About Us
WHO WE ARE
SPO Advisory LLC is your trusted team for life and we make sure you feel safe with your investments.
We are a diversified real estate and business investment advisory firm specializing in residential and commercial real estate, multi-family investment and long term investment in local Florida small businesses. Our partners have been operating in South Florida to capitalize on the historic opportunities created by the unique situation of contemporary real estate and commercial markets.
Through proprietary strategies, the firm evaluates, acquires, renovates, leases and manages assets and local businesses, while offering investors concentrated exposure to residential and commercial real estate and local business investment through multiple approaches. Its current pipeline contains assets throughout the State of Florida, offering substantial upside potential.
We seek investment opportunities that exhibit strong fundamental value, favorable risk-return profiles and identifiable exits with an existing track record that has identifiable historic high returns.
With long-established relationships and expert knowledge of multiple target markets in the state of Florida, we created highly sophisticated valuation methodologies consistent with real estate in the area which allows us to selectively acquire highest potential return generating properties in target markets.
We are licensed Realtors highly experienced in the State of Florida and while all Realtors are also state-issued licensees as agents or brokers, a major difference between a real estate licensee and a Realtor is that Realtors have taken an oath to subscribe to a stringent, enforceable Code of Ethics with Standards of Practice that promote the fair, ethical and honest treatment of all parties in a transaction.
MANAGEMENT Team
Alejandro Suero, Co-founder & Partner
Alejandro Suero, Co-founder & Partner
Alejandro Suero, Co-founder & Partner
Alejandro grew up in Key Biscayne, Florida in the 1980s learning about the Miami real estate business through his family’s devotion to the region’s development which spanned many decades and projects.
Stemming from his desire to follow in his family’s footsteps, Alejandro decided to major in Economics with a minor in International Relati
Alejandro grew up in Key Biscayne, Florida in the 1980s learning about the Miami real estate business through his family’s devotion to the region’s development which spanned many decades and projects.
Stemming from his desire to follow in his family’s footsteps, Alejandro decided to major in Economics with a minor in International Relations for his undergraduate degree at Boston University. He graduated in 1999 and worked for Merrill Lynch in Miami as a bank and securities officer for almost four years concentrating on high net worth international clients.
In 2003, he decided to return to his roots and took up real estate full time by opening a boutique firm, The Suero Group, for personal investments and for acquaintances whom he had met through schooling or mutual friends. In 2008 he completed an MBA at the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid. Afterward, returning to Miami and continuing in the real estate industry as well as in the construction and development of small projects for international and domestic clients.
Alejandro is very familiar with the EB5 process, 1031 exchanges, as well as mortgages for foreign nationals. He also understands the local areas and from his multi national network of foreign investors he knows what they are looking for when buying in the South Florida market.
Alejandro is very involved in the local community as well as with his alma matter, Boston University where he currently sits on one of the college’s alumni boards. Alejandro continues to enjoy Miami and to take part in its progression as an increasingly important international city with a unique cultural landscape.
Nelo Patton, Co-founder & Partner
Alejandro Suero, Co-founder & Partner
Alejandro Suero, Co-founder & Partner
Born in Brazil, Nelo Patton grew up in both Brazil and Miami Beach, attending High School and College in Miami and being involved in the Real Estate Business from early age in the 1980’s up to today.
After graduating from University of Miami School of Business, Nelo began his career in the Financial Industry through international banking
Born in Brazil, Nelo Patton grew up in both Brazil and Miami Beach, attending High School and College in Miami and being involved in the Real Estate Business from early age in the 1980’s up to today.
After graduating from University of Miami School of Business, Nelo began his career in the Financial Industry through international banking and has build vast experience in the Real Estate sector in particular throughout Florida.
Having been involved in both large and small scale residential and Commercial Real Estate transactions from due diligence, to location sourcing, purchases, leases, sales as well as investor relations and lending.
Fluency in Portuguese, Spanish and English has enabled Nelo to transcend cultures in order to effectively conduct numerous transactions with multinational clientele in the State of Florida and beyond.
Selim Ozutez, Co-founder & Partner
Alejandro Suero, Co-founder & Partner
Selim Ozutez, Co-founder & Partner
Selim is based in Miami, FL and is responsible for the execution of financial operations, including accounting, treasury, fund administration, reporting, and the implementation of best-practice processes as well as overseeing the due diligence process for each investment.
Previously, Selim held financial management positions with variou
Selim is based in Miami, FL and is responsible for the execution of financial operations, including accounting, treasury, fund administration, reporting, and the implementation of best-practice processes as well as overseeing the due diligence process for each investment.
