"Today's market conditions demand a new kind of apartment brokerage firm--experienced, professional and connected," Hawks says. "It demands a firm committed to the highest quality research and analysis to give both buyers and sellers complete confidence in the soundness of their market strategy."

He says their alliance with Ross and the Apartment Network will allow them to provide a higher level of service, although he had only praise for Grubb & Ellis.

"The vision for Apartment Realty Advisors is to offer leading-edge services that drive value to owners, sellers and buyers of apartment properties," says Andrews, who will own 25% of the new firm, the same as Hawks. Frederick Ross will own the other 50%. "With the Apartment Network we will be a part of the best group of apartment specialists in the nation."

Brokers at the Apartment Network sell more than $2 billion in apartment communities annually. Each broker in the Network averages more than $100 million in apartment sales annually, more than twice that of the closest national competitor.

Jack Box, president and CEO of Frederick Ross, says he is delighted to have Hawks and Andrews join the company.

"My career in commercial real estate began by selling apartments and 30 years later with Jeff and Doug, there can be no disputing we now provide the best apartment expertise available," Box says.