Broker Spotlight

CBRE's Colleen McPherson Roble shares state of 2021 healthcare market

Colleen McPherson Roble is a senior associate at CBRE and has over 20 years of experience in sales and leasing in the healthcare industry. More recently, she has focused on meeting the real estate needs of physician groups and investors. Colleen’s connections span nationwide and the relationships she has forged with physician tenants/building owners, investors and healthcare colleagues has led to marked increases in profitability and overall return on investments. Her leads originate from physician practices that lease or own their medical office space. She can be reached at colleen.mcpherson@cbre.com. Let’s get to know Colleen:

RT: What asset class in CRE do you focus on and why?

I have dedicated 20 years to the healthcare leasing and capital markets niche. I started in Phoenix in 2000 as the “office condo queen” and most of my clients were physician owners. As healthcare systems changed, many physician groups became employed by the hospitals. Hospital systems began monetizing medical office buildings to REITs and I adapted by working on sale/leasebacks and leasing for REIT landlords and medical practice tenants.

RT: What are market trends you are experiencing with your clients currently?

COVID-19 has impacted practices bottom line with lower patient visit volumes due to risk/reward concerns for elective procedures and routine appointments. Tele-health has increased tremendously this year, office waiting areas are spread out, patient testing prior to office visits has been implemented and numbers of visitors allowed with patients has been dialed back. I am pleased physicians will all be vaccinated first, as they must be commended for serving patients without skipping a beat even when there was the unknown risk of the COVID-19 virus.

RT: What do you see the local and national CRE rebound including?

We are currently offering a Pandemic Relief Solution for medical practices at the Welltower (real estate investment trust) portfolio of rent abatement for several months in 2021, as this will be with us awhile. With the low interest rates, a new party in the White House and other changes in healthcare we are seeing with reimbursements, I believe we are cycling back toward more physician groups working independently and considering purchasing their outpatient office spaces again.

RT: What have you done to adapt to the changes in CRE?

In order to succeed in healthcare real estate, you must be nimble because outpatient medical office situations are impacted by not only patient demand; but by hospital system strategic plans and capitalization and government. In the end, a medical tenant building is the most solid form of real estate investment, medical practices are stable and always going to be a demand service. From a marketing perspective, the current trend is toward virtual tours with tools such as Matterport and Zoom that are efficient, safer and easier for busy physicians to tour space.

RT: What challenges and opportunities are your main asset classes facing now?

COVOD-19 has posed the biggest challenge this year causing financial strain on medical practices not experienced leading to unheard of requests for rent abatement and reduction of suite size. On a positive note, the pandemic has brought about changes from air quality improvement in the office, to increased tele-health and technology implementation, to improved sanitary protection procedures making a medical office a safer place going forward.

Are you optimistic about the state of the market in Kansas City?

I am optimistic about the healthcare niche in Kansas City as the hospital systems are strong, people are staying in town, as work from home is a more acceptable practice. People are moving to Kansas City due to the better cost of living, again positively impacting patient volume. Once the country has been vaccinated in 2021, there will also be a pent-up demand for elective procedures and in person visits, which will also be positive for outpatient medical office buildings.

RT: Can you share any other current and future projections?

Lease rates will stay solid as they are tied to higher tenant improvement allowances required for medical office than regular office. Shorter term lease commitments may loom, as practices want to stay as nimble as possible as telehealth grows in popularity. Overall, I expect the outpatient medical office market to stabilize in 2021.

Curry's Sweeney signals KC's Northland 'heating up'

Today's MWM Broker Spotlight features Dan Sweeney, a broker and property manager with Curry Real Estate Services.

MWM: Why did you decide to choose a career in commercial real estate?

Sweeney: I grew up with family in the real estate business, so I learned some things by osmosis. I started out in property maintenance and moved into property management taking care of condominium homes associations. In 2019, I made the transition to commercial property management and in 2020, began doing both brokerage and management.

MWM: What are market trends you are experiencing with your clients currently?

I am still seeing buyers and sellers willing to make deals happen. Interest rates being at historic lows are incentivizing buyers to lock in for the long term. With the growing demand in the trucking and related logistics-based groups, I am seeing an increased interest in my industrial properties as well.

MWM: What do you see the local and national CRE rebound including?

A health-safe workplace will be the new normal whatever the post COVID-19 environment looks like. Landlords and tenants will need to adjust to the new norms and create new ways to interact with each other and their clientele to succeed going forward.

MWM: What challenges and opportunities are your main asset classes facing now?

