Poise Your Firm for Long-Term Success

SAN FRANCISCO-The real estate industry is a tale of have’s and the have-nots coming out of the Great Recession. The recovery is real, but from the perspective of the real estate industry, it has been spotty–dependent upon property type sector, geography, capital structure, and other factors. From our standpoint as real estate recruiters, we see this best-of-times, worst-of-times dichotomy across the business. So, for 2014, what do we see as the trends, particularly as they affect executive level employment in the business?

From our perspective, there are four measures that form the basis for long-term success–strong leadership teams, strong operating platforms, strong balance sheets, and a portfolio and strategy that resonates within a particular sector. If a company has these four key attributes, chances are high that it is poised for long-term success. Success is possible in the absence of any one of these elements, but missing two or more suggests it is time for meaningful change. These elements also provide a useful framework for understanding the trends that may lie ahead in the coming year.