Bless Jason Little’s heart.

Proof of his brilliance is right there on Page 61 of “Brokers Who Dominate: 8 Traits of Top Producers,” a new book by real estate consultant Rod Santomassimo, profiling Little, fellow Oklahoma City commercial property broker Tim Strange and 21 other real estate rock stars from across the country.

Behold Little’s wisdom:
• “Never say “no” to a reporter or journalist.”
• “Reporters and journalists are always looking for content. Send press releases on everything you do — new listings, recent closings, new additions to the team, $10 million deals, 1,000-square-foot leases, and everything in between.”
• “Make a reporter or journalist’s life as easy as possible. This means well-written press releases with complete information, no grammatical errors, high resolution property photos, and a head shot attached to every release.”

Smart stuff — especially that last one.

Nobudy is perfect. But if you want your stuff to see ink, or be seen under a news organization’s banner on the Internet — as opposed to some freerange blog, a realty company’s website or Facebook — you should aim for perfection. And while low-resolution snapshots usually work online, newsprint still requires real high-resolution photos.

This is a self-serving take on the book on my part — but hey, if you’re trying to get a transaction reported, or a story written, you really do have to help me help you. And I can say that Little practices what he teaches in “Brokers Who Dominate,” by Domus Publishing, $24.99 in hardcover.

Little, now with CB Richard Ellis-Oklahoma, is grouped among “The Young Guns” section of the 259-page book. He was 21 when I first wrote about him in a full news feature story in 2004. Do the math.

Tim Strange, managing director of Sperry Van Ness/William T. Strange & Associates, is grouped among “The Dominators” in the book, which truly is stuffed with advice from successful brokers from all over. Strange was an Eagle Scout.

“I operate my business according to the Scout Law, a set of life principles which was ingrained in me when I was 11 years old,” he said. “I try to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous and kind in all of my dealings with people, whether they be prospects, clients, vendors or my team.”

Strange and I first crossed paths for a news story in 1999, just six weeks after I landed at The Oklahoman, when he was a principal of Wiggin Properties. Strange goes back further than me here, but I can back what he says in “Brokers Who Dominate,” too.

Strange reveals some inside tips to his approach to business, including hiring. Little, without naming names, talks about something that can “make teams and firms totally collapse” — a clear reference to a dustup in 2009 inside a realty firm here that wasn’t reported because, frankly, it was more gossip and personality conflict than news and business.

Most commercial brokers here, if not all, will be able to read between the lines — and they should. So should people who deal with brokers and people who want to become brokers.

All the profiles in “Brokers Who Dominate” are gems, not just Little’s and Strange’s.

with David Burnett, CCIM, Investment Adviser at Sperry Van Ness

Why do you think multifamily investments seem to be the property of choice right now when compared to other commercial opportunities?

DB: Availability of financing is the key factor and answer to that question. Multifamily is the only real estate property type wherein financing can be secured via the federal government.

This is perhaps the biggest factor in what is driving market values. There is no other property type in which you can secure a 4.5% loan with a 30year term without personally guaranteeing the loan.

The GSEs (government-sponsored entities) Fannie, Freddie and HUD account for 85% of all multifamily loan originations. HUD is the primary source for new-construction financing, and Fannie is the primary source for stabilized Class B-type assets.

Local commercial banks are the only lending sources for office, retail and industrial properties, but their capacity to make loans has been inhibited by recently revised government-mandated, capital-reserve requirements. The local banks simply cannot compete with the federal government when it comes to loan terms, and multifamily is the only property type that benefits from such a restrictive lending environment.

In what way does the looming prospect of inflation affect the multifamily sector?

DB: Historically, inflation has averaged around 2.5% per year, and there is a general consensus among economists that inflationary pressures will soon be felt at much higher levels.

Apartment investments offer a hedge against inflation in that leases are short term, usually 12 months or fewer, as opposed to five- and 10-year terms usually associated with office and retail properties.

As well, rising inflation will result in higher interest rates, which will narrow the pool of qualified buyers for single-family homes. If and when these projections come to fruition, the likely result will be higher occupancy and rent growth for multifamily properties.

