Elion Is Coming

Recognize the name? It's OK if you don't, since Elion Partners is new to the area, but it's making a big entrance. The investment firm just completed the first $62M closing on its third real estate fund and plans to scoop up its first S.F. properties.

The company wants to invest $145M across the US over the next two years. Managing Principal Juan DeAngulo phoned us from sunny Miami (where the company is HQ'd) this morning, telling us S.F. is obviously an attractive city for "a lot of reasons I don't even have to go into." (Sort of like how you don't need to explain why JLaw is awesome.) When pressed for some detail, he cites strong demographics and ongoing growth. The challenge, he says, is finding properties with a value-add level component. Above, he's on vacay in his "beloved Columbia" (Cartagena, to be exact).

Elion's West Coast debut will also likely include an LA purchase. One of its Boca Raton properties is snapped above. Elion has a particular bias for retail, Juan admits, but it doesn't count out office, multifamily, or others. (It did eye a multifamily development in S.F. recently before changing course.) Elion was going to close on its first deal with the fund in DC this week—a build-to-suit for a national grocer—but weather's pushing it to Tuesday (see, not every snow day means fun). He declined to reveal the temp in Miami today as a favor to freezing readers.