PHOENIX, ARIZONA (June 1, 2017): NAI Horizon Senior Vice President Isy Sonabend negotiated the $1.53 million sale of an industrial building at 639 S. 54^th Ave., in Phoenix.

NAI Horizon represented the seller and the buyer in the acquisition of the 11,250-square-foot building located in an industrial subdivision.

The property sits on 2.14 acres. The buyer, EGV Associates of Ontario, Calif., dba AMREP, Inc., is a fabricator of waste collection trucks and mechanisms. Its clients include the City of Phoenix and Waste Management. The seller is Adam Garcia Properties, LLC, of Phoenix.

“Phoenix represents a growth market for AMREP,” Sonabend said. “Increased sales to its client base in Arizona and surrounding states prompted the capital investment for the launching of a fabrication plant and service center.”

The property was built in 2004. It features warehouse clear ceiling height of 20 feet serviced by three drive-in, grade-level doors. The site is secured with a block wall and provides ample trailer parking and outside storage. It is located south of Interstate 10 and 51^st Avenue.

PHOENIX, Ariz. (May 30, 2017) – The American Dream is changing to embody new technologies and desire for different living options.

How are homes of the future being transformed through innovation, including non-traditional options for changing demographics and markets? This and other questions will be answered at its next Main Program as ULI Arizona explores new tactics developers and builders are employing to streamline delivery efficiencies, and ways to capitalize on niche housing markets as unique opportunities.

Housing Our Future: Building For Innovation is scheduled for June 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at The Esplanade Conference Center, 2501 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 50, Phoenix.

Moderating the event will be Tim Sullivan, Managing Principal, Meyers Research. Panelists include Mike Rock, President, Katerra Construction; Scott Root, Director of Virtual Construction, Kitchell; and Brian Stark, Co-Founder, STARKJAMES.

To register, visit arizona.uli.org/event/main-program-housing-our-future/

     TEMPE, ARIZ.  (May 30, 2017) – Fidelity National Title Agency is proud to announce that Leo Sanchez, Assistant Vice President, Commercial Sales Executive/Major Accounts, successfully completed the prestigious Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business Master of Real Estate Development Program.

Leo Sanchez

Sanchez, who has been with Fidelity Title for two years, is responsible for maintaining client relationships, account management, and business development for major accounts in the commercial real estate sector across all asset classes.

In addition to his recently-earned MRED degree, Sanchez also holds an MBA with a concentration in finance from the Keller Graduate School of Management.

“Leo is incredible at building relationships and connecting dots for his clients,” said Diane Day, Senior Vice President | Operations Manager at Fidelity National Title. “His customers deeply appreciate his passion for being a valued partner and we love that he relentlessly stays current and educated on industry trends in the commercial market.”

A native of El Paso, Texas, Sanchez is active in several industry organizations and serves on committees for ULI Arizona and NAIOP Arizona. He is also a member of Valley Partnership. Sanchez has lived in the Valley 17 years. He and his wife, Maricela, volunteer with various nonprofits, working with organizations that serve underprivileged children.

The nine-month MRED program prepares participants to lead real development projects that are environmentally respectful, socially responsible, and artfully designed. It is a transdisciplinary partnership between four highly regarded schools within ASU: The W. P. Carey School of Business; the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law; the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts; and the Del E. Webb School of Construction.

Sale Transactions:

Mark Wilcke negotiated the sale of a 15,097 SF industrial property, representing the buyer, Executive Investment, LLC, for $1.786 million. The property is located at 4148 W. Venus Way, Chandler, AZ. Kent Hanson of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, Tice Family, LLC.

Jeff Adams negotiated the sale of a 2,608 SF office property, representing the buyer, WM Symposia, Inc., for $417,280. The property is located at 2152 S. Vineyard, Suite 102, Mesa, AZ. Tim Tapia of Upland Group represented the seller, TSIT Holdings, LLC.

Rick Foss negotiated the sale of a 2,200 SF industrial property, representing the seller, Danny L. Miller, for $190,000. The property is located at 2434 S. 17^th Place, Phoenix, AZ. Raymond Brown of Person to Person Realty represented the buyer, Ruben B. Solares and Mana T. Solares.

