GlobeSt.com EXCLUSIVE: Dunn Commercial Expands

Roscoe L. Van Zandt III, son of residential realtor Gloria Van Zandt, has returned from Denver to assume the role of director of Dunn's commercial investment division. Van Zandt was LandBank's real estate manager for acquisitions and development and before that he worked in development and investments for Centex Development and Terrabrook.

Van Zandt tells GlobeSt.com that he has jumpstarted the division with $10 million in exclusive listings from five owners in Tarrant County and the Mid-Cities. Before the year's out, he plans to have a $30 million-plus sales portfolio. In keeping with Dunn's expertise, the thrust will be industrial and office listings. But, Van Zandt emphasizes, there's room for retail "if we can get it."

The game plan will be buy and sell with the new division and lease and manage with the flagship, Dunn Commercial, led by David R. Dunn, one of the region's leading industrial deal-makers and a go-to man for the Great Southwest Industrial District. "It's his (David Dunn) reputation that is driving this growth," says the team's new player.

Van Zandt, three weeks into the job, is courting US and Canadian ties to build a black book of investors, with domestic and foreign properties in their portfolios. He confides he's also talking to several investors who are interested in setting up an acquisitions syndicate. The initiative might not start ASAP, but "it will happen," he vows. Foremost, Van Zandt says, is focusing on developing "solid relationships with investor clients and building owners."

Van Zandt and Dunn started discussing the idea about six months ago. "It's one of the more fun parts of commercial real estate. It's a good future for someone who's focused on it 100% of the time," Dunn says, adding he will divvy his time between his "bread and butter" trade of leasing to buy and sell with Van Zandt. The division starts out as a one-man shop, but interviews are underway to hire a junior broker and an administrative assistant.