For more information on Tony Veldkamp, CCIM and his team, visit http://suncoastsvn.com.

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

2Q Self Storage Market Update by Nick Malagisi, SIOR

Self storage fared better than every other commercial real estate sector during this past recession. However, the sector was not recession-proof, rather it was recession-resistant. After two years of losses (nine consecutive quarters), the four publicly traded REITS turned the corner and now have reported eight consecutive positive quarters. Occupancies are up; concessions are down; and rental rates are finally climbing back to pre-recession levels. REITS, in general, have outperformed the S & P and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) for all of 2011 and 2012.

The self storage industry has finally begun to consolidate as the number of new construction starts diminished each of the last five years from their peak in 2006. The industry doubled in size from one billion to two billion square feet from 1995 to 2006. The top twenty operators in the USA control less than 20% of the total market. That will change as the REITS, flush with investment cash, acquire and increase their market share in select markets. Similarly, other new sources of institutional monies have been watching the sector and have concluded that self storage returns are as dependable, or even more secure, than the other traditional commercial real estate asset classes. These new funds/buyers are very competitive with the REITS and have forced Cap Rates down to the 5.5-6.5% range for stabilized, class “A”-good quality facilities located in the top 10 markets. Cap rates in secondary and tertiary markets remain in the 7-10% range depending on the age of the facility, location of the property and its demographics.

In terms of financing, self storage continues to enjoy the lowest default rate of any other sector in the CMBS market.  While banks and life insurance companies are more conservative in their underwriting than they were pre-recession, interest rates for refinancing are in the 4.50% to 5.75% range, with an expected 30-35% equity contribution.

Banks and Special Servicers are beginning to foreclose on borrowers that can’t make their mortgage payments or  meet new debt/equity requirements. We should see more lender sales of under-performing assets and notes later on in 2013. Or, the lenders may decide to package their bad loans and sell them via auctions to get them off their books and leave the buyers of the notes to proceed to foreclosure and/or re-sell the notes to the original borrower or the open market. At the end of 2009, the Sperry Van Ness National Self Storage Team participated in a bulk sale when Key Bank was selling a construction loan portfolio with a face value of $32M.

As we look ahead to the remaining half of 2013, we should see industry performance continue to improve; increased consolidation from the larger operators; and financing from the CMBS market become an option for smaller deals; all factors which will narrow the spread between the amount buyers are willing to pay and the amount sellers are willing to accept.

 

Prepared by:

Nick Malagisi
Nick Malagisi, Self Storage Council ChairContributed by:

Nick Malagisi

Chair of  the Self Storage Product Council

 

 

 

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

 

5 for Friday with Mary Ridberg of Sperry Van Ness, LLC

This week, our 5 for Friday features Mary Ridberg, an Advisor with Sperry Van Ness, LLC based out of Phoenix, AZ.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
My product specialty is Retail Leasing, Tenant Representation, and Investment Sales in the Phoenix market with a special focus on my own backyard in the East Valley including Gilbert, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Tempe, and Mesa.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
The power of team work. My partner Rommie Mojahed and I have found that team work extends our business plan beyond where we could reach as individuals. We have found that the male/female team has allowed us to serve the needs of many of our clients’ communication styles. We collaborate, continuously cross check, divide and conquer when necessary, and gain strength from each other’s prospective. We serve as Directors of Leasing for Sperry Van Ness, LLC in Phoenix. We use team work within our office and meet to collaborate twice each month as a group. We find these group meetings a great strategy for producing results internally.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
The past decade has presented the greatest dichotomy to our industry. There was a time of what seemed to be limitless potential followed very closely by a time of great challenge. Survival and compassion for those around us gave way to navigating strategies with colleagues, clients, institutions, and asset managers. Collaboration with individuals we may never have had the chance to serve in such a powerful way took place and as we look back we cherish the place we are today in the journey and the contribution we were able to offer.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath. I find this extremely helpful especially when working in teams to identify individual strengths and how to complement one another. I also recommend The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I traveled for a few years at the beginning of college performing with a group that toured with Doc Severinsen, Sergio Mendez, and Carlos Santana. I was in two T.V. commercials in New York and modeled in Chicago. I lived in Wisconsin at the time and all travel for our performances was by bus. After two years on the road I welcomed the chance to go to college and live in a dorm.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

2013 Sperry Van Ness® Specialty Award Recipients

If you missed the 2014 Sperry Van Ness® National Conference held in San Antonio, TX, you missed all of the incredible individuals and teams who received a 2013 Specialty Award.

The Specialty Awards were given to those who far exceed the everyday commercial real estate responsibilities. These recipients are nominated by his or her peers and are considered leaders within the organization and contributors to the community. As an organization it truly is amazing to see all of the knowledge, character and drive that Sperry Van Ness Advisors possess. Please find below a list of this years recipients.

