The market for multifamily is heating up. Walker & Dunlop VP Mark Grace says this is definitely true in Orange County. Mark is among the all-star panelists scheduled to speak at Bisnow's Orange County Annual Multifamily and Mixed-Use Forum event April 21 at the Irvine Marriott.

Bisnow recently caught up with Mark to talk about how he got into the industry and what he thinks the future of multifamily looks like.

Bisnow: How did you get involved in the industry?

Mark Grace: Straight out of college with a computer and finance focus, I saw real estate finance as a great place to put my tech/finance skills to work. (Mark is pictured here having fun with his family.)

Bisnow: What has been the strategy for your company?

Mark Grace: Expansive growth that is complementary to our multifamily finance core.

Bisnow: What do you think the future of the multifamily industry looks like?

Mark Grace: Bright with fundamentals, but feeling pressure from pricing; good volume and intensity on the investment sales side. It’s been a very busy year, and there seems to have a lot of momentum behind it. With the maturities from CMBS 1.0 and the previous cycle, we’ve been seeing high levels of volume. There is a great push internally to continue to be smart and aggressive to compete in this environment.

Bisnow: Why do you think mixed-use communities are becoming increasingly popular?

Mark Grace: There is value in complementary amenities, and many infill locations benefit from a mixed-use nature. We see a lot of student deals with very good mixed-use components, which enhances the value and function of the real estate.

Bisnow: To what do you attribute your success?

Mark Grace: We have an amazing team of bright, energetic professionals at Walker & Dunlop. Our culture is driven from the top down. Willy Walker is an intrepid leader who inspires us all to step up and perform at our best in work and outside of the office. He has a unique mindset for this business that is very attractive to people both within and outside our company. The energy here at Walker & Dunlop is contagious, and we continue to build our team with that culture. It’s an incredible place to call home.

Bisnow: What do you like to do in your personal life outside of work?

Mark Grace: I live a very active lifestyle with three boys under the age of 6. (Mark is pictured above with two of them.) I am an avid snowboarder, mountain biker and overall sports enthusiast.

Join Mark and our other all-star panelists at this week’s Bisnow Orange County Annual Multifamily and Mixed-Use Forum event April 21 at the Irvine Marriott. Sign up here!