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Michael Tidwell

Director • United States

Michael Tidwell
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Local Office:

900 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 2400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
United States

Office: +1 (213) 955-5122 x375122

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Michael Tidwell

Director • United States


Mr. Tidwell is a Director specializing in Multifamily Investment Sales based in Los Angeles. He has over 18 years of experience as a trusted advisor on a full suite of multifamily services. With a robust national platform of coverage and apartment inventory, Mr. Tidwell uniquely provides investors with an extensive suite of advisory services for multifamily assets such as agency for property acquisition and disposition, property management, debt, DST and 1031 exchanges, ESG, valuation/appraisal, and financial reporting. As a native of Los Angeles, he uniquely provides investors with deep-rooted market knowledge that considers market activity, participants, and historical changes in the Greater Los Angeles area. These distinct assets benefit all clients that seek new investment opportunities nationally.  

Mr. Tidwell’s previous experience includes being a Director within the Valuation and Advisory group at Cushman & Wakefield. He is responsible for over $10 billion in valuations nationally. He has advised investors, asset managers, family trusts, landowners, and private capital firms in property acquisitions, dispositions, and other real estate objectives customized to their investment profile and demand. Also, Mr. Tidwell has extensive experience with affordable housing projects with LIHTC, project-based HAP contracts, and land development sites.  

Mr. Tidwell has been recognized for his leadership and services in the commercial real estate community. He has served on several real estate executive boards, receiving the Anglyn Award from the Appraisal Institute in 2022. The honor is given to professionals who exhibit exemplary leadership, integrity, and outstanding contributions.  


How has your career as an Appraiser helped you in your Brokerage Career?  
The specialized work I did as an appraiser and the skill accumulated over the past two decades has equipped me with a strong foundation that has provided immense insight, analyses as well as learnings in property evaluation and trends which I am now able to apply to my brokerage business. This skillset has given me a more well-rounded perspective and serves as an advantage in advising clients in their multifamily investment goals.  
 
Of note, during a transitionary period between my Appraisal and Brokerage career I also worked directly in the Multifamily Capital Markets sector. For over a year I primarily did work in underwriting, with some of Cushman & Wakefield’s and the industry’s top multifamily brokers. This experience provided even greater depth to my understanding of the multifamily investment sector, the local and national real estate landscape, as well as provided valuable lessons in client services.  
 
You are a native of Los Angeles, what does it mean to be a successful professional in your hometown and how has growing up there benefited your career?  
I am very proud to be a native of Los Angeles, a city that I love, where I grew up and now where my wife and I also raise our family. My first-hand experience living in the LA region for decades and seeing its changes and progression over a long period of time and understanding the intricacies and nuances of each sub-area has been beneficial to me as a real estate professional. It has allowed me to uniquely provide investors with deep-rooted market knowledge that considers market activity, participants, and historical changes in the Greater Los Angeles area.  
 
Understanding the dynamics of Los Angeles, one of the world’s most prominent, unique and diverse markets that caters to all types of people, property types, and investors, has helped me to better understand other major markets, and in identifying their differences but also similarities.  
 
How did you choose a career in commercial real estate, and can you talk about how your job as a bartender played a key role?  
My interest in commercial real estate started in my early 20s. I had a neighborhood friend who was a few years older than me and was an entrepreneur. We would talk and he would share what he was learning in his line of work about real estate and investing which started to ignite my own interest in the industry (and as an investor)—the Robb Report and the associated luxury lifestyle also fueled my interest in the investment sector at that time. I picked up a real estate career book and started to sift through the various specialties and Appraisal immediately caught my attention. I was intrigued by the work they do and from an investment perspective how it would help one understand real estate value.  
 
As for how my career came to be, I would say a mix of perseverance, drive & determination plus a bit of chance and good fortune. As I said, I was attracted to the appraisal business when I was younger. To get your start as an appraiser you needed to first complete 4,000 hours of training under the tutelage of an experienced V&A professional (a trainer). I must have cold-called about 1,000 numbers—40 to 50 calls a day—but was not having any luck connecting with anyone.  
 
At that time, I was also working as a bartender to help pay for appraisal school. One evening while bartending I overheard a gentleman talking about value and property, which I became curious and walked over and asked if he was an appraiser. I mentioned my own ambition in the same field which he said a guy he worked with was looking for trainees and kindly gave me his info. I contacted him and was able to meet a mentor to help me complete the training needed to begin my career. And so I ultimately earned my opportunity thanks in part to a job that I was working to help pursue my career as an appraiser.  
 
What Led You to Want to Become a Broker at this Time in Your Career?  
I must preface this answer by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed my work as an appraiser and am thankful for that experience and knowledge. But at this point in my career what drew me toward brokerage was that it offered me a chance to grow both personally and professionally. I consider myself a people person and I greatly enjoy talking and interacting with people and clients. I also consider myself a problem solver and believe my personality is built to work and help people, and these are traits necessary in brokerage and in working closely with clients every day to help them identity solutions and achieve their investment goals.  
 
Cushman & Wakefield’s leadership and my colleagues have been great and supportive of my transition, which I appreciate and has been important in this role shift.  
 
What Are You Able to Offer Your Multifamily Clients?  
With a robust national platform of coverage and apartment inventory, I provide investors with an extensive suite of advisory services for multifamily assets such as agency for property acquisition and disposition, property management, debt, DST and 1031 exchanges, ESG, valuation/appraisal, and financial reporting.  
 
My work is also supported by Cushman & Wakefield’s preeminent full-service platform, a tremendous team of professionals, as well as strategic initiatives such as the firm’s joint venture with Greystone, a leading national commercial real estate finance company. Greystone is a top multifamily lender, including bridge, Fannie Mae DUS®, Freddie Mac Optigo®, and HUD, giving Cushman & Wakefield’s client base more direct access to a broad range of debt products for property acquisition, refinancing or substantial rehab / new construction.  
 
I have advised investors, asset managers, family trusts, landowners, and private capital firms in property acquisitions, dispositions, and other real estate objectives customized to their investment profile and demand.  
 
My experience also includes complex and high-value residential, condominium units, small multiunit residential, and institutional-grade apartment communities. My expertise also extends to valuation of self-storage facilities, mixed-use properties, single-room occupancy (SRO) hotels, sustainable buildings, and vacant land.  
 
Lastly, I have extensive experience with affordable housing projects with LIHTC, project-based HAP contracts, and land development sites.  
 
What Are Your Quick Thoughts on the LA Multifamily Market and Outlook?  
The Los Angeles multifamily market remains favorable for investment with healthy underlying fundamentals, favorable demographics, and high demand for rental properties. Despite some challenges posed by inflation and monetary policy, the Federal Reserve is approaching its terminal rate, which could bring stability to the financial markets. The multifamily and industrial sectors remain popular among investors, with limited unit availability and healthy demand. However, legislative ordinances by city and county officials pose challenges for building owners.  

  • Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Finance, California State University Dominguez Hills

  • Designated Member, Appraisal Institute (SRA #540362) and MAI Candidate.
    • National University Relations Committee 2022-2023
    • Region VII National Representative – 2018 – 2022
    • Region VII Finance Chair
  • Executive Board Member, African American Real Estate Professionals Los Angeles (AAREP LA)
  • LEED Green Associate

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