Commercial real estate veterans Michael W. Rauch, Tom Robertson, and Jack Lupo have joined forces to launch CRE Florida Partners, LLC, a commercial real estate company providing Brokerage Services, Investment Services, Private Equity & Trust Services, Corporate Representation, Property & Asset Management, and Valuation & Advisory Services throughout the State of Florida.
Rauch, formerly with NAI Global and currently Managing Partner with Rauch, Hartman, Sherer & Co., PA, Robertson, most recently Senior Vice President with Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) in Boca Raton and earlier, a principal with Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT, and Lupo, formally of Jack Lupo Realty Co., bring over 70 years of family history and relationships in Florida commercial real estate to the table.
“I am excited to be working with such exceptionally talented, honest, and hard-working professionals,” said Rauch.
Lupo noted that all of the partners have worked together for many years on a variety of developments and projects and enjoyed the success those partnerships brought.
“What really makes this venture unique is the synergy of different abilities and strengths,” Lupo continued. “It was time we formalized our successful business relationships.”
Today, clients are seeking rooted and innovative partners who understand their needs and objectives, and who share their passion for and commitment to ensuring the success of their business.
“We provide clients with a seasoned team of professionals, connecting local market knowledge with business insight, forming long-term business relationships with property owners, investors and users that go far beyond a single project or transaction,” commented Robertson.
The firm is off to an aggressive start, with offices in 6 counties, including Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Brevard Counties.
The move was announced to peers late Friday.
“The long-term business relationships and market expertise that Mike, Tom and Jack have developed during their careers in the corporate and brokerage communities will be great assets to their clients and the firm’s success,” said Steven Aberman, Director of Real Estate with WBS Properties.
WBS is a 3.5 million SF privately owned portfolio consisting of 42 retail, office and industrial properties in six states.
CRE Florida Partners’ goal is to complement its already expanding business presence throughout the state of Florida by establishing additional brokerage and management offices in all major Florida MSA’s, including but not limited to Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Myers and Jacksonville.
“The idea is to have small offices in the backyards of our clients, in order to be more efficient, nimble and responsive,” said Rauch.
The firm is currently seeking additional brokers and/or operations through acquisition, merger or partnership in the Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, and Jacksonville MSA’s and currently has openings for experienced commercial brokers in its Boca Raton and Pompano Beach offices.
https://sfoba.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/cre-florida-partners.png270274SFOBA STAFFhttps://dev.sfoba.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SFOBA-logo-sharpened-transparent.pngSFOBA STAFF2012-11-22 14:56:422012-11-22 14:56:42Industry Veterans Launch New CRE Firm
The office market along the heart of uptown Fort Lauderdale’s Commercial Boulevard offers easy access to Interstate 95 and Florida’s Turnpike and good bargains for businesses seeking breaks on rent.
The mostly older buildings are losing their appeal as tenants leave the stretch for newer and more upscale complexes across Broward County and South Florida.
Real estate brokers say they’re having to forgo traditional office tenants along Commercial and instead are targeting more medical businesses and schools.
“We’re chasing the deals, just like everybody else in that market,” said Peter Reed, a broker at Commercial Florida Realty Services in Boca Raton.
Another broker was even more blunt.
“It’s like hand-to-hand combat retaining and attracting tenants there,” said Jonathan Kingsley, senior vice president at Jones Lang LaSalle in Miami.
As businesses recover from the recession, the region’s most prestigious office buildings are almost fully leased. But second-tier properties continue to struggle. Tenants often prefer newer buildings to them because they offer more efficient layouts and high-speed Internet connections.
Between I-95 and the turnpike, there are 17 buildings in the Commercial Boulevard market consisting of 1.1 million square feet. The vacancy rate is 27.5 percent, well above the 16.5 percent vacancy for all of Broward, according to Commercial Florida Realty.
A 167,270-square-foot building at 2050 Spectrum Boulevard is almost a third vacant, as is a building at 2101 W. Commercial Blvd. Some of the smaller buildings are half-empty.
BellSouth, Orlove Pharmaceuticals, Northwestern Mutual and the Katzman Garfinkel & Berger law firm are among the tenants to leave the Commercial Boulevard market in recent years.
Katzman Garfinkel leased 18,000 square feet at 1501 NW 49th Street for about three years but left in 2011 when it bought a larger building in Margate.
Along Commercial, the firm often found its parking spaces filled by students from a local college, said Donna Berger, managing partner of Katzman Garfinkel. What’s more, the layout of the building was inconvenient, she said.
