PHILADELPHIA, PA—Mark Thomson of HFF is totally bullish on the multifamily market, and since 2013, his firm has shot to the top of the league tables in financing multifamily in the Philadelphia market.  Thomson, the senior managing director in charge of HFF's Philadelphia office, will discuss HFF's experience entering the market, when he appears as one of the panelists featured at ALM's RealShare Philadelphia Conference February 10 at the historic Union League Club.

In comments provided exclusively to GlobeSt.com in advance of his appearance at the conference, Thomson says, “We opened the office in December of 2013 and within one year grew from 5 to 18 total people with a coverage in both investment sales and debt.  Even more impressive is that in that short time period, we have already grown to the #1 market share in multifamily sales in the Philadelphia MSA. Most recently, we closed $80 million worth of multi-family in December, $140 in January, and will have another $120mm closing over the next 45 days.  By the time this panel happens, we will be on the market with the newest luxury apartment tower in Philadelphia.”

Thomson calls the market for multifamily properties “sizzling hot,” and says that “We do not see it slowing down in the near future.”

“Core assets are still in high demand.  We recently set the record price per unit in the suburbs and will be doing the same in center city in the second quarter,” says Thomson.  “Value add opportunities, as usual, are seeing even greater demand.  True value-add sales today are seeing an average of 30 tours and 15 offers per transaction and are aggressively pursued by all buyer types, many of which are new to the Philadelphia market.  As we all know, cheap debt and abundant equity have been the main driver for this demand.”

Thomson will join Benjamin Appel, associate director, Healthcare Real Estate Group / Net Leased Properties Group, Marcus & Millichap; Paul Garvey, senior director, Cushman & Wakefield; Kevin Smith, vice president, The Graham Company; Timothy J. Touhey, senior vice president, Investors Bank, and moderator Timothy A. Proctor, senior vice president and regional director, TD Bank, on a panel entitled, “Deal-Flow Discussion: Transactions Outlook for 2015,” scheduled to start at 10:15 a.m. The conference kicks off Tuesday, February 10 at 7:30 am at the Union League Club, 140 South Broad Street, Philadelphia.

“Coupled with outstanding operating fundamentals, I don't see market values slowing down any time soon,” says Thomson.  “It's a great time to be both a seller and a buyer.”

More information on the RealShare Philadelphia Conference is available at http://www.globest.com/events/realshare_event/philadelphia/RealShare-Philadelphia-2015-352566.html.