Business Details
25 Years
experience
Expert Real Estate Investment Banking Services
We are a boutique real estate investment banking firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with offices in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our expertise spans commercial and multi-family real estate transactions across the United States, with a focus on debt and equity placement, investment sales, and advisory services. Founded in 2001 by Barry Simson and Philip Benditson, we combine over 60 years of collective experience and a track record of $1 billion in closed deals to deliver tailored solutions for our clients. Our approach prioritizes agility, creativity, and direct client engagement, ensuring personalized service without reliance on junior staff.We specialize in complex financing assignments, off-market investment opportunities, and distressed asset strategies, leveraging our extensive industry network to identify unique deals. Our fiduciary commitment remains solely to clients, with no affiliations to capital sources, allowing unbiased guidance through every transaction phase. We emphasize ethical standards, operational efficiency, and innovative problem-solving to achieve client objectives in dynamic market conditions.
Services
Real Estate Financing
Off-Market Investment Opportunities
Workout Strategies
Loan Modifications
DPOs
DIP Financing
Entity Level Financing
Portfolio Loan Sales
Joint Ventures
Recapitalization
Details
- Year established: 2001
Highlights and features
- We offer over 60 years of combined experience in real estate finance.
- Our team provides personalized service with no affiliations to capital sources.
- We specialize in creative solutions for complex financing assignments.
- We have successfully financed and sold over $1 billion in property.
- Our partners personally manage each deal from start to finish.
Services
Real Estate Financing
We arrange debt, mezzanine, and equity capital for real estate projects exceeding $10 million. Our expertise includes construction loans, bridge financing, and permanent capital solutions tailored to borrower requirements. Clients benefit from our relationships with institutional and private lenders to secure optimal terms.
Off-Market Investment Opportunities
Our network identifies unlisted real estate assets through discreet seller connections and smaller brokerages. This approach helps clients acquire undervalued properties without competitive bidding, particularly in distressed or partnership dispute scenarios.
Workout Strategies
We develop customized resolutions for troubled real estate assets, including discounted payoffs, loan modifications, and recapitalization. Our experience navigating market downturns helps clients mitigate losses and restructure debt effectively.
Loan Modifications
We negotiate revised loan terms with lenders to improve borrower viability. Services include interest rate adjustments, maturity extensions, and principal reductions for commercial properties facing financial challenges.
DPOs
We facilitate discounted payoff agreements between borrowers and lenders for distressed assets. This solution allows debt resolution at reduced amounts, benefiting both parties through expedited settlements.
People
Barry Simson
Partner
With 30+ years in real estate finance, Barry previously held senior roles at Finova Capital and Belgravia Capital. He specializes in bridge loans and CMBS lending, bringing hands-on experience from $1B+ in transactions.
Philip Benditson
Partner
Philip has 30+ years of expertise in real estate finance, including roles at major life insurance companies and REITs. A USC graduate and California licensed broker, he focuses on capital structuring and distressed asset consulting.
Questions
What services does SM Realty Advisors specialize in?
We specialize in real estate financing, acquisition advisory, distressed asset solutions, and structured finance for commercial and multi-family properties nationwide.
How does SM Realty Advisors find off-market investment opportunities?
Our extensive industry network identifies unlisted assets through relationships with smaller brokerages and direct seller connections, avoiding competitive bidding.
What experience do your partners bring to client engagements?
Barry Simson and Philip Benditson combine 60+ years of experience, including senior roles at major financial institutions and $1B+ in closed real estate transactions.
How does your firm handle distressed real estate situations?
We provide workout strategies including discounted payoffs, recapitalization, and loan modifications, leveraging experience from past market downturns.
What distinguishes your firm from larger real estate institutions?
We offer personalized service with direct partner involvement, eliminating institutional bureaucracy while maintaining access to institutional-grade capital sources.
