Those attending AIR’s 17th Annual “Market Review & Forecast” dinner event next Wednesday are survivors of a difficult real estate and economic period, and are now positioned to benefit from the vision and trends emerging from this highly anticipated program.

That’s how Past AIR President Bart Reinhard characterized the Jan. 27 event to be held at a familiar private club located at 545 S. Figueroa St. in downtown Los Angeles.  Reinhard ought to know.  He is the capable moderator for the “Market Review & Forecast”, a role he will be capably filling for the seventh time.

“A year ago, when times were especially difficult in real estate and the economy, the brokerage community needed AIR’s market data more than ever.   We survived. Going forward, it will be interesting to see what this year’s Annual Dinner reveals about how we made it through 2009, and the vision it will provide to re-tool for 2010.  This year’s AIR ‘Review and Forecast’ will also uncover the emerging trends in real estate and business to help brokers succeed in the new year,” Reinhard said.  He noted that one area of focus during the Annual Dinner will be indentifying those businesses and business sectors that have emerged strong during the downturn and even capitalized on it.

Reinhard will moderate a blue chip panel of top producing brokers who will highlight the Annual Dinner program.   Panelists, who will present AIR’s signature submarket-by-submarket review and forecast, are Scott Caswell, Delphi Business Properties, Inc. (San Fernando Valley/Valencia); Steve Bellitti, Colliers International (Inland Empire); Rick Ellison, Cushman & Wakefield (Orange County); Dennis L. Sandoval, DAUM Commercial Real Estate Services (East Side); Luke Staubitz, SIOR, and Keith Fielding, The Klabin Company (West Side); Paul Sablock, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. (Central); Dave Drummond, Colliers International (South Bay); Cliff Fincher, Lee & Associates (Mid-Cities), and Paul Farry, CB Richard Ellis (Ventura County).

Outstanding sponsors for the event are Bank of America, Commerce Escrow Company, Duncan Appraisal, Bank of the West, AFLAC, California Statewide, US Bank, and TMC Development.

Essential to the respect enjoyed by AIR and the success enjoyed by its members is the organization’s strict adherence to integrity and honesty among its broker/members.  Central to this is the Association’s “Rules of Professional Conduct”, which prescribes the way members interact in their business dealings in order to ensure that they treat one another with the utmost respect and ethical behavior.  In other locales, where an agent does not belong to a broker-owned and controlled organization like the AIR, it is common practice to have commission or other unethical disputes between brokers.  Moreover, AIR’s “Rules” have been time-tested, and brokers who agree to them when they become part of the “AIR Family” have more collegial, durable, and long-lasting relationships.  In the long run, being candid and truthful is better for brokers and their clients.  If you would like more information or a copy of the AIR “Rules of Professional Conduct”, call Joy De La Cruz at (213) 687-8777.

To Anthony Behar successful brokerage is a matter of developing relationships and, in his particular market focus, is often “a generational thing”.

Anthony is a Senior Associate with 45-year old Major Properties in downtown Los Angeles.  He launched his brokerage career with Major eight years ago.  “Brad Luster (company owner and president) hired me and has been an incredible mentor and friend,” Anthony said.

Focusing on commercial and industrial properties throughout the downtown and surrounding areas, Anthony has sold or leased over one million square feet of space, earning Major Properties’ President’s Award in 2005 and Salesman of the Year laurels in 2007 and 2009.

Reflecting Major Properties traditional thrust, Anthony focuses on landlord/owner and tenant representation.  “Developing relationships with landlords in the Downtown area in particular has been a gratifying experience.   Landlords tend to own multiple properties in this market and typically pass them on to subsequent generations.  We’ve seen this repeatedly at Major Properties.  It’s a generational thing,” Anthony said.

In an interesting twist, one of Anthony’s outstanding recent transactions involved his representation of a leading candy manufacturer in Downtown Los Angeles who required a 100,000 square foot building for expansion.  “After an exhaustive search of the entire region we uncovered a building in San Bernardino which the client acquired for $3.5 million.  You can’t find a building like that with excess land and amenities in the Downtown area,” Anthony explained.  Anthony said his client retains its Downtown locale.  He and Brad Luster also recently represented The Kitchen Warehouse in its sale of an 8000 square foot facility on Washington Blvd. in the Downtown area for $2.3 million.

A graduate of San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Communication, Anthony and his wife, Dana, and their children, Madeline, 4, and Benjamin, 18 months, reside in Encino.  In his leisure, Anthony spends lots of time with his family and several Los Angeles area charities, and regularly works out and enjoys annual river rafting outings with friends on the Kern River.

Los Angeles County
800 W. 6th Street
Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90017
tel 213.687.8777
fax  213.687.8616

Orange County
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Orange, CA 92866
tel 714 538-8432
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