Why Retail Investment Platforms Are Expanding Now

SRS Real Estate Partners has expanded its capital markets team in Southern California, hiring two seasoned investment sales experts, Rich Walter, who joins the firm as EVP, and Pat Kent, who joins the firm as SVP. Both Walter and Kent will be based in Newport Beach. Chris Maguire, CEO and chairman of the board for SRS, says that the new hires should “signal” to the industry that SRS is positioned as a leader in retail capital markets. We sat down with Walter and Matthew Mousavi, managing principal of the national net lease group and investment properties group, to talk about the firm’s expansion both in Southern California and nationally.

GlobeSt.com: Why is this a good time to expand your retail capital markets platform in Southern California?

Matthew Mousavi: SRS has had a strong presence in Southern California since 1989, making this firm one of the longest standing brokerages in the region. As with the other 20+ offices throughout the country, the roots of the company lie in tenant representation and project leasing. By structuring our advisory services from the “bottom up,” from the asset level to capital markets solutions, we are building a platform that will last through any market cycle, with experienced brokers who have gone through market changes. With the momentum of the SRS investment teams nationally, and by growing strategically rather than based on a broker count, we believe we will weather through market changes. Talented brokers will last through market fluctuations, and as this firm has been through many cycles, we are less concerned about the timing of hiring and more focused on aligning with the right people.