Could rising apartment occupancies be a reflection of home ownership fading somewhat when compared to years past?

DB: There is significant evidence that the American dream of home ownership has diminished greatly in the last decade. Home ownership has fallen to 66.5% of the adult population, down from 69.2% in 2004.

A recent Harris Interactive poll showed that 70% of Americans aspire to homeownership, down from 77% a year ago. The fallout from the boom years of 2005 through 2007 has resulted in a 22% negative equity on home mortgages. Most of these homeowners who are upside down will most likely be entering the rental pool in the not-toodistant future.

Oklahoma’s single-family picture is much brighter in that only 6% of Oklahoma households have negative equity in their homes. The flip side is that fewer younger people have the required 20% down payment now necessary to become first-time home buyers. Most young professionals earn good incomes, but their credit-card debt outweighs the necessary savings required for such a large down payment.

Aside from purely financial considerations, are younger people today more prone to rent than in generations past?

DB: Yes, I believe so. My generation, the “echo boomers,” seem to have a different mindset than that of our parents. Anecdotal evidence suggests that we are about seven years behind the historical timeline of our parents when it comes to achieving life’s milestones: marriage, kids and buying a house.

It is estimated that there are around 75 million echo boomers, which makes them the largest demographic group in the U.S., behind the baby boomers. Four million echo boomers will turn 18 each year over the next decade, and while they suffered disproportionate job losses during the Great Recession, Bureau of Labor Statistics household survey data shows they are now getting the lion’s share of net new jobs as the economy recovers.

As a result, this age group is projected to add an additional 7 million renters to the national pool.

According to a study generated by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, 80% of all households whose residents are under the age of 25 are renters. So, over the next decade, the largest demographic group in 40 years will be flooding the rental market.

Generally speaking, what are some of the emerging trends you are seeing in the metro area?

DB: I think the biggest trend I have noticed is that young people are either returning to or staying in Oklahoma City after graduating college.

Historically, most young professionals have fled to the coasts or gone south to Dallas, but the overall dynamic seems to be changing. High-quality job opportunities in the energy and medical industries, coupled with the low cost of living, are contributing to recent graduates thinking twice about heading out of state.

Another significant factor contributing to resident retention is the emerging vibrant urban community currently taking shape Downtown. There has always been a strong demand for Downtown housing, but the supply was not yet sufficient to meet the younger demographic demand.

The high-end Downtown condominium developments were not economically feasible for most young professionals, but this is starting to change in a big way.

There are several high-end apartment communities either planned or in some stage of development that are projected to fit within the desired parameters of this younger demographic. These developments will spur even more young professionals to think twice about leaving OKC in order to become a vital part of a vibrant urban community wherein they can live next to and connect with like-minded people.

