Newmark Santa Monica Team

Newmark’s Santa Monica team has had a significant impact on the multifamily capital markets and debt sector driven by the sheer volume of real estate transactions it has been involved in since its establishment. The Santa Monica team is led by executive vice chairman Mitch Clarfield, who is one of the most prolific originators in the business.

Since founding Newmark’s Santa Monica office in 2001, he has grown the office to more than 18 employees with average annual debt originations of roughly $2 billion. He is joined by executive managing director Josh Braceros, senior managing director Meghan Varga, and directors Lillian Aceituno, Garrett Swanky and Alec Newman, and VP Josh Kirshner.

This team’s impact in the sector is driven by their significant volume of multifamily debt transactions, having originated $2.25 billion in 2023, an increase of $841 million over 2022—a noteworthy feat given the challenging lending environment. 

The team’s reach within the industry is vast and diverse. In 2023 they provided financing to 22 clients via 33 transactions and 14,677 units across 12 states. A majority of the production volume was on assets located in western states with 63% of loans closed ($1.4 billion) in California, including a $947-million loan on a single multifamily property with 4,429 units in Los Angeles. The financing for this asset facilitated the planned addition of 200 ADUs and the potential release of parcels within the property for redevelopment, all of which will create a significant positive impact to the neighborhood ensuring redevelopment and growth in an area with a significant housing shortage.

In 2023, the Santa Monica team’s production was primarily with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; however, they also provided debt and equity through alternative capital sources as clients’ needs dictated, as well as providing supplemental Agency financing and facilitating several agency loan assumptions. 

The Santa Monica team are also regarded as experts in multi-asset, multi-tranche structured transactions, having completed more than $7.7 billion in structured credit facility transactions, including six transactions in 2023 totaling more than $270 million.

These are some of the reasons we selected the Newmark Santa Monica Team for inclusion in the 2024 Connect CRE Top Mortgage Brokers and Lenders Awards. These awards recognize industry professionals who have demonstrated the highest standards in commercial real estate finance.