California + Finance | June 21, 2016

Hot Market: Long Beach’s Multifamily with Robert Stepp

By Dennis Kaiser

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Long Beach is emerging as a hot multifamily real estate investment market. Long recognized for its diverse population, vibrant arts and cultural scene, and popular Grand Prix auto race, Long Beach offers a wide mix of residential offerings within proximity to LA and Orange County. Connect Media asked Robert Stepp, principal of Stepp Commercial, why Long Beach now?

Q: What are the biggest trends driving the Long Beach multifamily market?

A: Location is driving everything. We’re seeing owners of C-area properties looking to exchange into assets in either better locations with more upside, or properties that offer improved in-place cash flow. As the rental market continues to grow, people seem reluctant to purchase properties in C-areas due to their lack of stability. In contrast, properties located in A-areas such as East Village in DTLB and Belmont Shores continue to trade quickly and at record prices.

As we near the peak of the market, these owners are seizing the opportunity to capitalize on high prices and exchange into assets that offer even stronger returns – such as larger buildings in Class A neighborhoods or NNN properties.

Q: How does the Long Beach market fit into a buyers’ SoCal investment strategy?

A: First and foremost, Long Beach is non-rent controlled, so that’s a huge draw that translates directly into stronger returns. The city is also undergoing a major transformation and attracting renters who are priced out of other beach side communities like Santa Monica and Manhattan Beach. As a result, rental rates are growing and investors are seeing better returns.

Q: What are the biggest challenges to getting deals done in Long Beach?

A: With properties trading at a premium, it takes a sharp investor who knows how to renovate and reposition the property to really see the value and potential in some of these deals.

We have one such buyer who has bought several deals from us over the past year – this buyer is new to Long Beach but his entire investment model is based on repositioning assets, so he is able to make sense of some of the deals trading at record prices, where other buyers may not be able to see how they can make it work.

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About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Content and Public Relations for Connect Commercial Real Estate. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 30 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect’s client content operations and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from content strategy, message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. In his most recent corporate communications roles, he led a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, played a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and was responsible for directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest, the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. In addition to his vast commercial real estate experience, Dennis has worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of residential projects such as Disney’s Celebration in Florida, Ritter Ranch in Palmdale California (7,200 homes, 22,000 acres), WaterColor in Florida and PremierGarage in Phoenix. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as Idea Hall and Macy + Associates. He has earned an outstanding reputation with organization leaders as a trusted advisor, strategic program implementer, consensus builder and exceptional collaborator. Dennis has developed and managed national communications programs for Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, both public and private. He’s successfully worked with journalists across the globe representing clients involved in major-breaking news stories, product launches, media tours, and company news announcements. Dennis has been involved in a host of charitable and community organizations including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, BoyScouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and Thunderbirds Charities.

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