Edhat StaffBy Steve Galbreath
A Westmont College alumnus and full-time commercial broker for nine years, Liam Murphy has become a partner with Hayes Commercial Group in Santa Barbara. He joined the firm in 2011. Murphy has a wealth of experience in brokerage, development, and project management, equipping him with the expertise to navigate the subtleties of each transaction on behalf of his clients. With a focus on high-growth tech companies, private equity-backed firms, and sophisticated investors, he has completed more than 500 real estate transactions valued at $100 million. “I can also reach things on high shelves,” said Murphy, who stands 6’5″.
Murphy brings intelligence, creativity, and tenacity to the table. All of which were brought to bear earlier this year when he represented a local client in the acquisition of three investment properties of varying types, located in three different cities, to complete a $16 million 1031 Exchange. He also cites integrity as being fundamental to his business approach. From his first job as a youth pastor at Montecito Covenant Church and at every job since, Murphy has valued honesty above nearly anything else. “I think being fair and honest is actually the best way to succeed,” said Murphy. “I might lose a deal occasionally but it keeps my reputation and clients’ trust in me strong … which yields more than the one or two deals that fall apart.”
Murphy is the only Santa Barbara-based broker offering national corporate tenant representation services, meeting the real estate requirements of regional and national companies with multiple locations. His site selection and negotiation expertise has secured more than $25 million in savings for his national clients. Notably, he has assisted EmployBridge Staffing in the management of its portfolio of more than 400 leased offices nationwide, including recent deals in Manhattan, San Francisco, Dallas, and Chicago.
When he’s not serving clients, Liam is busy raising three energetic boys with his wife in Santa Barbara. A Katherine Harvey Fellow with the Santa Barbara Foundation, Murphy is very active in the community, whether volunteering with his church or serving as Vice President of Finance for the Board of Trustees of Child Abuse Listening Mediation (CALM). He also enjoys reading and tennis.
Hayes Commercial Group is one of the Central Coast’s leading firms, completing 44 sales valued at $163 million and 243 leases totaling 1.2 million square feet in the last 12 months. Murphy joins partners Greg Bartholomew, Christos Celmayster, Francois DeJohn, Steve Hayes, Michael Martz, Dan Moll, and Kristopher Roth.
“Liam is an outstanding broker who constantly exceeds clients’ expectations,” Hayes said. “He carries as much skill and knowledge as he does integrity. We are proud to welcome him as a partner.”