By Journal Record Staff  Posted: 10:11 PM Thursday, September 22, 2011 
OKLAHOMA CITY (JR) – RKI Exploration & Production LLC, Mariposa MedSpa and Design+Build Group LLC took home top honors Thursday night at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s 2011 Metro 50 event at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.
With two-year revenue growth of 958.43 percent, RKI Exploration & Production ranked the fastest-growing privately held company. The Oklahoma City-based company provides oil and gas exploration and development services. In recent years it’s achieved annual revenues of $5 million to $10 million, and company officials say the growth is expected to continue.
Mariposa ranked No. 2 on the list with revenue growth of 776.65 percent. The medical spa is operated under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor, aided by a highly trained staff that includes physician assistants, nurse practitioners, laser technicians and aestheticians. Mariposa specializes in services including skin rejuvenators like Botox and Restalyne along with other fillers, laser resurfacing treatments and removal of hair, spider veins and tattoos via laser and scleroderma.
Design+Build, posting a 652.52-percent increase in revenues from 2008 to 2010, ranked No. 3 on this year’s Metro 50 list. A midsized general contractor, Design+Build provides services ranging from the conceptual stages of architecture, engineering and interior design, through completion of construction and a certificate of occupancy. Its team handles projects large and small, public and private, and clients include the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the military and universities.
Profiles on the three fastest-growing companies and information on the remaining companies to make this year’s list can be found in the Metro 50 publication inserted into Friday’s issue of The Journal Record.
Sponsors for the 16th annual Metro 50 event included Bank of Oklahoma, Cox Business, Ernst & Young LLP, Express Employment Professionals, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Hartzog Conger Cason & Neville, OGE Energy Corp. and The Journal Record Publishing Co.
Winners
1. RKI Exploration & Production LLC
2. Mariposa MedSpa
3. Design+Build Group LLC
4. Stacey Witter & Associates Inc.
5. factor 110 & Destination Oklahoma
6. KNWEBS, dba Consulting Services Inc.
7. WebDesign.com LLC dba ITHEMES Media LLC
8. Business Data Solutions Inc. (dba Biz Data Solutions)
9. Durante Construction Inc.
10. Crossroads Roofing Supply Inc.
11. Oklahoma Sports and Orthopedics Institute PLLC
12. Pointe Vista Development LLC
13. Interim Solutions for Government LLC
14. Oasis Supply & Trade Inc.
15. Paycom Payroll LLC
16. InterWorks Inc.
17. HomeWetBar
18. @Link Services LLC
19. Objectstream Inc.
20. Central Mechanical Services Inc.
21. Comtech Design Print & Mail
22. Sperry Van Ness/William T. Strange & Associates
23. Gideon Steel Panel Company LLC
24. Private Jets Inc.
25. EMCS Inc.
26. The Beam Store Inc.
27. Miller-Tippens Construction LLC
28. STAMPSCO Inc.
29. Consolidated Networks Corp.
30. Weather Decision Technologies Inc.
31. CoreVault
32. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores
33. Advanced Network Design Inc.
34. Valair Aviation
35. True Tech Home Services
36. Black Tie Valet Parking Service Inc.
37. Funnel Design Group
38. ARL BioPharma Inc.
39. 4 Corners Construction LLC
40. DeatschWerks
41. Saxum
42. Cobb Engineering Co.
43. Shred-OK Inc. dba Absolute Data Shredding Inc.
44. TriCorps Security
45. Jeff Click Homes LLC
46. DNA Solutions Inc.
47. Natural Water Company LLC
48. Chappell Supply & Equipment
49. Mathena Inc.
50. Basin Environment & Safety Technologies LLC

Tim Strange

Managing Director, William T. Strange & Associates / Sperry Van Ness

Tim Strange serves as the Managing Director for Sperry Van Ness/William T. Strange & Associates, LLC, the #3 ranked office out of 160 SVN offices in the U.S. in 2010 for the second year in a row. The firm was ranked 22nd of the Metro 50 fastest growing private companies in Oklahoma City in 2010 and 8th in 2009.

Strange specializes in the sale and leasing of office and industrial properties in Oklahoma. With 25 years of experience, he has closed over $450 million in sale and leasing transactions in the past seven years at SVN. He is the Regional Team Leader for the Sperry Van Ness Asset Recovery Team for TX, OK, LA, and AR and is on the national Board of Advisors for SVN.

Sperry Van Ness awards include multiple Partners Circle winner, Humanitarian of the Year, and Ambassador of the Year. In 2010 he was the #10 ranked advisor nationally at Sperry Van Ness after being the #1 ranked advisor in 2009, and is consistently among the top producing brokers in his market. In 2010, Strange brokered 10 transactions valued at almost $71 million.

He was recently profiled in the book “Brokers Who Dominate, 8 Traits of Top Producers”.

Strange is a past president the Society of Office Realtors (SIOR) and the only SIOR Office Specialist in Oklahoma City. He is also a past president of the Oklahoma Certified Commercial Investment Members (CCIM) and immediate past president of the Oklahoma City Commercial Real Council (CREC). He serves on numerous civic boards including Leadership Oklahoma City and The Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Strange is an Eagle Scout and has been honored with the Silver Beaver award for service to scouting at the council level. He is also a past director of the Downtown Rotary Club, the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, and the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. He is active in worship ministries at Crossings Community Church and sings in the choir.

Strange earned a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

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