Ken L. Espensen, CCIM
Senior Vice President
Focus
Ken is responsible for identifying new development opportunities and guiding those projects to successful completion. His vast experience enables him to visualize how the steps of a project will unfold and identifying developmental challenges well before they arise.
He focuses on all aspects of the development process from purchase agreement, platting, zoning, closing and site development. Ken is particularly knowledgeable on the civil engineering aspect of projects and is proficient at working with our legal team to achieve all necessary entitlements. In most transactions, Ken is fully involved in the negotiations of complex documents including purchase agreements, easement and restriction agreements, development agreements and lease documents.
Background
A south Texas native, Ken began his career in the Real Estate industry in 1978. He brings more than 35 years of experience representing big-box users as their broker and “quasi-developer” on ground-up construction projects and building renovations to REOC-sponsored investment and development projects.
As the third generation of his family in the Real Estate business, he measures performance by one of his father’s favorite adages, “don’t confuse activity with accomplishment”. Ken is known by his contemporaries as having a reputation for protecting his clients’ interest through his integrity, fair dealings and honesty. Clients and associates alike speak of his unwavering strength of character such that if it cannot be done in a highly ethical manner, Ken simply won’t do it.
Experience
With over forty years in the commercial real estate business, Ken has negotiated and completed hundreds of transactions, over 150 of which were retail “big box” site acquisitions throughout Texas. One of Ken’s greatest strengths is implementing creative solutions to overcome obstacles and roadblocks that can arise in transactions. This brings surprisingly positive results in challenging transactions that would not be successful without Ken’s relentless pursuit of mutually agreeable resolutions.
The priority Ken places on developing relationships has proved to be one of his greatest attributes in his formula for success. His ability to build genuine long-term relationships explains his unprecedented longevity in representing some clients for over 35 years. Ken truly is the quintessential “straight-shooting-Texan”.