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PITTSBURGH-In its first formal financial report since it began trading on the NYSE on Jan. 31, locally based HFF Inc. reported record loan volume, revenues and earnings for full-year 2006. It also hired 87 associates that year, including 10 transaction specialists and opened an office in San Francisco, taking its total to 18 offices nationwide.

The expansion will continue, according to John Pelusi, CEO. During a conference call he said, "we'll continue to fill in the pot. That's a key component of our strategy," and, "we're in very active discussions with a number of players--all high quality people." He identified the multifamily, hospitality and industrial platforms as areas targeted for expansion.

He also said a task force had been formed to explore "how we might go overseas if we have enough clients who want to go there." The determination would be "no different from domestic cities we want to be in. We go where our clients want us to go. We'll take a city by city approach."