Middle Market Digest: This Week in Southwest

The summer heat hasn’t slowed down transaction activity. This week, there was a flurry of deals reported across asset classes, as well as some notable employment news throughout the Southwest region. While activity in Los Angeles and Orange County remains strong, capital continues to flood to Phoenix and other outlying markets, like Las Vegas, for better opportunities and yields. Here’s a look at this week’s trends, announcements and deals that you may have missed in Southern California, Utah, Arizona and Nevada.

NEW & NOTABLE IRVINE, CA—Landsea Homes has hired veteran industry executive Tom Baine as president of Southern California Division. Baine brings nearly 30 years of homebuilding experience to his new role, which will oversee the planning, development and implementation of the company’s communities in the region. Baine joins Landsea Homes after a long and distinguished career with Taylor Morrison Home Corp., one of the largest homebuilders in the United States.  His career began in 1990 as a customer service representative, and he continually rose throughout the company before serving the last 14 years as Vice President of Operations, managing numerous communities in Orange County, San Diego County, Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire. The company also announced that longtime Landsea Homes executive Greg Balen will serve in a new role, as the company’s Vice President of Corporate Homebuilding Operations.

SAN DIEGO—John R. Couvillion has joined Murphy Development Company as SVP and director of development. He will be responsible for overseeing the development process at all MDC projects from acquisition and construction through leasing or disposition, as well as analysis of new development and acquisition opportunities. Couvillion is a real estate development executive who has entitled and developed more than 2.5 million square feet of office and industrial properties and entitled thousands of residences during his 30+-year career. Most recently, he served as vice president of development for Badiee Development, involved with the acquisition, entitlement and design of six industrial properties totaling 420,000 square feet in North County. In 2011 he established Integritas Holdings LLC.  Among his projects, he acted as Stone Brewing Company’s real estate development and construction liaison for the recent development of its 55,000-square-foot Packaging Hall in Escondido and Stone’s newest restaurant, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, in Liberty Station.