NEWPORT BEACH, CA-An improving market is causingsyndication of real estate investments toincrease. The uptick has manifested itself this year in the form ofnewly established LLCs, private REITs and venture funds, accordingto speakers at a recent Sperry Van Ness brokerforum here titled, “OPM (Other People’s Money): SyndicatingCommercial Real Estate Investments.”

According to Burton Young, principal andfounder of SVN Equities, who gave the firstpresentation at the forum, his 20-year career has included morethan $1 billion in syndicated transactions. His advice? “Work withpeople that are aligned to your personality and interests, peopleyou like to work with, because the relationships you create withyour investors will become lifelong partnerships.”

Young also discussed how the current market is the best time inthe cycle to invest in real estate. “The worst is behind us. Ourgroup has not seen this good of a buying opportunity in years.” Headded that his firm is seeing deals at a 9 cap rate with 50% upsideoutside of California, which is where the company’s attention isfocused. “This is the time you will look back on and say I shouldhave bought.”