Firm of the Year: SVN Chicago Commercial
The Firm of the Year Award is given to the SVN office that goes above and beyond to help fellow SVN offices and Advisors. SVN Chicago Commercial has been the host, promoter, and hospitality provider to new recruits, business owners and more. SVN Chicago Commercial always says ‘yes’ to anyone who asks for assistance.

Ambassador of the Year: Alex Ruggieri – Champaign, IL
The Ambassador of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who embodies the SVN culture and helps contribute to the success of the company. Alex is not only a top producer, but he authors articles for major publications, hosts podcasts as well as radio shows. He is a model SVN Advisor.

Team Player of the Year: Doug Wilson – Columbus, OH
The Team Player of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who collaborates in a significant way with other SVN Advisors or offices across the nation. Doug contributes throughout his Mid-West region and assists fellow team members daily.

Trainer of the Year: Curt Arthur – Salem, OR
The Trainer of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who most exemplifies the qualities of a high-caliber mentor. Curt goes out of his way to take a call from a prospect, deliver webinars to new Advisors and continually mentor those in our SVN community.

Innovator of the Year: Justin Horwitz – Phoenix, AZ
The Innovator of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who embraces the latest CRE technology, including all the SVN tools available to enrich business practices. Justin uses the SVN National Sales Calls, Product Councils and various other tools to find, win and fulfill business on a daily basis

Prospector of the Year: Justin Verner – Baltimore, MD
The Prospector of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who consistently prospects and develops a strong pipeline of business for the future. Justin uses all of our SVN tools available while maintaining great relationships and trust with his clients.

Collaborators of the Year: Nicole Abresch – Salisbury, MD & Kassandra Bruhn – Phoenix, AZ
The Collaborator of the Year Award is given to the SVN Office, Advisor or Staff member who takes the SVN dedication to collaboration to the next level. Nicole and Kassandra assisted the SVNIC marketing team with pilot programs and contribute regularly to social media and branding efforts.

Humanitarian of the Year: Wesley Cox – Salisbury, MD
The SVN Humanitarian of the Year Award is given to the Advisor who makes an extraordinary effort to give themselves to their community. The Mission of Mercy, The Christian Shelter, Salvation Army, and the Village of Hope are a handful of the organizations that have benefited from Wesley’s work.

Please join us in congratulating every 2013 Specialty Award recipient, individuals who truly embody the SVN Difference!

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Kevin Maggiacomo's State of the Company Address

The following are the closing words of my State of the Company address at our National Conference in San Antonio on March 13, 2014. I wanted to write them down so that even those who didn’t join us this year could reflect on them. The video of the full speech was circulated to the all Sperry Van Ness® Advisors and Staff on April 7, 2014.

Kevin Maggiacomo, President & CEO
Kevin Maggiacomo, President & CEO

“I want to close out by reminding you of something very special and unique that exists here; something that separates SVN Advisors and the brand from any other firm in the industry, and that’s the SVN culture.  It’s special, almost tangible. It’s real. And as long as we use the Core Covenants to guide everything we do with and for SVN, our unique culture will remain intact.

There are people who don’t fit our culture. Those will always exist. There are advisors who break the rules, and that will happen from time to time.  But from the way in which we collaborate to market properties, to the way in which we clearly place our clients’ interests first, the unique SVN culture is real, is present…and I don’t want to sound like an evangelist but I can feel it in this room.

A company’s culture is one of the only true sustainable advantages SVN or any company has, if you think about it.

Given enough time and money, our competitors can duplicate almost everything we do (they can but they can’t).  They can attempt to hire away some of our best people. They can try to reverse engineer our processes. But the only thing they can’t duplicate is the way in which we live our culture.

The culture to change the industry–we are a company of professionals. Professionals willing to share information and fees, because that’s how we achieve maximum value for our clients.

The SVN brand–synonymous with all of that, and being driven by our firm owners – local ownership – with ties and vested interests in our communities.

Our culture is unique, our culture is brave and I’d like you to give yourselves a round of applause to celebrate each other and company of which you are a part.”

Kevin Maggiacomo
CEO & President
Sperry Van Ness International Corporation

 

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Top CREW #CRE Professionals Meet up at the Sperry Van Ness® National Conference

CREW_GROUP
Diane Danielson, COO with fellow Sperry Van Ness CREW members

A little over one week ago, I was attending SVN’s National Conference which was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on San Antonio’s picturesque River Walk in Texas. Hundreds of SVN Advisors, staff and commercial real estate professionals from over 180 markets across the country came together for two jammed-packed days to learn how to “Win.EveryDay.” (our 2014 conference theme) in their business!

The hotel was abuzz, conference rooms packed, and breakout sessions were in full discussion with numerous deal-making and networking opportunities. We learned about everything you need to know from the top 60 must-have mobile apps, online auctions, how to be properly fitted for a business suit, to how to increase efficiencies to achieve growth and run a more productive business model.

