Each year, Midwest Real Estate News inducts a new class into its Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. Today we look at the busy career of Mike Levitan, vice president of AREA Real Estate Advisors in Kansas City, Missouri.
AREA Real Estate Advisors’ Mike Levitan has a unique ability to draw people in and hold their attention with his straightforward approach and down-to-earth demeanor. He has been in CRE for more than 14 years and each year he comes across deals that most commercial real estate brokers don’t want to deal with because it takes a creative solution.
“Getting to work side by side with the influencers, the decision makers and the people that drive growth in Kansas City is a thrill,” said Levitan. “Keeping deals moving when there are so many moving parts is a challenge.”
Levitan joined AREA Real Estate Advisors in 2005, specializing in office properties. He represents and advises tenants, landlords, developers and investors both locally and regionally. His primary responsibilities include market trend analysis, financial/incentive analysis, site selection, lease versus purchase analysis, lease structure and negotiation, acquisition/disposition, consulting and land assemblage.
Levitan has completed countless transactions throughout his career, with his most notable deals being Freightquote, located in Kansas City, Missouri (a 200,000-square-foot, build-to-suit building); Teva Neuroscience in Overland Park, Kansas (a 154,000-square-foot build-to-suit); and Dairy Farmers of America in Kansas City, Kansas (a 108,000-square-foot build-to-suit). In 2019 alone Levitan has been involved in more than $17 million in transactions.
“My work ethic has helped me along the way,” Levitan said. “Being in early, returning calls promptly and doing what people ask of me has helped me get to where I am today. It’s not rocket science by any means, but it’s the consistency of my actions.”
When he’s not at work, Levitan prefers to spend his free time with his kids, traveling and going to games whenever possible. Outside of that, he enjoys working out, skiing, hiking and platform tennis.
