Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Allen.
Mark, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I declared my major in Victoria and John Bragg’s living room. They were the parents of friend Juan Bragg and highly admired by many of my high school peers. I would attend the University of North Texas and met Dr. John S. Baen, professor of real estate and finance. Later I would attend the University of Texas at Arlington and was elected the President of the Student Society of Real Estate in the school of Business.
Upon graduating, I worked at Citifinancial Mortgage and a subsidiary of Bear Stearns in which I would travel about 80% of the month working with a small team to acquire mortgages. While at Citifinancial Mortgage, I would meet a fraternity brother of Phi Beta Sigma from Sacremento, California, Howard Redmond and we created a mortgage office, as well as a business that focused on the acquisition, leasing, and disposition of workforce single-family housing.
After being blessed with success, our small real estate business would take some big hits during the 2008 United States financial debacle. We both went back to school to focus on obtaining a Master of Sciences in Real Estate. I would attend the University of Texas at Arlington, lead by Dr. Fred Forgey now director of real estate at Nova Southeastern University, Professor Michael Buckley, and Dr. Matthew Cypher, now Director of Real Estate at Georgetown University.
Once I completed the program in 2010 and the market was very icy many commercial real estate brokers were having a tough time staying afloat, let alone taking on new talent. After several meetings between DFW and Houston, I secured a seat with Steve Fithian, CCIM at Sperry Van Ness. After three years of working hard, my phone began to ring. Publicly traded firms that initially didn’t have opportunities during the downturn were now offering lunches and so forth. Steve Fithian, I remain close today and communicate regularly.
Following my stint at Sperry Van Ness, I would work steadfast at Marcus & Millichap for five years before arriving at Colliers International within its multifamily platform.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been uphill at times and yet can be richly rewarding if your skin is thick enough to endure. I’ve heard “No,” so much I thought it was my name. It is not a business for everyone as it can be heartbreaking and requires a certain tenacity, as well as patience, long-suffering to a degree, and a certain amount of faith.
Allen Multifamily Team – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Allen Multifamily Team provides a depth of advisory and transaction services for multifamily, mixed-use properties, and multifamily land. Our clients include private investors, partnerships, lenders and institutions. The team has specialized expertise and excels in complex transactions, including portfolio sales, distressed properties, select affordable housing assets, and sensitive 1031 tax exchanges.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Although I have several accomplishments that I am thankful for, I have come to believe making a positive impact in my family, the careers of other professionals or the aspiring, and being to some degree, a vessel to contribute to the undeserved makes me proud. Most acrylic plaques and so forth will wind up with dust on them or in a box. The impact that I make with people in my life and around me is really where it’s at.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1717 McKinney Ave Suite 900
Dallas, TX 75202 - Website: www.allenmultifamilyteam.com
- Phone: (972) 759-7835
- Email: mark.allen@colliers.com
- Instagram: markallenccim
- Twitter: MAARealestate
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-allen-ccim-msre-656b111b/
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