One of many conference highlights was our own SVN parody video of the movie Moneyball, which hit a home run with our all our staff and Advisors. We outlined how we are taking a sophisticated Sabermetric approach and applying the concept of baseball metrics to the CRE business to build a competitive team to “Win. Every Day.” We even had Glenn Morshower, an actor who appeared in the film, reinforce the “Win. Every Day” message in his motivational talk. I am also proud to say we held one of the highest-achieving, Trailblazer Awards Ceremonies in Sperry Van Ness® history that celebrated SVN Advisor victories in 2013!

NC-CrewAmong the crowd of CRE professionals that gathered together, about ten CREW Network members seized the opportunity to talk about CREW, its value and mission. We also spent time together to discuss this year’s 2014 CREW Convention which will be held in Miami this October where SVN will host a booth. SVN/CREW Miami here we come!

SVN is looking for more CREW members. Are you interested? Do you know any fellow SVN Advisors who would be interested? Please contact me!

Authored by Karen Hurd, Vice President, Franchise Development. For more information about CREW Network or about Sperry Van Ness® franchise opportunities, email Karen.Hurd@svn.com.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

The Lipsey Results Are In!

SVN ranks #8 in the Lipsey Survey of the most recognized brands in commercial real estate.

The Lipsey Company once again produced their annual commercial real estate brand survey and the Sperry Van Ness brand continues to excel, moving up from last year.

Lipsey_2014_Badge

1. CBRE
2. Jones Lang LaSalle (tie)
2. Colliers International (tie)
2. Cushman & Wakefield (tie)
3. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
4. Cassidy Turley
5. NAI Global
6. Avison Young
7. CoStar
8. Sperry Van Ness
9. Eastdil Secured
10. DTZ

Click here to see the results of the survey.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

SVN Featured Properties for week of Feb. 10, 2014

Property Location Price Property Type Fee Buy Side
Hampton Court Apartments Baltimore, MD Auction Multifamily 1%
Texarkan Retail Pad Site 1 Texarkana, TX $708,000 Land $21,240
Texarkan Retail Pad Site 2 Texarkana, TX $754,000 Land $22,620
Albuquerque Car Wash Albuquerque, NM $765,669 Land $22,970
7301 Patey Woods Road Newark, MD $850,000 Land $29,750
Amos Garden Apartments Huntsville, AL $990,000 Multifamily $29,700
Medical Office Condo Rehoboth  Beach, DE $1,185,000 Office $35,550
Augusta Lodge Augusta, GA $1,352,800 Hospitality $33,820
Taco Bell Fulton, MO $1,447,000 Retail $28,940
Burger King West Branch, MI $1,476,923 Retail $36,923
Burger King Plymouth, MI $1,792,000 Retail $44,800
Folsum Blvd. Retail Center Rancho  Cordova, CA $1,950,000 Retail $34,125
Wild Frontier Campground Ocala, FL $2,100,000 Multifamily $63,000
Executive Towers San Diego, CA $2,200,000 Office $66,000
Taco Bell El Dorado, AR $2,296,000 Retail $45,920
Commercial Land Georgetown, DE $2,400,000 Land $96,000
Main Street at Hebron Hebron, MD $2,500,000 Land $125,000
1408 Industrial Bldg. Pompano Beach, FL $3,000,000 Industrial $90,000
Townhome Portfolio Amelia, OH $4,600,000 Multifamily $115,000
The Atrium Norcross, GA $5,000,000 Office $150,000
Polo Springs Apartments Bardstown, KY $5,200,000 Multifamily $104,000
Office Building Portfolio Houston, TX $5,550,615 Office $111,012.30

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*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with David Wilk SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate

David Wilk, CRE, MAI, with Sperry Van Ness/Miller Commercial Real Estate
David Wilk, CRE, MAI, with SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate

This week, our 5 for Friday features David Wilk, CRE, MAI, Corporate Real Estate Council Co-Chair and an Advisor with SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate based out of Wilmington, DE.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
Corporate real estate earnings measurement and optimization, strategic marketing plans for excess or under-productive properties, place-making economic development strategies, and corporate/university real estate’s connectivity to social value creation on a national basis.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
Be a great listener first and always make your conversations with others about the value that you can bring to them whether they are a client, friend, fellow human being, or loved one.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
In today’s market, clients don’t like to pay for consulting or advisory services when most other real estate companies give that service away for future transactions.  If you can’t clearly articulate why you add value to someone’s life, business, or real estate, either re-invent your business plan or don’t expect to win much business.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim or The Rise of the Creative Class by Richard Florida

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I developed a “Best of Delaware” restaurant and nightclub called “The Polo Club” in Greenville, Delaware. It was a hot spot from 1988 to 1993 until we sold it to a competitor in 1993.  The Polo Club hosted performances from national recording stars America, Dave Mason, Mamas and Papas (when Papa John was still alive), Drifters, Coasters, Marvellettes, John Sebastian, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Mitch Ryder, and Badfinger. The most interesting takeaway from this business was the marketing and branding benefits to my real estate business that came out of this experience, and the priceless relationships and social intelligence that was gained from those who I met and got to know there.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.