Los Angeles Real Estate Development Companies

WSO,

I found out today that my fiancée may be relocated to Irvine in January and I want to get to networking sooner than later so I'm not caught flat footed. I have been to LA exactly once in my life, so I am looking for any local insight into top LA or LA-area development shops - reputation, deal flow, etc. Who are the major players? Who is big and well known but definitely should be avoided? Who is lean and exciting and probably looking to grow?

I currently work for an east coast apartment developer as a DM, although I've been thinking about branching out into different product types for a while now. I have a little bit of office experience in my background, but I would definitely have to learn the ropes if I make that kind of move. On the multi side, I'm a bit concerned about deal flow in California with all of the rent control and NIMBYism I hear about, but I'm not sure if that's mainly horror stories or not.

Essentially, I need to educate myself on LA real estate quickly, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

32 Comments
 

Hines, Related, CIM Group, Trammell Crow Company, Mill Creek Residential REIT, and Greystar all come to mind off the top of my head.

Lots of smaller players who build pretty cool and amazing product out here too. If you want those people then PM me.

 

I am not familiar with their development team but have heard their culture is brutal. Donald Bren is known for being extremely specific about how he wants things done and the timeframe he expects quality work. This culture trickles down from that.

 

While I don't know that I'd call Jamison Services "sketchy" they do seem to have a high employee turnover of fresh USC law grads. I've also heard that they have a "slum lord" kind of reputation..

I'm curious as to why you call them out?

 

I have heard long hours and high expectations but never sketchy. Although the slumlording seems to be an issue with a lot of firms especially in LA. There's a lot of anti-landlord sentiment here

 

Bumping this for 2020. Obviously things have happened over the past 6 months that delayed these moves, but there is always tomorrow.

Any updates on the LA and/or OC markets would be appreciated, as would additional insights in any of the big time players there.

Thank you again to everyone who already answered. I've had some great conversations and met with a number of the companies provided here, but alas, COVID.

 

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