What I Know Now: Steven Moreira, CCIM, Director of Global Franchise Sales

In this months’ “What I Know Now” (WIKN) Q & A, we feature Steven Moreira, CCIM, Director of Global Franchise Sales for Sperry Commercial Global Affiliates and BRC Advisors. Since 1978, Steven has been involved in the commercial real estate industry as a broker, builder, lender, and principle. Steven has been a CCIM for more than 20 years and has served in multiple leadership positions within the CRE industry.

We’re excited to feature WIKN with Steven Moreira. Enjoy!

Q: What was the biggest risk you’ve taken that has paid off? 

A: In the middle of the great recession, I decided to walk away from my local business and volunteer more at the CCIM Institute. This led me to winning the 2014 election as First Vice President of the CCIM Institute.  With the help of 2013 President Wayne Damico, we began to develop a national branding and marketing program for CCIM that broadened the recognition of the CCIM designation among major institutional real estate players as the go-to real estate professionals across the US. Over the next four years I traveled over 500,000 miles to 38 states and 11 countries, expanding CCIM brand recognition and my own business across the globe.

Q: What is the best advice that you’ve ever taken and the best advice you’ve ever given?

A: Moe Veissi, 2012 NAR president, had a favorite line: “The more you give, the more you get.” I have found that this works in your church, your marriage, your business—any phase of your life!

Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment or most memorable deal and why?

A: There are so many, but since this is for Sperry…. In 2015 I received a call from an old friend, SVN broker Mark Alexander, CCIM, about a $31.5 million medical office deal he had co-listed in Wisconsin with another SVN broker. I had just left a RealShare Net Lease conference in LA, where I had met a client I knew would buy the building. Sent the deal, and my buyer immediately had a conference call with the seller. Nothing happened. Forty-five days later, after the listing expired, the seller called my buyer to sell him the property and not pay the brokers. My buyer told him that would not happen without paying me, and of course I would not do so without the other brokers being compensated. We completed that transaction successfully and all brokers were paid. Money comes and goes, but you can take integrity to the grave!

Q: What lessons from your parents have you carried through the years? 

A: Never forget where you came from because you meet the same people on the way down that you met on the way up, and always do the right thing!

Q: What have you learned that you would want to pass on to an aspiring broker who is new to the industry?  

A: The two most important ingredients for success in this business are data and relationships. You get the data by sitting in front of the computer and doing the work. You get the relationships by getting away from the computer, picking up the phone and getting out to meet and know your customer. If you don’t want to do both, be part of a team, because you need both to be successful in CRE.