Lease Transactions:

Tyler Smith represented the tenant, Landmark Title Assurance Agency of Arizona, LLC, in a 78-month office lease for 5,105 SF at 2555 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ. Patrick Boyle of CBRE represented the landlord, Esplanade Owner L.P.

Tyler Smith represented the landlord, Pacifica Palm Valley Center, L.P., in a 63-month office lease for 5,473 SF at 1626 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ. Jason Moore of JLL represented the tenant, Jensen Hughes, Inc.

Chris Gerow, Shelby Tworek, Gabe Ortega and Patrick Anthon represented the landlord, The Market at Estrella Falls, LLC, in a 120-month retail lease for 2,500 SF at 1981 N. Pebble Creek Pkwy, Goodyear, AZ. Rich Andrus of Menlo Group Commercial Real Estate represented the tenant, ProSmiles Orthodontics, PLLC.

Chris Gerow, Shelby Tworek, Gabe Ortega and Patrick Anthon represented the landlord, Queen Creek Fiesta, LLC, in a 60-month retail lease for 1,950 SF at 21545 S. Ellsworth Loop Rd., Queen Creek, AZ.

 Sharon Reeves represented the tenant, Renew Sleep Solutions, Inc., in a 63-month office-medical lease for 2,309 SF at 5422 W. Thunderbird Rd., Glendale, AZ. Michelle Rae of Healthcare Management of America represented the landlord, HTA-Thunderbird Medical, LLC.

 Chris Gerow, Shelby Tworek, Gabe Ortega and Patrick Anthon represented the landlord, The Irving O. and Esther S. Kozinets Revocable Trust, in a 62-month retail lease for 1,400 SF at 1800 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe, AZ.

 Laurel Lewis represented the tenant, Crossroads, Inc., in a 39-month office lease for 6,200 SF at 1700 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ. Alexandra Loye of Avison Young represented the landlord, B&B Thomas Road Properties, LLC.

Jeff Adams represented the tenant, Solar Traffic Controls, LLC, in a 37.5-month industrial lease for 4,800 SF at 1155 W. 23^rd St., Tempe, AZ. Rod Crotty & Franklin Connell of Cutler Commercial represented the landlord, (Gary) Zimmerman Properties, LLC.

Jeff Adams represented the tenant, Schetky Northwest Sales, Inc., in a 37-month industrial lease for 4,853 SF at 407 S. 107^th Ave., Tolleson, AZ. John Cohn of CBRE represented the landlord, EJM Oxnard Commerceplex, LLC.

This is the second of a two-part blog dealing with public adjusters and insurance claims. The first blog addressed the question of who is a public adjuster. The following identifies questions and issues to raise when deciding to use a public adjuster. Readers are encouraged to present any questions about their own situation to their state department of insurance or insurance commissioner or seek advice from an attorney.

Part 2

The public adjuster represents the person seeking a claim for an insurance loss. The public adjuster is not employed by a governmental entity, nor is the public adjuster allowed to be employed by an insurance company to assist in processing claims. Please note that insurance companies will have employees or contractors that work specifically for that company to help process claims. These individuals are not public adjusters.

The Code of Conduct for public adjusters states that public adjusters shall refrain from improper solicitation.   This is not defined and each state may have its own definition of improper solicitation.  From a general consumer perspective, you may want to consider the following as part of your decision to hire a public adjuster:

• Avoid the public adjuster who contacts you first, (think ambulance chaser);
• Avoid the public adjuster reluctant to leave a copy of his/her contract for you to review or have reviewed by the representative of your choice;
• Avoid the public adjuster who is not licensed in your state (NOTE: Every state does not require a public adjuster to be licensed. Arizona does require licensing);
• Avoid the public adjuster who offers to “know someone who can do the repair work at a lower price than the market requires” or who offers to do some of the repair work;
• Avoid the public adjuster who asks that insurance proceeds be paid directly to him/her;
• Avoid the public adjuster that does not clarify to your satisfaction, how he/she is paid or if the payment terms are not clear;
• Avoid the public adjuster who gives you legal advice when the public adjuster is not a lawyer or representing you as a lawyer, for example, suggesting that you sue a neighbor or the insurance company.

