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SEATTLE-Apartment Realty Advisors, the multihousing brokerage specialist, has entered the Seattle market and will be entering the Portland market. The operation is being led by Jim Claeys, a top multifamily producer for CB Richard Ellis for the past three years.

Claeys, a partner in the local office with national partner Jeff Patterson, says making the move was an easy decision: “Their business model…ensures that my team and I are working collaboratively with ARA professionals across the country, not in competition with them… .” By that Claeys means ARA brokers have exclusive territories and refer clients with needs outside their territory to the broker in that territory rather than competing with the other broker or demanding a piece of the ultimate commission.