Category Archives: Leasing issues

Who Manages YOUR Real Estate? What’s Changed?

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In 1993 I was working for Marcus and Millichap Corporate Real Estate Advisors. Our mission was to provide support for companies who had in-house real estate departments but lacked the personnel to handle the growing workload. Armed with knowledge of how major corporations manage their real estate we served as the out-source assisting them on projects as needed. It didn’t take me long to realize the people who really needed help were the smaller firms (or for that matter…ANY firm) who didn’t have a full time real estate department. Most companies seemed to do a little planning, hire a broker to find them space and negotiate a few deal points then they were left on their own to deal with issues after the transaction was completed. On the other hand, full time in-house real estate departments carefully planned their present and future real estate needs, oversaw all aspects of the transaction and most important, dealt with any issues that came up during the term ranging from landlord compliance to dealing with issues coming out of landlord notices. In 1993 I approach Lou Masotti, the head of the Real Estate Section of the UCI Graduate School of Management with the idea of putting together a study on how companies in Orange County, CA managed their real estate. The findings were conclusive. Most firms assigned their real estate supervision to someone who had little or no real estate background or someone with a bit of knowledge but many other corporate responsibilities. Neither one was a good plan considering real estate represents the number two item on your expense side. The survey confirmed what we all suspected. Attached is a copy of that survey. Here it is, 2014. Has much changed? What are you doing to manage your real estate issues and costs?

Click here for UCI Survey

IREM, and organization of Property Managers

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IREM, and organization of Property Managers recently held a seminar in Costa Mesa. One of the panel discussions dealt with “….good verse great property managers” Definitely a significant topic for discussion. What might have added to that discussion, in my opinion would have been to add various size tenants or their representatives to the panel to ask them that same question. After all, what good is providing a service if it’s not the service your clients need or want…or maybe is just being delivered wrong. Stands true for most all service providers…wouldn’t you agree? http://ow.ly/BGUop

“New” California Bureau of Real Estate Now Has Teeth!

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     Commercial real estate has always been the stepchild of the California Bureau (formerly “Department”) of Real Estate. In years past, most of their oversight was focused on two areas, residential real estate and mortgage brokers. Why?     Because protecting general consumers was foremost. The complaints typically came from individuals who felt they were wronged by a deceitful residential agent or their funds were misappropriated by a mortgage lender. Commercial disputes usually involved in leasing most often went right to the courts for settlement.
Now, there’s a new Sheriff in town.
Commissioner Wayne Bell has turned over a new leaf and is now pursuing ALL unlicensed individuals with new authority to cite, fine and even issue Cease and Desist orders. In the last two months alone, over 30 C/D orders were issued. No stats have been made public that I am aware of as to the fines that were levied but a non-licensed individual can be fined up to $2500 PER INCIDENT due in thirty days. Do the math…a person does 100 leases while not licensed….hummm!!!
These C/D orders mostly come under violations of Section 10131 of the Business and Professional Code. That code states as follows:
     10131. A real estate broker within the meaning of this part is a person who, for compensation or in expectation of compensation, regardless of the form or time of payment, does or negotiates to do one or more of the following acts for another or others:
(a) Sells or offers to sell, buys or offers to buy, solicits prospective sellers or purchasers of, solicits or obtains listings of or negotiates the purchase, sale or exchange of real property or a business opportunity.
(b) Leases or rents or offers to lease or rent, or places for rent, or solicits listings of places for rent, or solicits for prospective tenants, or negotiates the sale, purchase or exchanges of leases on real property, or on a business opportunity, or collects rents from real property, or improvements thereon, or from business opportunities.
(c) Assists or offers to assist in filing an application for the purchase or lease of, or in locating or entering upon, lands owned by the state or federal government.
(d) Solicits borrowers or lenders for or negotiates loans or collects payments or performs services for borrowers or lenders or note owners in connection with loans secured directly or collaterally by liens on real property or on a business opportunity.
(e) Sells or offers to sell, buys or offers to buy, or exchanges or offers to exchange a real property sales contract, or a promissory note secured directly or collaterally by a lien on real property or on a business opportunity, and performs services for the holders thereof.

     There are some clear violators in the commercial segment. Many of these companies or individuals believed they were acting within the parameters of the code based on their responsibilities. They are now finding out the hard way how wrong they are.
For example, many commercial landlords have their property managers negotiate renewals. Other landlords hire salaried “Leasing Managers.” Still other investment companies, usually in the form of LLC’s have a staff person such as an Asset Manager handle either new or renewal leases.
The most common rationales heard are 1) we don’t pay our people commissions or 2) we own our own property so we don’t need to have a licensed person doing our leasing or sales.
Quite the contrary. “Regardless of the form or time of payment” if the employee or property manager as part of their responsibilities does anything related to leasing or sales they MUST be licensed. With regards to “owning your properties,” if you are an individual selling your own home, no problem. However, if you are a corporation such as an LLC the person handling the transaction must be licensed.
And by the way, the designated person must have a Broker’s license and not just a salesperson’s license.
There has been much confusion about this over the years. Consult with an attorney but I will state that based on my conversations with Commission Bell’s office in Sacramento it is pretty clear who needs a license. Don’t find yourself or your clients facing stiff penalties or worse. If you are in the business of leasing or selling commercial properties, hire a licensed broker. On many levels, you’ll be glad you did.

Error in BOE Statements

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Reviewed several BOE statements and found errors from $3K (on 10,000SF) to $400 (on 7500SF). LL’s count on the fact no one looks that carefully. A lease audit that pays the auditor under $10K isn’t worth it for the auditor. LL’s count on that. Based on the former, that LL makes $85K extra per year. REALLY? Who’s watching the kitchen?