Episode 1: Alabama with Len Shannon, CCIM
Updated: Aug 28, 2020
Dad knew best. How cutting grass led to a Real Estate empire.
Derek's first BrokerLord interviewee is his mentor and business partner, Len Shannon, CCIM. Len and Derek have worked together in Birmingham, AL since 2005.
In this interview, he shares how he became interested in commercial real estate and how he found success. Len discusses his path from brokerage to ownership, in his first deal with Rally's.
"I was hooked. I loved driving by the property. It's like a farmer. A farmer appreciates it more when they're farming their own crops versus somebody else's field"
Derek and Len go over the idea that leases can artificially inflate or deflate the value of the real estate. There are a number of factors that define which scenario is happening, and Len became a master at finding these deals and making them his own.
"Maybe I should have specialized in industrial, but it's really hot showing a warehouse in September in 95 degrees with a suit on... so, I gravitated toward retail."
About Len
With more than 28 years of experience in assembling groups to buy investment properties, Len Shannon brings a unique skill set for delivering real estate solutions. His passion is unlocking value through property repositioning, aggressive leasing, and proficient property management. Len loves helping families achieve their real estate investment goals.
He is a past president of the Alabama Chapter of Certified Commercial Investment Members (CCIM) Chapter, as well as past president of the Birmingham Commercial Realtors Council, and he has served on the national CCIM board as Regional Vice President. He was named a Top Producer in 2005, 2007 and 2014 in the Development Division of the Birmingham Association of Realtors’ Commercial Million Dollar Sales Club, as well as a Top Producer in 2008, 2010 and 2012 in the Investment Division. He is a Life Member of the Commercial Million Dollar Sales Club. Len was named Realtor of the Year in 2017.
Len is also author of The Land Book: Avoiding Mistakes When Buying and Selling Commercial Land. Len received his BS degree in Finance from Auburn University. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design Advanced Management Development program in commercial real estate.
Len has three children and enjoys real-life property management experience by working together on his “gentlemen farm,” gardening and clearing land.
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