Archie Baker has been a commercial real estate agent with CB Richard Ellis since last April.
SPECIALIZES IN?
Selling and leasing industrial properties and land.
FAMILY ROOTS IN JACKSONVILLE
His father’s side, the Baker family, has been in Jacksonville for four generations. “My great-grandfather owned Baker Holmes Company, which distributed building materials statewide. My grandfather was a doctor and his brother Tom Baker started Florida Rock Industries which is a cement, concrete and aggregate company that supplies heavy building materials. My father owned an insurance agency, Stoudemire and Baker Insurance Agency.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF JACKSONVILLE’S REVITALIZATION?
“It’s very exciting to see the growth in Jacksonville. I’ve spent a lot of time in Atlanta and it’s real exciting to see Jacksonville grow and break out, becoming a second tier city along the lines of Charlotte, N.C. It kind of reminds me of Atlanta 20 years ago and now a lot of Atlanta people are coming down here and getting involved in development.”
BEFORE CB RICHARD ELLIS?
He worked for CSR Rinker in sales and management for three years. “I used to supply contractors and developers with heavy building materials. I worked with developers and from the planning stages all the way to the end where the contractors would supply the product.” Before that he worked at Tarmac America, a similar company.
WHY MAKE THE SWITCH TO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
“I enjoyed working with developers and wanted to be more involved in the end result of their transactions including the sales and leasing. I have known Jim Citrano, (president of CB Richard Ellis) for a long time and he was a big reason for me to get into this. Talking to him about it really sparked my interest. Also, I was tired of relocating as I did in my previous jobs.”
WHY CB RICHARD ELLIS?
“The market presence and Jim Citrano’s experience was a motivating factor. It was a great opportunity to learn under him and his team.”
WHAT MADE YOU SPECIALIZE IN INDUSTRIAL?
“I was very involved in the industrial end with the construction process of the warehouses and that sparked my interest in industrial. It was a natural segue to industrial from my previous jobs.”
HOW IS THE INDUSTRIAL MARKET IN JACKSONVILLE?
“I’m coming in in what is supposed to be a downturn, but I’ve been real busy. I’m working with a lot of people that I have worked with before and I am also working with people that I had competed against when doing site selection so that has worked out well.”
WHAT ARE YOU DOING DOWNTOWN?
“I am currently looking in the downtown area for warehouse and distribution points along the river for various building material companies.”
WHAT PART WILL AN INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT PLAY IN REDEVELOPMENT?
Baker said that industrial real estate agents will work on relocating large industrial companies out of downtown to make way for more higher end office/building users, including restaurants and other entertainment venues.
HOW HAS DOWNTOWN CHANGED?
“It has changed dramatically from the days of shipyards to now, high-rise residential living. They are making a big push for it to be a 24-hour city. I think the demand is there and that there is enough people coming in. As a starting point for buying a house, you could rent a high-rise apartment that has all the facilities that appeal to young people.”
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“Working a deal all the way through to the closing and getting through the due diligence period. Also, the various factors of older warehouses where they have to pass certain Environmental Protection Agencies regulations.”
HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PREVIOUS JOBS HELPED YOU IN REAL ESTATE?
“It helps me in my relationship-type approach while finding and meeting the needs of various people out there who are looking to expand their operations and/or downsize. Sometimes it can have a steamroller effect. You find a company that is growing and needs to buy land to build a new warehouse. You need to find the right zoning for the new property and at the same time they may keep their current warehouse, so you have to lease that out or sell it. The most active market for me has been for companies that are expanding. There are still opportunities in Jacksonville where companies are growing.”
FAVORITE THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“Every day is a different day and a new challenge. It’s not steady at all compared to what I used to do. You have to much more innovative in filling your clients needs.”
ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO NEW AGENTS?
“Get on with a firm that fits your needs the best to help them get up and running as fast as possible. Don’t jump into it haphazardly; have a game plan of what you want to specialize in and then find firms which offer that and that have a good training program.”
BIRTHPLACE
Jacksonville.
HIGH SCHOOL
The Bolles School.
COLLEGE
He has a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in economics from Florida State.
RESIDES
Ortega Forest.
FAMILY
He has been married to Stephanie for almost six years. They have two children, Jack, 3, and Katherine, 1.
HOBBIES
Golf and running.
FAVORITES
His favorite movie is “Braveheart.” His favorite television show is “The Sopranos” and his favorite book is “The No-Spin Zone” by Bill O’Reilly. “I read a lot of industry related-type periodicals, otherwise with a one and three year old my reading days outside of work are relegated to Dr. Seuss and Clifford the Big Red Dog books.” He enjoys visiting Lake Raven in Georgia, where his family has a house. Locally, he enjoys dining at Marker 32. When visiting Orlando, he can’t resist the food at Del Frisco’s.
—by Michele Newbern Gillis