Previously, Selim held financial management positions with various public accounting firms, large multinational organizations and publicly traded companies with multi-billion dollar annual revenues, where he played an active role in the management of teams responsible for accounting, administration, and reporting. Selim began his career in public accounting as a financial auditor in Washington, DC and still serves as a member of the EMEA Advisory Committee of Alliott Group, a worldwide alliance of independent accounting firms and as a partner at one of the member offices.
Selim graduated with a BA in Business and Economics and he holds an MBA degree from the American University in Washington, DC and a Master of Accountancy degree from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. He is an active licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Florida, Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), Certified IT Professional (CITP) and Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA) as well as certain capital markets independent audit licenses and CPA license from abroad. Selim is also an active licensed Realtor in the State of Florida.
HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT AND WHY ARE WE SUCCESSFUL?
As with any business venture, there are general rules to be successful, which we follow such as building a game changing strategy, conduct transactions with confidence, work only with highly professional and qualified individuals, etc. However, with specific industries comes specific rules you shall go by in order to succeed. Our rules led to our success so far with real estate investments include;
1. We do the math
We have extensive experience and knowledge to evaluate how much can be spent on both the property and the renovation and include the risk factor we are prepared to take for each property in question.
We calculate the cost of carrying a short-term loan (if needed), related taxes, utilities and maintenance on the property for up to a year. We then price out material costs and labor. Analyze comparable sales in the market in detail by utilizing our comparable sales methods in house to see the likely sale of the property to build a reliable expectation.
Once the financial plan is complete, with a reasonable margin for risk, we research our extensive network (including auctions, financial institutions, realtor networks, personal relationships, development companies, municipalities and bankruptcy courts, etc.) for properties that meet our budget.
2. We know our market
Since we know the South Florida market extensively through our own investments and helping clients with their decisions, we are able to choose the most desirable property and we are able to estimate our profit margin. Every neighborhood has a not-to-exceed price and we are very realistic when it comes to investing in the real estate market.
We keep continuous review and research on recent sales and average days on market to assess the length of time to hold the property before flipping as the statistics keep changing, which helps us build a better strategy towards each property acquired and decide whether to rent it for a certain period of time until the neighborhood really appreciates in value, or do a quick renovation because the neighborhood is very competitive.
3. We know potential buyer profiles for each type of property and renovate with that buyer in mind
We know the neighborhoods in detail and what the properties may offer to potential buyers; thus, assessing the potential buyers for each type of property acquired for resell or investment. Buying a property at a great price does not guarantee higher returns by itself, you have to know your potential buyers and make your investments accordingly and this needs high expertise in the area you operate.
For example; if the neighborhood has good schools, then we expect the buyer to be a young family. We then make improvements in the property towards making the family space open and inviting, making sure there are enough bathrooms for kids.
On the other hand; if this is a retirement area, we usually search for properties with just one main level or a ranch style. If there are stairways, we open them up and widen tight spaces and we make sure the home is easily accessible from the street.
Sands Real Estate Investments LLC has professionals who assess each area regularly and are aware of the short and long term future plans for neighborhoods, which allow for more accurate expectations for investments made.
4. We educate the buyers of properties
We make sure each improvement made on every property is clearly listed and explained to every potential buyer of properties. We disclose every system that was replaced, from HVAC to electrical and any structural problems that were repaired.
We go beyond the traditional real estate selling and take a snapshot of a new roof, note which windows are new, list new appliances and fixtures and present a binder with all instruction booklets and warranties to the potential buyer, if necessary based on property.
It is important that buyers understand we spent the necessary time to deliver a reliable and well done property for their use and not just flipping properties with low quality work. This enables us to grow our client base as a result of happy clients and helps build our reputation as trusted real estate investment organization.
5. We don't overprice
One of the biggest mistakes property investors make is to overestimate the renovations made, take too much pride in the work done, factor in all the sweat equity and in the end overvalue the property. What is important to understand here is the buyer psychology. Property buyers don't see the property on sale when it was purchased to be improved and resold. Thus they have no idea how much stress and sweat was put in while getting the property ready. As the case with any other potential buyer, they only see the finished product, and they also do their homework, reviewing the comparable properties. Every neighborhood has a general price point, and sellers shall stay within it. A good strategy is to under price slightly, which likely result in multiple offers and a final sale would price above asking. This is better than having the property on sale in the market for long periods of time.