Land broker Lee Jones joins Avison Young in Houston
Commercial real estate industry veteran becomes Principal
HOUSTON, Feb. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - Rand Stephens, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the company's Houston office, announced today that land broker Lee Jones has joined Avison Young in Houston.
Effective immediately, Jones becomes a Principal with Avison Young. He will continue to focus on representing users, investors, and developers' land-sales needs.
During his 20-year career in real estate, Jones has also worked with Houston's top home builders and residential-lot developers. He was most recently Senior Vice-President with Houston-based The Betz Companies, and has previously worked with companies such as KB Homes, Lennar Homes, DR Horton, Larson Intermodal, The Sowell Companies, Trustmark Bank, Eagle Oilfield Equipment and Ritchie Bros.
"First and foremost, Lee Jones is the right cultural fit for Avison Young. Client-focused, very intelligent and knowledgeable of the Houston real estate market, Lee is a great addition to our company as we look to further expand our industry relationships in the Texas markets," comments Stephens. "In addition, Lee's expertise as a land broker specializing in the suburban markets is a good complement to our existing team of land brokers who work inside the Loop."
Jones further establishes Avison Young as a premier land expert in Houston following the company's acquisition of Houston-based Mason Partners in January. Acting on behalf of investors and developers, Jones has negotiated transactions that led to the development of raw land into residential communities, industrial facilities, retail centers, churches, schools, gas stations and other properties, while also assisting clients in redevelopment projects.
In addition to facilitating land deals, Jones has brokered the sale of numerous office buildings, apartments and retail centers as well as residential lots in bulk sales to home builders. In the process, he has developed close relationships with engineers, developers, home builders and other commercial and residential real estate industry experts.
Jones holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a CCIM candidate, and a member of the Urban Land Institute and the Greater Houston Builders Association.
"I was drawn to the Avison Young culture of partnership. Being a Principal and having an equity position in the company was also very important to me, and what attracted me to Avison Young," says Jones. "Furthermore, the opportunity to work with some of the top professionals in Houston, including Todd Mason, Jeff Lindenberger, Harry Holmes, Rob Neblett and Darrell Betts, is very exciting. I look forward to continuing my career at Avison Young and working with my new colleagues in Houston and across the company."
Today's announcement comes on the heels of the Houston Business Journal releasing its list last week of the largest Houston-area commercial real estate brokerage firms. Avison Young's Houston office made its debut on the list at number 15.
Furthermore, Avison Young was a winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies program in 2011 and the company announced earlier this week that it had requalified in 2012 to maintain its status as a Best Managed company.
Over the past four years, Avison Young has grown from 11 to 43 offices in 35 markets and from 300 to more than 1,100 real estate professionals across Canada and the U.S.
Founded in 1978, Avison Young is Canada's largest independently-owned commercial real estate services company. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Avison Young is also the largest Canadian-owned, principal-managed commercial real estate brokerage firm in North America. Comprising more than 1,100 real estate professionals in 43 offices across Canada and the U.S., the full-service commercial real estate company provides value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial and multi-residential properties.
For further information/comment/photos:
• Sherry Quan, National Director of Communications & Media Relations, Avison Young: (604) 647-5098; cell: (604) 726-0959
• Rand Stephens, Principal and Managing Director, Houston, Avison Young: (713) 993-7810
• Lee Jones, Principal, Avison Young: (713) 993-7137
Avison Young was a winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies program in 2011 and requalified in 2012 to maintain its status as a Best Managed company.
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For industry news, press releases and market reports: www.twitter.com/avisonyoung
For Avison Young listings and deals: www.twitter.com/AYListingsDeals
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- Editors/Reporters: please click on link to view and download photo of Lee Jones
http://www.avisonyoung.com/sites/default/files/content-files/Media_Room/Temp/Lee_Jones.jpeg
SOURCE: Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (BC)
Media Relations:
Sherry Quan
(604) 647-5098 or (604) 726-0959 cell
email: [email protected]
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