I see the same challenge everyone does – the stress on the retail / service sectors especially where in-person gathering is essential to business success. While we also are seeing changes in how companies make use of office settings vs WFH (working from home), that is somewhat offset by businesses wanting more space to make more space for their workers, with demand particularly acute among legal and financial service providers. And again, industrial opportunities have increased with demand from logistics support, transportation and manufacturing users.

MWM: Can you share any market projections for KC?

I believe the Kansas City commercial real estate market will bounce back given how diverse our industry base is, which shelters our community from major economic downturns. With the new airport, potential new data center coming to the region and the Northland in particular really could be heating up in the near future!




Creativity is key for Keiten Nuspl's client success

Keiten J. Nuspl joined Block Real Estate Services (BRES) in June 2015 after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri Kansas City.

As a licensed sales professional in both Kansas and Missouri, Nuspl has become an expert in marketing and sales of all types of investment and owner-occupant real estate, but focuses primarily on investment property sales including: multifamily/apartments, retail/shopping centers, industrial/warehousing and office/medical buildings. Many of Nuspl’s sales include Section 1031 tax deferred exchanges.

Keiten helps to create value for his clients through individual consultation and consideration of investment goals, tax planning, problem solving and a superior market understanding. He is also involved with the Kansas City Chapter of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM).

In this week’s Broker Spotlight, MWM lasers in on how Nuspl’s vast CRE experience has assisted clients in accomplishing creative solutions to meet all types of investment goals.

MWM: What market trends are you currently experiencing with your clients?

KN: Currently what I’m seeing from clients has been positive because interest rates continue to be at an all time low. Buyers are still very active and looking to close on properties to lock in strong interest rates in case they start to climb in the upcoming years.

MWM: What have you done to adapt to the changes in CRE?

KN: I have adopted to changes in the market by studying current trends to see how asset classes have been affected. This way I can assist owners or buyers with their real estate needs.

MWM: Why did you decide to work in the built environment?

KN: I started in commercial real estate by interning at Block Real Estate Services, LLC when I attended at University of Missouri - Kansas City. After I graduated, I was brought on as a full-time agent shortly after. I have been working as an agent for a little over four years and have been recognized twice as one of Kansas City’s Heavy Hitters. I chose to work in CRE because you are always on your feet and work with some of the most successful people in the business and investment industry.

MWM: What challenges and opportunities are your main asset classes facing now?

KN: One challenge buyers in the multifamily (market) are facing is figuring out if right now is the right time to buy when there is so much uncertainty in the market for the next 6 months to a year. On the other hand, there is a huge opportunity for buyers right now because interest rates are very favorable allowing them to pay higher prices, lock in long-term debt with favorable terms and still meet seller expectations.

MWM: What are your thoughts on the current state of the market in Kansas City?

I’m very optimistic about Kansas City’s real estate market over the next few years even with pandemic that’s currently happening. Kansas City has always been a very stable market and over the last few years has seen a lot of national attraction because of it, so companies and investors have been directing their attention to our market.

MWM: What leads do you look for?

KN: I look for potential clients that need assistance with their assets now or in the future and help them with their disposition plan to ensure they achieve the highest and best return.

MWM: How can prospects contact you for more information?

KN: Prospects can Contact me by my work email knuspl@blockllc.com or my office line 816-932-5531

JLL's Anné Erickson shares, reimagines what's next for CRE

In this week’s MWM Broker Spotlight, we’re featuring a bright and talented commercial real estate associate in the Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Kansas City office - meet Anné Erickson. Erickson maintains a strong passion in her CRE career by bringing together different ideas, people and companies - all in an effort to benefit her clients.

Erickson grew up in the real estate business watching her family invest in real estate across the KC metro since the day US Route 69 came through their family farm just southwest of Corporate Woods. This experience fascinated Erickson, especially from a business perspective of value generation in owning properties and the development activities that took place thereafter.

RT: Tell us more about you and your career, Anné! What first sparked your interest in commercial real estate?

AE: Early in my career, I worked overseas directing investment research projects on emerging global economies. No matter the country, real estate was a central part of this work and how foreign investors can invest in the construction and real estate sector. Like many who were involved in our family real estate through the years, it is to no one’s surprise that I landed my career in commercial real estate.

RT: What excites you about your day-to-day career?

AE: Being let in ‘under the tent’ with clients and prospects. I focus my business in tenant representation, working with the actual company leasing or purchasing property. My job is to understand what my clients are going through from an operational standpoint to identify commercial real estate solutions that will compliment and impact their business plans. It’s not just about finding them a space; it’s about using real estate as a tool to advance their business. The diversity of getting to know different leaders and business sectors in Kansas City keeps it fresh and exciting to me.

RT: What leads do you look for?