“When you’re running a business, you’re looking for a big space, parking, and for it to be easy for clients and customers to find you — and you want them to be comfortable when they get there,” Berger said. We had a happy home there for years, but at the end of the day, we just outgrew it.”
Competition from the Cypress Creek market and other complexes in southwestern Broward will make it difficult for Commercial to make a comeback, brokers say.
“There really is no great hope for that corridor,” Kingsley said. “We project that it will always be a secondary market.”
Colliers International South Florida is pleased to announce that Ronald A. Schagrin, SIOR and Elias Porras, CCIM, SIOR have joined the firm as Senior Vice Presidents.
Schagrin and Porras have both been in the business for over 25 years and have worked as a team representing industrial and office landlords and tenants throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties.
“Ron and Elias are game changers for Colliers South Florida,” says Stephen Nostrand, CEO. “Their experience and track record of memorable client service and expertise in the field of both industrial and office leasing is a perfect fit with our existing team.”
Prior to joining Colliers, Schagrin was a co-founding partner along with Porras of Commercial Property Realty Advisors, a full service real estate firm that operated for nine years, which later became Commercial Property Realty Group. He served as Senior Vice President at Prudential CRES Commercial Real Estate South Florida. His commercial real estate career began at Colliers International South Florida where when he left in 2001 he served as Senior Director. He is a founding Board Member of Gilda’s Club South Florida and has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Currently Schagrin serves as President for the Georgina Dieter Dennis Foundation which provides scholarships to vocal majors attending Florida universities and colleges.
“With the menu of services Colliers is able to provide, combined with my experience of understanding market trends, our clients and our prospects will receive world class commercial real estate options,” says Schagrin.
Porras partnered with Schagrin in the operation of Commercial Property Realty Advisors, LLC (CPRA). He also acted as Vice President/Broker with Prudential CRES Commercial Real Estate South Florida. He began his brokerage career back in the 1980s with Colliers International. Porras is on the National Recruitment Committee with SIOR. He is a member of the South Florida Office Broker’s Association, the Society of Commercial Realtors, National Association of Realtors and Industrial Brokers of South Florida.
“Having vast experience in real estate market trends, relocation services, stabilization and disposition of distressed or underperforming properties, Colliers International’s global offerings will provide my clients with an array of solutions, as well as the ability to tap in to the strength of over 12,300 professionals around the world,” says Porras.
00SFOBA STAFFhttps://dev.sfoba.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SFOBA-logo-sharpened-transparent.pngSFOBA STAFF2012-11-13 20:56:142012-11-13 20:56:14Colliers Brings On Two Veteran Brokers
Now, c’mon…you gotta admit we don’t ask you for much.
And we know you’ve been enjoying our blog posts (the SFOBA blog received a total of 519 visits that yielded 966 PAGE VIEWS last month).
So before you finalize those 2013 marketing budgets, consider sponsoring the SFOBA blog
Sponsorships are just $90 per month and the ads are…
(Check out NAI Rauch Weaver Norfleet Kurtz’s sponsorship ad up there in the top right.)
But remember…Sponsorships are limited.
Call 754.444.0940 or email us at admin@sfoba.comtoday to reserve your spot!
https://sfoba.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/finger-pointing.jpg270275SFOBA STAFFhttps://dev.sfoba.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SFOBA-logo-sharpened-transparent.pngSFOBA STAFF2012-11-07 21:00:242012-11-07 21:00:24We Need Your Support
Bryason Realty Corporation is pleased to announce the exclusive listing for Executive University Courts in Lauderhill.
Richard Gerber, Associate with Bryason Realty, will direct the leasing for Executive University Courts, LLC. Executive University Courts includes 88,800 SF of Class B office space.
https://sfoba.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Executive-University-Courts-Lauderhill.jpg270275SFOBA STAFFhttps://dev.sfoba.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SFOBA-logo-sharpened-transparent.pngSFOBA STAFF2012-11-05 19:40:402012-11-05 19:40:40Bryason Realty Awarded Exclusive Representation For 89,000 SF Office Building
Opportunities to host an SFOBA meeting in 2013 sold out in 25 minutes!
We’d like to thank you all for your support and response! The completed 2013 calendar will be forwarded prior to the end of the year.
We are, however, keeping a “waiting list” for on file in the event that an opportunity comes up. We already have added 6 to our list, but we’d be more than happy to add you. Just let us know.
