We’re a different kind of investment
firm and here’s why...
...we have a very experienced team.
Greg Engler
Founder & CEO
o: 678-762-3391
c: 404-384-3900
12600 Deerfield Parkway
Suite 100
Alpharetta, GA 30004
With over thirty-five years of real estate experience and the past twenty-five years focused solely on multifamily investment sales and equity raises, Greg Engler brings a wealth of experience and relationships to the Engler Realty Advisors (ERA) platform. Mr. Engler sold his investment sales company, Engler Financial Group to Walker & Dunlop in 2015 and for over five years helped build a national investment sales platform that today employs over 100 brokers in twenty-five cities and generates billions of sales volume.
A s the founder and CEO of Engler Financial Group (EFG), Mr. Engler was responsible for overseeing the sale and/or placement for over 200 transactions representing over $9.2 billion. Prior to opening Engler Financial Group in 2003, he was the East Coast Partner for Moran & Company and closed over $1 billion in transactions. Prior to joining Moran & Company, Mr. Engler was responsible for acquisitions and development in the Southeast for Archstone Communities. Before Archstone, Mr. Engler spent eight years at Travelers Realty Investments overseeing JV equity developments, asset management, dispositions, and loan production.
Mr. Engler received his bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering from the University of Nebraska and an MBA in Real Estate from Southern Methodist University. He is a member of the ULI Bronze Multifamily Council and on the Board of Directors for NMHC.
Mr. Engler has been involved in billions of transactions with virtually all active participants in the multifamily industry including national and regional developers, institutional owners including REIT’s, Pension Fund Advisors, Insurance Companies as well as high-net-worth investors and opportunity funds.
Jay Ballard
Managing Director
c: 407-592-4653
174 W. Comstock Avenue
Suite 111
Winter Park, FL 32789
A 39 year veteran of the commercial real estate business in Central and North Florida and a lifelong resident of Orlando, Mr. Ballard has focused on representing owners of multifamily investment properties, as well as selling land for the development of multifamily, for the last 30 years. A seasoned multifamily sales professional, he has handled over 250 transactions valued in excess of $8.5 Billion. Clients have included Public Companies, REIT’s, Pension Fund Advisors, Insurance Companies, Private Companies, High-Net worth Investors, as well as National, Regional and Local Multi-family Developers.
Mr. Ballard has distinguished himself as a leader in the industry and has been recognized over his career garnering numerous honors, including the prestigious Central Florida Commercial Real Estate Society (CFCRES) Hallmark Awards for “Top Producer” in investment property (2000-2006), “Circle of Achievement” (2000, 2002, 2003), “Top 3 Producer” (2004-2005), and “Deal of The Year” (2000 and 2006). Jay has also been consistently ranked among Orlando’s Top Brokers by Co-Star Group and has been honored with the Orlando Power Broker award numerous times.
Mr. Ballard started his career in general brokerage with Cushman & Wakefield, then in 1988 started his own firm, JFB Properties, Inc. representing Budget Rent-A-Car throughout the Southeast with their real estate needs. In 1994, Jay was hired by ITT/CDC (ITT Community Development Corporation) to assist in their divestiture of various businesses and real estate that was part of their Palm Coast Master Development along Florida’s east coast. Shortly after completing the divestiture of ITT/CDC assets in early 1996, Mr. Ballard joined Cole Whitaker (Cole Whitaker Realty) to form The Apartment Group of Florida, an Orlando based boutique multifamily investment sale firm affiliated with The Apartment Group of Georgia, which were ultimately acquired by Cushman & Wakefield in 2000. Most recently Mr. Ballard worked with JLL’s Central Florida Multifamily Investment team following their merger with HFF.
Jay has served as an associate member of the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC), and the Florida Apartment Association (FAA), and is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Florida.
Jay attended the University of South Carolina where he was a member of the Gamecock Men’s Soccer team and where he received a Bachelor of Science (with a Finance Real Estate Major) degree from the USC Darla Moore School of Business. Ultimately, golf replaced soccer, as he met and married his wife Luanne Cherney, a former professional golfer and a member of the LPGA Teaching & Club Pro Division. Jay and his wife enjoy golf, water sports and travel.
Mark Taylor
Director
o: 678-762-3391
c: 404-955-4196
12600 Deerfield Parkway
Suite 100
Alpharetta, GA 30004
Trae Lewis
Senior Financial Analyst
c: 678-427-5194
12600 Deerfield Parkway
Suite 100
Alpharetta, GA 30004
Mark Taylor is a Director at Engler Realty Advisors (ERA), having joined in 2022 during the initial formation of the company. Mr. Taylor is responsible for helping to lead the company’s origination and execution of multifamily dispositions and equity raises for institutional clients throughout the Southeast. Mr. Taylor has participated in more than $10 billion of multifamily transactions throughout his career.
Mr. Taylor was previously an Associate with CBRE’s Southeast Multifamily Group for nearly four years, participating in the sale of institutional multifamily product including both individual transactions and multi-market portfolio transactions. Prior to joining CBRE, Mr. Taylor was a brokerage associate with Newmark Knight Frank, where he represented small to mid-cap office tenants and landlords in leasing and sale advisory services.
An Atlanta native, Mark is an avid Atlanta sports fan and likes to attend as many Falcons and Braves games as he can. He also enjoys playing tennis, golf, and a variety of sports.
Trae Lewis is a Senior Financial Analyst at Engler Realty Advisors and joined in 2023. Mr. Lewis is responsible for aiding the origination and execution of the team’s multifamily dispositions and equity raise assignments via financial modeling, proprietary sales tools, and marketing materials.
Mr. Lewis was previously an Analyst with Butler Burgher Group (BBG, Inc.) for two years, overseeing the research and valuation of multifamily and commercial real estate properties. Prior to joining BBG, Inc., Mr. Lewis was a Commercial Real Estate Valuation Analyst at Ameris Bank for four years, handling appraisal review and market research for residential construction and commercial property loans.
As an Atlanta native, Trae is an avid Braves fan and likes to play golf with friends on the weekends.
Marrie Franke
Operations Director
o: 678-762-3391
c: 404-558-3679
12600 Deerfield Parkway
Suite 100
Alpharetta, GA 30004
A native of the Midwest, Marrie Franke has been in the Atlanta area for over 35 years. She earned her Master of Business Administration degree from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business where her area of concentration was marketing. She followed her education with employment in the oil and gas field before relocating to the Southeast. Having run a successful small business for 25 years, she eventually entered the world of commercial real estate in 2012 working with the Southeast Multifamily group of a large commercial brokerage firm. Marrie was an integral part of the team’s operations, supporting over 30 team members in all aspects of the brokerage arena.
Leaving in 2019, Marrie joined a real estate development firm gaining additional knowledge in another area of CRE. Expanded responsibilities in research and marketing boosted her experience in real estate while allowing her to utilize the experience she had gained through her success while heading a small business.
Now back on the brokerage side of commercial real estate, Marrie will be the administrative support for Engler Realty Advisors, LLC, overseeing all operational tasks involved in the process of property listings and sales, while establishing and maintaining good client relationships.