LOS ANGELES—Chicago-based value-add investor the Laramar Group has been very active lately in the Los Angeles market. The firm recently purchased a 32-unit multifamily property in Koreatown, marking its 20^th acquisition in the L.A. market in the past two years, and completed its first Los Angeles disposition with the sale of a 44-unit apartment building in North Hollywood. We've heard from other value-add investors recently that well-located distressed assets can be hard to find in this market, so we sat down with Matt Levy, VP of acquisitions at the Laramar Group, to get the inside scoop on the firm's investment strategy, how it is staying competitive to win all these deals and the L.A. markets where it is finding the best opportunities. Here is what he tells us in this exclusive interview:

GlobeSt.com: Tell me about your investment strategy and about your investment goals for the year.

Matt Levy: There is a growing demand from renters for housing options in core locations that provide immediate proximities to jobs, transportation and vibrant restaurant and retail opportunities. The Laramar Group is focused on providing best-in-class product in these established, core locations and ranging from class-A to class-C.