AE: I represent businesses looking for real estate. Our team is the tenant representation leader in Kansas City because of our strengths in occupancy planning and financial analysis. And yes, being a rare female in a male-dominated industry, it’s always fun to work with Kansas City’s incredible women-owned businesses!

RT: Can you share how you keep your skills sharp in this competitive industry?

AE: It is important to focus on what skills are unique to you and your team and become the expert in your focus area. The pandemic has made this even more important as businesses are looking to us to figure out what is next. I specialize in occupancy planning as it impacts employee attraction, retention, morale, and overall business effectiveness with office users. In addition to the basic cost of real estate, there are very substantial monetary impacts related to employee productivity, satisfaction and attrition that have a direct relationship with the work environment.

These topics need to also be addressed and considered in the real estate analysis because a 10% increase in workplace staff productivity or a lowering of employee attrition by 5% often can have far more financial impact on your bottom line than saving $0.50 off your base rent.

RT: What’s your vision and advice for a successful CRE industry moving forward?

AE: We can no longer look to the past to understand how business success will be achieved in the future. Every organization must examine the priority areas of their business and begin to “reimagine’ all aspects of business in the context of the new normal. C-Suite teams who successfully reimagine business today will be tomorrow’s business leaders.

I expect the Kansas City real estate market will rebound likely faster than many larger cities in the US. I believe that will be in part because of our diversified economy which helps insolate us from as much market volatility. As well, given the nature of the COVID environment, many companies today have realized the benefits of having a larger and less dense city to conduct operations.

Employees are redefining work and re-entry on their own terms. Business leaders need to redefine the role of their traditional workplace. Workers need to be confident in their health and wellness before they return.

We understand the vast majority of office employees around the country are looking for a hybrid office/work from home situation post-pandemic. Therefore, the office place will continue to play a substantial role in innovation, collaboration and culture creation.

RT: How can prospects contact you for more information?

Anné Erickson

M: 913-220-3636

D: 913-469-4657

Anne.Erickson@am.jll.com

linkedin.com/in/anne-erickson

7500 College Boulevard, Suite 920

CBRE's Shamberger shares KC CRE springboards

As a broker with CBRE, one of the largest commercial real estate services companies in the world, Brice Shamberger shares how anticipating opportunities, seizing competitive advantages and executing the best possible real estate strategies has served as a springboard for him into the Kansas City commercial real estate scene.

RT (Rachel Treanor): What was your lightbulb moment to get into commercial real estate?

BS (Brice Shamberger): My lightbulb moment occurred in college, once I began to appreciate professionals who exhibited a higher level of personal accountability and responsibility. I knew I needed to dive headfirst into something that would require those traits, help me develop as a person, and give me unlimited earning potential. For those reasons and others commercial real estate seemed like a perfect fit. 

RT: Who is your mentor and why?

BS: There are a number of people who deserve credit for how I’ve grown as a professional. As everyone in the industry can attest to, there is no starter manual. However, I look to Brian Bacon within CBRE as a major resource in helping me develop as a brokerage professional. I came on board a few years ago and teamed up with Brian and it’s really been a springboard for me in learning the ins and outs of the business and what it takes to get deals across the finish line.

What gets you excited to get to work every day?

BS: Really, I think just the thrill of not always knowing what’s going to happen next. Whether it be with an ongoing deal, business development, or the little things that we have to proactively take on. That coupled with knowing that the little things I do today are helping to build towards my longer-term goals makes it easier to get up and go to work every day.

RT: How do you keep your skills sharp in this competitive climate?

BS: I really make a point to always be learning new skills and pushing beyond my comfort zone as much as I can. As one progresses through their career I think this is one thing that many of us start to slack on. It’s just as important to work hard on yourself as it is on your job. Both need to happen simultaneously to stay sharp and competitive.

RT: What deal do you wish for in your future portfolio?

I wouldn’t say there is a specific deal I wish for, but with that said, a compilation of multi – market deals for a company looking to expand into other markets beyond Kansas City would be fun to facilitate.

RT: What does a Kansas City CRE Comeback look like to you?

Kansas City has the right fundamentals for companies looking to grow and expand. I think if we can continue to nurture the start – up ecosystems we have and promote the importance of in – person collaboration then the entirety of Kansas City’s CRE scene will be headed in the right direction.

RT: What leads do you look for?

BS: Building owners who are looking to liquidate, exchange, or free up capital. Also, organizations who are looking to create more flexibility and save time and money in what is often times their largest expense, their lease and associated office costs.

RT: How can prospects contact you for more information?

BS: Anytime by phone or email! 816.968.5810 or brice.shamberger@cbre.com.