We hope to see you all on Thursday, November 15th at the luncheon hosted by Pointe Group Advisors and TA Associates Realty at International Place II, 1580 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway in Sunrise.
https://sfoba.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Sold-out.gif270275SFOBA STAFFhttps://dev.sfoba.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SFOBA-logo-sharpened-transparent.pngSFOBA STAFF2012-10-31 20:11:182012-10-31 20:11:18We’re Such A Sell Out
Industry Veterans Launch New CRE Firm
/in News/by SFOBA STAFFCommercial real estate veterans Michael W. Rauch, Tom Robertson, and Jack Lupo have joined forces to launch CRE Florida Partners, LLC, a commercial real estate company providing Brokerage Services, Investment Services, Private Equity & Trust Services, Corporate Representation, Property & Asset Management, and Valuation & Advisory Services throughout the State of Florida.
Rauch, formerly with NAI Global and currently Managing Partner with Rauch, Hartman, Sherer & Co., PA, Robertson, most recently Senior Vice President with Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) in Boca Raton and earlier, a principal with Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT, and Lupo, formally of Jack Lupo Realty Co., bring over 70 years of family history and relationships in Florida commercial real estate to the table.
“I am excited to be working with such exceptionally talented, honest, and hard-working professionals,” said Rauch.
Lupo noted that all of the partners have worked together for many years on a variety of developments and projects and enjoyed the success those partnerships brought.
“What really makes this venture unique is the synergy of different abilities and strengths,” Lupo continued. “It was time we formalized our successful business relationships.”
Today, clients are seeking rooted and innovative partners who understand their needs and objectives, and who share their passion for and commitment to ensuring the success of their business.
“We provide clients with a seasoned team of professionals, connecting local market knowledge with business insight, forming long-term business relationships with property owners, investors and users that go far beyond a single project or transaction,” commented Robertson.
The move was announced to peers late Friday.
“The long-term business relationships and market expertise that Mike, Tom and Jack have developed during their careers in the corporate and brokerage communities will be great assets to their clients and the firm’s success,” said Steven Aberman, Director of Real Estate with WBS Properties.
WBS is a 3.5 million SF privately owned portfolio consisting of 42 retail, office and industrial properties in six states.
CRE Florida Partners’ goal is to complement its already expanding business presence throughout the state of Florida by establishing additional brokerage and management offices in all major Florida MSA’s, including but not limited to Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Myers and Jacksonville.
“The idea is to have small offices in the backyards of our clients, in order to be more efficient, nimble and responsive,” said Rauch.
The firm is currently seeking additional brokers and/or operations through acquisition, merger or partnership in the Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, and Jacksonville MSA’s and currently has openings for experienced commercial brokers in its Boca Raton and Pompano Beach offices.
Commercial Boulevard Office Vacancies Soaring
/in News/by SFOBA STAFFThe office market along the heart of uptown Fort Lauderdale’s Commercial Boulevard offers easy access to Interstate 95 and Florida’s Turnpike and good bargains for businesses seeking breaks on rent.
The mostly older buildings are losing their appeal as tenants leave the stretch for newer and more upscale complexes across Broward County and South Florida.
Real estate brokers say they’re having to forgo traditional office tenants along Commercial and instead are targeting more medical businesses and schools.
“We’re chasing the deals, just like everybody else in that market,” said Peter Reed, a broker at Commercial Florida Realty Services in Boca Raton.
Another broker was even more blunt.
“It’s like hand-to-hand combat retaining and attracting tenants there,” said Jonathan Kingsley, senior vice president at Jones Lang LaSalle in Miami.
As businesses recover from the recession, the region’s most prestigious office buildings are almost fully leased. But second-tier properties continue to struggle. Tenants often prefer newer buildings to them because they offer more efficient layouts and high-speed Internet connections.
Between I-95 and the turnpike, there are 17 buildings in the Commercial Boulevard market consisting of 1.1 million square feet. The vacancy rate is 27.5 percent, well above the 16.5 percent vacancy for all of Broward, according to Commercial Florida Realty.
A 167,270-square-foot building at 2050 Spectrum Boulevard is almost a third vacant, as is a building at 2101 W. Commercial Blvd. Some of the smaller buildings are half-empty.
BellSouth, Orlove Pharmaceuticals, Northwestern Mutual and the Katzman Garfinkel & Berger law firm are among the tenants to leave the Commercial Boulevard market in recent years.
Katzman Garfinkel leased 18,000 square feet at 1501 NW 49th Street for about three years but left in 2011 when it bought a larger building in Margate.
