As published in Commercial Property News, March 1, 2008

Hot Brokers
In a year that saw history-making deals until the credit crunch stymied the market, ingenuity and persistence ruled for the United States' leading brokers. Whether arranging record rents in Manhattan, leasing an award-winning office tower in Miami or landing ownership rights to an ocean liner in California, CPN's Hot Brokers form an impressive lot indeed.

Tom Olson is no stranger to recognition. Coldwell Banker Commercial recognized the senior vice president & principal of its San Diego office as its top salesman in 2005 and 2006. And in 2007, he successfully completed an extremely complex and high-profile deal for the leasehold rights to Long Beach, Calif's Queen's Seaport development, which included 43 acres of bayfront property and the Queen Mary ocean liner that is permanently docked on the site. "It was probably the most unique and difficult deal I've worked on in 34 years (in the real estate business)," Olson said of the transaction, which won several industry awards.

According to Olson, a commitment to forging and maintaining strong relationships enables him to complete such deals. "This whole business is based on relationships. If I do the best job I can for the client and work as hard as I can for them, the rest seems to take care of itself."

Scott Kaohu, CFO of ITEC Properties, has worked with Olson on three 1031 exchanges in the San Diego area. "Tom is very professional and connected," Kaohu said. "He marketed our properties in a very organized manner and generated buyer interest. We felt we got what the properties were worth or more."