Lefler is a Big-box Thinker

T.J. Lefler is the big box man.

That is, he specializes in brokering deals that involve large retail properties- 60,000 to 100,000 SF – throughout Arkansas.

Of course that means he ends up dealing with some former Wal-Mart Store properties, grocery stores and other new-to-market retailers like Big Lots! and Tractor Supply Co.

About 50 percent of his listings are outside Northwest Arkansas, he said. Lefler has listings in Dequeen, Camden and Pine Bluff, and enjoys working with small communites to fill some of those big boxes with useful, community-related tenants.

A statewide perspective comes natural for this Searcy native and he’s even a partner in some developments, including a 15-acre development in his hometown, that hosts a Harps and other retail.

Some of that has since been sold to other investors.

Business is looking good, he said. Lefler’s listings have doubled from mid-2009 through early 2010 and Sage is developing “one to two per year.”

He counts being able to work with his father on a couple of the deals as the highlight of his career so far.

Lefler knew from his parents’ work in commissioned sales that he wanted to do the same, to “eat what you kill.” And owning real estate always intrigued him.

So while he was working on his bachelor’s in finance from the University of Arkansas, he interned for a year at Lindsey & Associates.

That was during the 2004-2005 school year. After that, he interned at Sage Partners for a year, and soon after graduation in 2006, he started full-time with Sage.

When he’s not brokering deals, Lefler serves on the board of K-Life Ministries, a youth ministry focused on mentoring 3rd through 12th graders. And when he’s got time from that activity, he plays as much golf as he can and runs.

He completed a half marathon last year and is thinking about a full one soon, but more than an accomplishment, running is a social activity for Lefler.

“A lot of my friends are entrepreneurial-minded and when you get away from all that stuff [and run], things open up and ideas flow out of those guys.”