Along Commercial, the firm often found its parking spaces filled by students from a local college, said Donna Berger, managing partner of Katzman Garfinkel. What’s more, the layout of the building was inconvenient, she said.
“When you’re running a business, you’re looking for a big space, parking, and for it to be easy for clients and customers to find you — and you want them to be comfortable when they get there,” Berger said. We had a happy home there for years, but at the end of the day, we just outgrew it.”
Competition from the Cypress Creek market and other complexes in southwestern Broward will make it difficult for Commercial to make a comeback, brokers say.
“There really is no great hope for that corridor,” Kingsley said. “We project that it will always be a secondary market.”
Sources: Sun-Sentinel
Colliers Brings On Two Veteran Brokers
/in News/by SFOBA STAFFColliers International South Florida is pleased to announce that Ronald A. Schagrin, SIOR and Elias Porras, CCIM, SIOR have joined the firm as Senior Vice Presidents.
Schagrin and Porras have both been in the business for over 25 years and have worked as a team representing industrial and office landlords and tenants throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties.
“Ron and Elias are game changers for Colliers South Florida,” says Stephen Nostrand, CEO. “Their experience and track record of memorable client service and expertise in the field of both industrial and office leasing is a perfect fit with our existing team.”
Prior to joining Colliers, Schagrin was a co-founding partner along with Porras of Commercial Property Realty Advisors, a full service real estate firm that operated for nine years, which later became Commercial Property Realty Group. He served as Senior Vice President at Prudential CRES Commercial Real Estate South Florida. His commercial real estate career began at Colliers International South Florida where when he left in 2001 he served as Senior Director. He is a founding Board Member of Gilda’s Club South Florida and has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Currently Schagrin serves as President for the Georgina Dieter Dennis Foundation which provides scholarships to vocal majors attending Florida universities and colleges.
“With the menu of services Colliers is able to provide, combined with my experience of understanding market trends, our clients and our prospects will receive world class commercial real estate options,” says Schagrin.
Porras partnered with Schagrin in the operation of Commercial Property Realty Advisors, LLC (CPRA). He also acted as Vice President/Broker with Prudential CRES Commercial Real Estate South Florida. He began his brokerage career back in the 1980s with Colliers International. Porras is on the National Recruitment Committee with SIOR. He is a member of the South Florida Office Broker’s Association, the Society of Commercial Realtors, National Association of Realtors and Industrial Brokers of South Florida.
“Having vast experience in real estate market trends, relocation services, stabilization and disposition of distressed or underperforming properties, Colliers International’s global offerings will provide my clients with an array of solutions, as well as the ability to tap in to the strength of over 12,300 professionals around the world,” says Porras.
We Need Your Support
/in News/by SFOBA STAFFNow, c’mon…you gotta admit we don’t ask you for much.
And we know you’ve been enjoying our blog posts (the SFOBA blog received a total of 519 visits that yielded 966 PAGE VIEWS last month).
So before you finalize those 2013 marketing budgets, consider sponsoring the SFOBA blog
Sponsorships are just $90 per month and the ads are…
(Check out NAI Rauch Weaver Norfleet Kurtz’s sponsorship ad up there in the top right.)
But remember…Sponsorships are limited.
Call 754.444.0940 or email us at admin@sfoba.com today to reserve your spot!
Bryason Realty Awarded Exclusive Representation For 89,000 SF Office Building
/in News/by SFOBA STAFFBryason Realty Corporation is pleased to announce the exclusive listing for Executive University Courts in Lauderhill.
Richard Gerber, Associate with Bryason Realty, will direct the leasing for Executive University Courts, LLC. Executive University Courts includes 88,800 SF of Class B office space.
Gerber currently represents several Coral Springs listings, including the 80,380 square foot Coral Springs Executive Tower, located at 210 North University Drive.
We’re Such A Sell Out
/in News/by SFOBA STAFFOpportunities to host an SFOBA meeting in 2013 sold out in 25 minutes!
We’d like to thank you all for your support and response! The completed 2013 calendar will be forwarded prior to the end of the year.
We are, however, keeping a “waiting list” for on file in the event that an opportunity comes up. We already have added 6 to our list, but we’d be more than happy to add you. Just let us know.
We hope to see you all on Thursday, November 15th at the luncheon hosted by Pointe Group Advisors and TA Associates Realty at International Place II, 1580 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway in Sunrise.
RSVP NOW if you haven’t already done so!