Results-driven commercial real estate professional with over 7 years of experience specializing in project leasing and tenant representation across various asset types. Skilled at navigating complex deals and excelling in all stages of the deal cycle, from cold calling to problem-solving and closing. Thrives in collaborative environments emphasizing communication and project completion, leveraging a Texas A&M Finance background to drive long-term success for the company, clients, and community. Community and maintaining relationships are paramount, and eagerly anticipates building new connections.
Accomplishments
"Collin is the role model for Commercial Agents. We were looking to secure commercial space in the Houston area and when we contacted Collin, he was more than gracious to help us. Living in another state and time zone did not matter, he was on Top of everything from start to finish. Though he represented the developer he did not hesitate to help us. His knowledge, professionalism and integrity is far none. I would do a deal with Collin as the lead agent in any state. He is absolutely the best!"
❤️🙏3
If you are looking for a commercial real estate professional that is above reproach, knowledgeable, professional and who has exceptional customer service, reach out to Collin Lester of Read King! I reached out to Collin regarding one of his commercial listings in the Houston Texas area last year. Unlike many commercial agent, Collin was very responsive! To put it frankly, he answers his phone!! Which is more than I can say about many other real estate professionals! Not only is he responsive, but his follow up is impeccable! I must admit.. because of his follow up, we ended up closing on the property that I contacted him about! There were many other opportunities available to us for our business, but Collins knowledge, professionalism and follow up made us feel so comfortable and confident - that we felt in our heads that this was the right commercial space for us! The funny thing is Collin was representing the developer/landlord, but yet and still his level of service and knowledge was simply outstanding. Because Collin went above and beyond the call of duty, we felt it necessary to sing his praises! If you are looking for an honest, professional and personable commercial agent, reach out to Collin Lester at Read King! We will be reaching out to Collin for our future commercial real estate endeavors! Thank you Collin!".
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Education
BBA - FINANCE
Texas A&M University (Mays Business School)
College Station, TX
01-2014
High School Diploma -
Memorial High School
Houston, TX
01.2010
Work History
Senior Associate
Read King Commercial Real Estate & Development
01.2024 - Current
Worked with a full spectrum of ownership groups, from Read King developed projects and local developers to institutional investors managing $30B+ portfolios
Closed $10M+ in lease volume across H-E-B anchored centers, neighborhood strips, and ground-up pre-leased developments
Drove leasing results across 20+ deals; directly involved in tour activity, negotiation, and execution
Executed 20+ lease transactions generating over $12 million in revenue across challenging and underperforming retail assets
Achieved 100% success rate on securing leases on all originally assigned assets, consistently meeting or exceeding leasing targets
Senior Associate
J. Hunter Properties
01.2021 - 12.2023
Oversaw all leasing operations for J. Hunter Properties and third-party landlords
Identified value-add investment opportunities within J. Hunter's portfolio
Managed, organized, and created marketing materials to help bolster brand recognition
Associate
Edge Realty Partners
01.2019 - 12.2021
Executed over $20 million in transactions across the Greater Houston area
Represented both buyers and sellers in land acquisitions for purchase and ground lease
Developed tailored marketing strategies for developers and landlords during challenging market conditions post-Hurricane Harvey
Leveraged cold calling and hands on outreach to generate qualified tenant leads and drive leasing activity for clients’ properties
Expanded client base through proactive networking and landlord relationship development
Associate
Orange Commercial
01.2017 - 12.2021
Represented third-party landlords across 300,000+ SF of retail developments throughout Greater Houston
Provided tenant representation services for local, regional, and national retail operators
Actively marketed listings by cold calling to generate prospective tenants
Involved in all aspects of the leasing process from initial contact to lease negotiation and execution
Created marketing materials such as property flyers and broker focused email marketing campaigns
Research Analyst
Hunington Properties
01.2016 - 12.2016
Supported leasing and investment sales teams with comprehensive market research and financial analysis
Conducted tenant prospecting and market analysis for new development projects
Prepared detailed market reports and demographic studies to support leasing strategies
Gained marketing experience by prospecting for potential tenants in areas surrounding the new developments
Account Executive
Goosehead Insurance
01.2014 - 12.2016
Secured nearly $500,000 of new premiums
Assisted clients in the management and understanding of their household risks through comprehensive insurance solutions
Facilitated growth of referral-based business through real estate and mortgage professionals
Full-Time Summer Internship
Statesman Business Advisors
01.2014 - 12.2014
Served as lead support to lending managers in the application process to secure the packaging of government guaranteed loans
Recognized a weakness in the internal software responsible for project stage reporting - led the integration of a new CRM (Smartsheet)
Full-Time Summer Internship
Crockett National Bank
01.2013 - 12.2013
Selected by Finance Professor to participate in Crockett's Young Executive Program
Studied directly under the CEO; learned how strategic financial analysis can be applied towards fundamental business decision
Skills
Financial management
Proficient in [software]
Project coordination
Inventory control
Financial statements expertise
Finance
Account reconciliation
Sales proficiency
Sales and marketing aptitude
Business partnerships
Property tours and inspections
Property tour coordination
Organized mindset
Lease writing
Resident assistance
Vendor contract negotiations
Community engagement
Unit maintenance
Contract negotiation
Market trends
Clear communication
Administrative oversight
Leasing terms and specifications
Prospect qualification
Team building
Application processing
Sales techniques
Competitive research
Lease renewals
Lead generation
Lending
Creative problem solving
Relationship building
Closing techniques
Building rapport
Resident retention programs
CRM software
Market research
Issue escalation
Phone and email etiquette
Customer service
Pricing management
Database management
Prospect vetting
Property maintenance
Telephone and email etiquette
Lead conversion
Record keeping
Interpersonal relations
Financial acumen
Sales strategy development
Customer service expertise
Contract preparation
Sales prospecting
Due diligence
Deal structuring
Lease negotiation
Rental management
Sales-savvy
Money handling
Certification
Texas Real Estate Commission, 677617
Affiliations
International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Current Member
Houston Metropolitan Chamber, Current Member
Houston Mortgage Bankers Association (HMBA), Previous Member
Financial Management Association, Previous Member
Awards
Five Star Professional Award Nominee, Texas Monthly, Recognizes service professionals who provide quality services to their clients
National Forums Development Manager at NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development AssociationNational Forums Development Manager at NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association
Executive Assistant to President/CEO at SENECA - Commercial Real Estate DevelopmentExecutive Assistant to President/CEO at SENECA - Commercial Real Estate Development
Graphic Designer at Star Real Estate Contracting And Real Estate Development CompanyGraphic Designer at Star Real Estate Contracting And Real Estate Development Company
Medical Lab Technician (Lead Tech) at HCA Clear Lake Regional Medical CenterMedical Lab Technician (Lead Tech) at HCA Clear Lake Regional Medical Center