Five questions with Brad Saville

Brad Saville grew up in a real estate family, so it’s no stretch to find the 40-year-old running his own Wichita commercial brokerage, Landmark Commercial Real Estate.

“My father, Ken, was in real estate, in property management, and I spent a couple of years with him before founding Landmark,” Saville said. Ken Saville operated Transamerican Management in Wichita until late 2010, when he sold the business to Craig Simon and Troy Palmer, who formed Simon Palmer Properties.

Brad Saville is launching his third tour in 2012 as president of the Kansas Certified Commercial Investment Member chapter, a professional organization that serves as the voice of the state’s commercial real estate industry while providing educational and technological support.

What was the lure that drew you into commercial real estate?

“Really, the first passion I had was retail and restaurant work, and I really enjoyed interacting with those types of businesses and concepts. At that time, the real estate market was heating up, there was lots of expansion going on and the excitement of opening new locations and seeing a project from beginning to end, taking it from A to Z and being a part of the opening.

“I really enjoy working long-term projects, as long as someone’s committed.”

How did that grow into the desire to open your own brokerage?

“In the early ’90s we were doing restaurant work for Spaghetti Jack’s and Sub ‘n Stuff and that led into taking on Twin Lakes Shopping Center. Kind of overnight, we had a 350,000-square-foot retail shopping center to lease and manage. Things grew from there.”

What is important to you outside your work?

“My family and my wife. If it wasn’t for Tiffany, none of this would be possible. We have four kids, so she keeps things running smooth at home.

“It could be a 40-hour-a-week job, but the hours can be pretty strange, too. You can be driving a client around the country, on a plane, having a late dinner, and the kids need to stay on their schedule. She does a great job of holding things together. She’s the glue of the family.”

Any hobbies?

“I’m an outdoor person. Horses are my passion. We have certain guys we get together with and do that on Sundays. I’m trying to figure out the hunting thing, too.”

What’s the state of Wichita’s commercial market right now?

“I’m glad you said in Wichita because we’re a lot better off than in several other markets.

“I was in San Antonio a few weeks ago with brokers from all over the country, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and they’re surprised we don’t have more vacant big-box space. All of that got absorbed the last few years. I think we’re going to start seeing more construction, too, in the next 18 to 24 months.

“It’s really hard to predict nationally. If you watch CNBC, they’ll have two days where things are very exciting. And then you learn how the rest of the world affects our economy, and it can put us into a tailspin again. The psyche of the consumer is pretty fragile right now, and I hope that the holiday season and the good shopping numbers will carry us through.”

This story was originally published December 5, 2011 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Five questions with Brad Saville."