The public adjuster contract should clearly identify the work or service that the public adjuster will perform. Like all contracts, do not sign it if you do not understand it.  You can take the contract to a lawyer or other representative to review with you before signing.  If you have questions, the public adjuster should be able to clearly explain what he or she will do or not do if you agree to the contract.  The industry has some important questions you may want to ask the public adjuster to help you understand the work involved and how the public adjuster will be paid.

In addition to the basic questions of whether the public adjuster is licensed to do business, additional questions may include confirming whether the public adjuster has a conflict of interest. This is especially important if the insurance claim comes from a situation that affects several property owners in your area. The public adjuster may be representing a neighbor that did or did not do something that contributed to your property loss.   For example, the neighbor may have improperly stored chemicals that added to the spread of fire or changed landscaping that contributed to flood conditions.  It would be difficult for a public adjuster representing both property owners to act in both parties’ best interest.

Finally, there are some little-known realities associated with hiring a public adjuster. In addition to any deductibles described in your insurance policy that may reduce the amount of payment from a claim, the public adjuster’s payment will usually be a percentage of the insurance proceeds paid by your insurance company. Insurance policies rarely if ever, allow for the insurance company to pay for the services of a public adjuster. Another point of clarification pertains to your ability to discuss your insurance claim directly with the insurance company’s own adjuster. Once the insurance company is notified that public adjuster represents your interests, all communications with the insurance company on processing the claim have to be between the public adjuster and the insurance company.

If you choose to terminate the relationship with the public adjuster before the claim process is completed, your contract should clearly state how this may occur. This may be a good time to consult with an attorney to better understand your rights.  You may also seek the assistance of the Arizona Department of Insurance if you believe that the public adjuster is not fulfilling the terms of the contract.

Yvonne R. Hunter is a licensed attorney and the Principal Consultant for YH Strategies, LLC, in Phoenix, Ariz. After a stint with the Arizona Department of Insurance, she learned that many consumers remain unaware of some of the issues associated with insurance products. This blog reflects her opinion and should not be regarded as legal advice. She encourages consumers interested in learning more about their own insurance experience to contact their state department of insurance or insurance commissioner or seek advice from an attorney. If you would like additional information on matters dealing with consumer insurance products, you can reach Yvonne at yrhunteraz@gmail.com. 

     PHOENIX, ARIZONA (May 18, 2017) – NAI Horizon Senior Vice President Mark Wilcke represented the buyer in a $1.786 million acquisition of a 15,097-square foot industrial building at 4148 W. Venus Way at Stellar Airpark in Chandler, Ariz.

Wilcke represented Executive Investment, LLC, dba East Valley Precision of Gilbert, Ariz. The free-standing industrial building will be utilized as a manufacturing machine shop.

East Valley Precision is an Arizona-based company that specializes in computer numerical control milling, turning and surface grinding; waterjet cutting; and a variety of other services. It specializes at machining aluminum, stainless steel, CPM 15V tool steel, titanium, plastics, and a variety of other materials.

“East Valley Precision is in expansion mode and this property will allow for that growth,” Wilcke said. “Available free-standing industrial buildings with yard area in the East Valley are getting more and more difficult to find. The demand is there and the supply is limited.”

4148 W. Venus Way was built in 1998 and features a 2,566 SF office, clear height of 16 feet, 100 percent air-conditioned space, grade-level loading, full power, a fenced yard, and taxiway access.

The seller, Tice Family, LLC, of South Lyon, Mich., was represented by Kent Hanson of Cushman & Wakefield.

This is the first of a two-part blog dealing with consumer insurance issues and public adjusters. The information and issues raised are based on the personal opinion of the author. Readers are encouraged to present any questions about their own situation to their state department of insurance, insurance commissioner, or seek advice from an attorney.

