Last year is generally considered thestart of this long and bumpy recovery, and for a firm to log in a20% year-over-year revenue gain is a respectful accomplishment,something any major, global company could look to with pride. Butwhat if the year of comparison is 2007, when the industry, still inits heady go-go days, was firing on all cylinders? That's exactlywhat the small, tight-knit team who helm Miami-based United TrustFund has accomplished.

UTF has built that success on a carefully designed, carefullyfocused platform, one that hasn't deviated since president and CEOSidney Domb founded the firm four decades ago: sale/leasebacks.Counter-culturally, it's a success that's been built withoutmultiple offices or in-house experts on the ground around thecountry. But within the narrow scope of its parameters, UTF hasbuilt a solid reputation for service and flexibility.

"All we have is money and experience," Domb tells Real EstateForum. "We're the oldest firm specializing in sale/leasebacks. Butthe key is that we do only sale/leasebacks." That specialty, andthe flexibility UTF displays within that specialty, is what setsthe firm apart from the competition.