NEWPORT BEACH, CA—Having a number of balls in the air helps Sabal Financial Group LP retain talent and stay relevant no matter what is happening in the real estate market, the firm's CEO Pat Jackson tells GlobeSt.com. As we recently reported, Sabal is bringing to market a $541-million diversified portfolio consisting of 11 different geographically diverse sub-pools. We spoke exclusively with Jackson about the offering and what it means for his company, as well as how the firm stays ahead in the cyclical commercial real estate field.

GlobeSt.com: What was the impetus for this loan sale?

Jackson: It's in the normal course of business, and it's our third loan sale since we started the company. We've been very successful at buying through the entire cycle, and it's a normal process for us to look at our assets and determine the best way of monetizing them in the ventures we've done. We usually classify our assets by region or product class and come up with something that meets with an investor profile in the marketplace. In this case, there are 400 different assets with many different sub-pools that match up with product type, region and other qualifications. We are pleased with the level of interest and activity the offering has generated in the marketplace.

GlobeSt.com: Is this size portfolio sale unusual or typical for you?

Jackson: We've bought more than $8 billion of assets since we've been in business, so in the context of our total investment, the size is neither significant nor insignificant. In aggregate, it's a big number, and of course some bidders will bid on the whole thing, but there are also a lot of different sub-pools by region and product type and performance characteristics that will each appeal to different bidders. It's a combination of various pools that come together to make that big number. We were able to find an optimal time to put these assets to the marketplace when we think it will generate the most interest. It's the right time to move these assets; some have been with us for a few years, and others are more recent acquisitions.

GlobeSt.com: What types of buyers are being targeted?

Jackson: We have some pools that are fee real estate; some aren't notes, and some may be bid on by local or regional investors who want to own real estate. We also have pools of only notes, and investors who have the capability to deal with notes may choose to bid on those. It really depends on their investment thesis. We're trying to attract a broad group of investors interested in the sub-pools.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about your company?

Jackson: We are involved in a lot of different businesses. This is our core business, and we're super successful in it. We made a big name for ourselves when the market was really having troubles. We also have a lending business, and this is the right point in the cycle to be in that space as well—that's really growing. We are also delighted to have a Freddie Mac license, and we're putting an awful lot of new hiring and new growth into those areas. The diversity of our business plan helps us because while we have some businesses that are declining—like the distressed business—the lending businesses are growing, and that gives us a chance to keep our talent in house and provide career paths for them. These long-term ebbs and flows in business cycles will happen, but we are able to keep our talent because if the market has another hiccup we will be able to pick up where we were. With this strategy, we are able to participate in the market in good times and in bad times. If you pay attention to the fundamentals of the real estate, you can do a great job in the lending space.