"Our clients certainly had their pick of any multitude of financing platforms, but they made it clear that they wanted ARA to provide the financing services," says Gary Kachadurian, the company's chairman. "This is a natural expansion of ARA's platform where we're enhancing our service delivery model to include the very critical financing component."

Kachadurian spearheaded the formation of ARA Finance with principal Marc deBaptiste and COO Lisa Robinson. After studying strategy for more than a year, including consideration of starting its own platform, the firm chose to join with CW Capital, a leading lender under Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration.

"We feel strongly that our programs and highly experienced staff are the perfect compliment to ARA's vast, multifamily brokerage operations and deep client relationships," says Michael Berman, president of CW Capital. His firm closed at least $1 billion in multifamily loans last year.