Mike D. Smith

Mike D. Smith
Principal

O: 323.767.2109
mdsmith@lee-associates.com

Mike is a native of Southern California, having grown up in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Mike graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. degree in Finance in 1985. He has resided in Palos Verdes Estates since 1992 with his wife and three children.

After a 3½-year career in the computer industry with NCR Corp., Mike made a major career shift in 1988, accepting a position in commercial real estate brokerage with Coldwell Banker Commercial Real Estate Services (now CBRE) as a sales associate specializing in property sales and leasing.

While at CBRE, Mike attained the title of Senior Vice President, recognizing him for exceptionally high earnings over a 10-year period of service with the company. At the time, this was the highest title possible for a salesperson within CBRE. While at CBRE, Mike attained the honor of the #1 Salesperson in the Los Angeles office in 1994 and finished as a Top 5 Salesperson in the Los Angeles office (out of 50 salespeople) every year from 1991 to 1999. Mike is recognized as one of the top commercial brokers in the Los Angeles region and has earned this recognition through a strong commitment to the local market area and a work ethic comparable to none.

In 1999, Mike accepted a position as Senior Vice President and Principal of Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in the City of Commerce. Since joining Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services, Mike has finished as the #1 or #2 Salesperson in the Commerce office every year.

Mike’s focus has been in industrial and commercial real estate in Los Angeles County since 1988 with an expertise of maximizing property value through the conversion of industrial space to higher valued uses. He has extensive knowledge and experience working with apparel, import/export, distribution, and food companies. His core experience has included corporate relocations, sale/leasebacks, leased investments, landlord and tenant representation, site search and acquisition, build-to-suit projects, land development, and real estate consultation, with a personal transaction value in excess of $1 billion and totaling over 100 million square feet of space. Over Mike’s 30 year career, he is best known for his creative ability to maximize under performing properties by converting an asset to a higher use (creative office, retail, multifamily). Mike has extensive experience working with private investors and family trust ownerships with core competencies in sensitive environmental, legal, and tax matters affecting real property dispositions.

• February 1988 to April 1999:
  CBRE - Los Angeles
  - Industrial/Commercial Sales Professional
• April 1999 to Present:
  Lee & Associates-Commerce, Inc
  - Industrial/Commercial Sales Professional

• San Diego State University
  San Diego, California
  - Bachelor of Science - Finance
• CCIM 101
  - Investment Properties

• Licensed Real Estate Broker
• AIR Commercial Real Estate Association