This section of the Newsletter is intended to be a more personal and practical look at the multifamily real estate business through my experience,  observations, and industry relationships. In it, I’ll share articles, interviews, market commentary, economic trends, and industry discussions that I believe are important to apartment owners and investors here in Utah.

Over the course of a 40-year career in commercial real estate, I’ve had the opportunity to work as an investor, lender, broker, asset manager, and principal in virtually every phase of the business. I’ve been involved in closing of more than 2,000 properties with transactional volume exceeding $800 million. Nearly all of that experience has centered around distressed, underperforming, or value-add real estate.

My career has included managing the Real Estate Owned Department for a $3.2 billion savings and loan, directing acquisition and disposition activities for a private equity fund focused on non-performing loans, helping grow a multifamily start-up focused on value-add apartment investments, and overseeing asset management assignments designed to improve operational performance and property value.

That background continues to shape the consulting and brokerage services I provide today through Svikhart & Associates and the Concept Multifamily platform. My focus is not simply listing properties for sale, but helping owners identify opportunities to improve operations, increase cash flow, strengthen property positioning, and maximize long-term value — whether they are preparing to sell, refinance, hold, or reposition an asset.

One industry resource I regularly follow is the Walker Webcast, hosted by Willy Walker, Chairman and CEO of Walker & Dunlop. Each Wednesday morning, Willy interviews leading voices from real estate, banking, finance, technology, and business. The conversations are informative, timely, and often provide valuable perspective on where markets and the economy may be headed.

A regular guest on the webcast is Peter Linneman, former Professor Emeritus of Real Estate at the Wharton School and publisher of the Linneman Letter. In his March 11 appearance, Linneman discussed employment trends, the national debt, data centers, and Federal Reserve policy:

The Fed did not reduce its benchmark federal funds rate at its last meeting on March 17-18, 2026, holding the rate steady at 3.50% – 3.75%.

​“Job gains have remained low. A good part of the slowing in the pace of job growth over the past year reflects a decline in the growth of the labor force due to lower immigration and labor force participation. Near-term measures of inflation expectations have risen in recent weeks, likely reflecting the substantial rise in oil prices caused by the supply disruptions in the Middle East. Most measures of longer-term expectations remain consistent with our 2% inflation goal.”

​- Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve

March 18, 2026

“I have never had such a personalized experience when apartment hunting as when I started working with Concept! From the first contact to move in day, everyone I’ve spoken to has gone above and beyond to provide exceptional service. I can’t brag enough.”

Florea Throneberry, Resident