The two new hires are Ryan Smith, director of capital markets,and Ken O'Brien, director of investor relations. Hopper says thatAsset Management expects to find more investment opportunities thanit can currently fund, so it has brought on Smith, formerly ofNewport Beach-based Buchanan Street Partners and O'Brien, formerlywith 1031 exchange intermediary Capital Exchange Services, to helpraise more equity.

[IMGCAP(2)]Hopper explains that Asset Management is looking forvery specific types of deals that will meet his and his investors'twin goals: risk mitigation and cash flow. As an example of thetype of deal he is pursuing, Hopper cites a property in North SanDiego County that his firm is looking at right now.

The property is a building that Hopper describes as great realestate that is well-located and is 98% occupied. The owner has $4million cash in the property and a $10.5 million loan that iscoming due. The most he will likely be able to refinance for willbe $8.5 million, or $2 million less than required for therefinancing, and he doesn't have $2 million to make up thedifference.