ENCINO, CA-BRC Advisors has opened a new office here, headed by Mark Groves, VP of sales and associate director of operations, who tells GlobeSt.com that the brokerage and advisory firm plans other new offices in Irvine and Calabasas as it continues to expand to take advantage of market conditions. Groves says the reason for the expansion is two-fold. “One, we see an opportunity to expand into new office space right now because of the lowered office rental rates. Two, we see that the market is turning and the worst is behind us, so we are positioning ourselves to take advantage of that,” Groves says.

The Encino office is the seventh in Southern California and the ninth overall for Downtown L.A.-based BRC, which also has offices in Beverly Hills, Manhattan Beach, Downey, Pasadena, Riverside, Houston and Scottsdale, AZ. The Encino office, which opened with four brokers and plans to have seven by the end of April, “gives us a better presence in the Valley,” Groves says. BRC plans a new office in Irvine within the year and possibly within six months. After Irvine, the company plans to expand into Calabasas, which will strengthen its presence in Ventura County, Groves says.

BRC provides investment sales, leasing, asset management and other services for all categories of commercial real estate, Groves tells GlobeSt.com. James Huang, founder and partner of BRC, notes that the company has opened the new Encino office “despite an otherwise challenging economy.” Rich Enderlin, managing partner and director of BRC’s multifamily investment group, adds that the company has been able to grow because of its “conservative and disciplined approach to its management.”

Groves began his career in Downtown Los Angeles at Marcus & Millichap in 2002. During his career there, he received a number of sales achievement awards and a national achievement award. During his career, he has represented both buyers and sellers and has closed escrow on approximately $100 million worth of commercial properties across five states. In addition to Groves, the BRC professionals at the Encino office include VP Orbell Ovaness and senior associates Cory Stehr and Art Sepanian.