Area Veterans Launch Hart Advisors

Little came to Hart Advisors from RBC Capital Markets' Real Estate Mortgage Capital. Partner and identical twin Benschneider headed up the Bourn Group's Texas development operations. Little tells GlobeSt.com that neither had worked together before, but the recessionary economy was the perfect time to begin the partnership in this particular endeavor.

"The need for providing asset management expertise in this market couldn't be greater than now," she explains. During times when leasing and disposition activities slow down, she continues, everyone starts paying more attention to operations. "Real estate boils down to basic operations of properties," Little says. "We're moving from a lending environment into an operations environment, and efficient and effective operations are the key."

Little says hers and Benschneider's experience involving everything from lending, to development, to operations management puts Hart Advisors Group in a unique position to understand the owner and tenant side of the equation. Furthermore, executive positions at companies including GE Real Estate (Little) and PS Business Parks (Benschneider) means the company knows how to handle the four product groups of office, industrial, multifamily and retail. "We've worked in all the major markets during our careers," Little says. "Nothing can scare us."

Part of asset management involves building value to make the asset more appealing to a potential investor. And there are potential investors out there. Little says product is starting to move again, though the offerings are primarily distressed and foreclosed assets. Buyers cautious about their real estate investments will be just as cautious when it comes to hiring staff with experience. "That's where we fit into the picture," Little comments.