Part I

A recent Arizona court decision dealing with the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire and property owners seeking help from residential insurance carriers may prompt questions about residential insurance and how to process a claim.  The role of a public adjuster raised many questions in court proceedings in which property owners sought relief from insurance carriers and the state of Arizona. Consumers and businesses with property and casualty insurance policies may ask about the role of a public adjuster and whether a public adjuster is necessary to help manage an insurance claim.

What is a public insurance adjuster?

In most states, public insurance adjusters are required to be licensed. For those states that require licensing, a property owner can check with the state insurance director or commissioner to confirm that the public insurance adjuster is licensed and in good standing in your state.

For example, Arizona requires public adjusters to be registered/licensed and will impose sanctions against those who fail to register.

Arizona law defines a public adjuster as “a person hired to adjust, investigate or negotiate insurance claim settlements on behalf of the insured.” (ARS § 20-321) The National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters describes a public insurance adjuster as “an authority on loss adjustments who you can retain to assist you in preparing, filing, and adjusting your insurance claims.”

When would an insured party benefit from the services of a public insurance adjuster? The following provides some reasons for using a public adjuster

• The property destroyed is unique or there is limited information available to support the claim;
• The property owner has limited capability for managing the day-to-day challenges of gathering the relevant information in support of the claim;
• The nature of the loss is complex, involving factors that require extensive research or coordination with third parties.

Once a person decides that a public adjuster is necessary, the next part of this article identifies some things to consider before hiring the public adjuster.

Yvonne R. Hunter is a licensed attorney and Principal Consultant for YH Strategies, LLC, in Phoenix, Ariz. After a stint with the Arizona Department of Insurance, she learned that many consumers remain unaware of some of the issues associated with insurance products. This blog reflects her opinion and should not be regarded as legal advice. She encourages consumers interested in learning more about their own insurance experience to contact their state department of insurance or insurance commissioner or seek advice from an attorney. If you would like additional information on matters dealing with consumer insurance products, you can reach Yvonne at yrhunteraz@gmail.com.

PHOENIX, Ariz. (May 16, 2017) – W&W Structural, Inc., a woman-owned structural steel subcontractor, has added a vice president of operations and project manager to its growing team in its Tempe, Ariz., office.

President/Owner Jodi Malenfant announced the hiring of Les McCauley as vice president of operations and Beth Ehrhardt as project manager.

Les McCauley

McCauley joins W&W Structural after a stint of 16 years at Agate Steel.  A native of Walla Walla, Wash., McCauley will assist, direct, and coordinate all aspects of operations to improve performance, productivity, efficiency, and company profitability.

McCauley moved to Phoenix in 1984 and began a career as a structural steel laborer. Over the next 33 years he worked as a welder, fitter, equipment operator, shop foreman, project manager, and general manager.

“Les possesses a wealth of experience and industry knowledge that makes him a key addition to the W&W Structural family,” Malenfant said. “We are fortunate to add Beth as project manager. As the construction and commercial real estate industries continue to grow again we’re thrilled to see our company grow as well.”

Beth Ehrhardt

Ehrhardt, a native of Chicago who was raised in Miami, Fla., joins W&W from Schuff Steel, where she spent 15 years as a project manager. Her work experience includes stints at Dick Corporation of Puerto Rico and Kiewit.

     PHOENIX, ARIZONA (May 16, 2017): NAI Horizon Senior Vice President Rick Foss represented the seller in a $1.92 million entitled land sale of 3.35 acres at the SWC of Price Road and Spectrum Boulevard in Chandler, Ariz.

Foss represented businesswoman Chong Cho of Chandler in the disposition of the land that she had purchased more than 10 years ago.

“This sale presents the highest sale comp for land of its type in the Price Road Corridor,” Foss said. “We were approached by a large number of serious investors due to its size and location in that prestigious, and highly desirable corridor.

“The seller chose to accept the buyer’s offer because they came in with one of the highest offers, reasonable escrow terms, and a project that the City of Chandler would approve. The buyer’s agent informed the seller that they intend to construct a multi-story medical office building on the site. They should be very successful in this venture,” Foss said.

The buyer, Price Novo, LLC of Chandler, was represented by Dan Noma of Venture Real Estate & Investment.