As a Vice President at Colliers International, Steve Nilsson specializes in sales and leasing in the Twin Cities commercial real estate market. Steve represents a variety of major developers, institutional owners and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). By sharing with clients his extensive market

knowledge, Steve has successfully secured repeat business from many of the industry’s top companies which include (partial list): AER Manufacturing, Americraft Carton, Inc., BFG Supply Company, Duro Bag Corporation, First Industry Realty Trust, Greywolf Partners, Inc,, High Street Equity Advisors, Illinois Central School Bus, LNR Property (Starwood), Student transportation of America (STA), Summit Fire Protection Co., and Upper Lakes Foods.

Steve has earned top honors within the Minneapolis office Colliers International (formerly NAI Welsh), beginning with Rookie of the Year and continues to rank as a top performer. He has also received industry accolades. In addition, Steve has been an avid supporter of military families through organizations such as Tee It Up for the Troops, St. Thomas Academy Fort Snelling Cemetery clean-up crew and with other events coordinated through his military high school, St. Thomas Academy.

Accomplishments:

Best in Real Estate’s Lease Transaction of the Year, Mpls/St. Paul Business Journal, 2010

Winnetka Distribution Center | New Hope, MN

CHALLENGE

Upon instruction from our client to find additional space for their tenant in an existing portfolio, the Colliers Industrial Team of Steve Nilsson, Peter Mork and Jason Simek secured a purchase contract for 122,000 square feet of bulk space in the City of New Hope. After our brief due diligence period was satisfied, client Duane Lund closed on Winnetka Distribution Center in November, 2013 and began a complete overhaul renovation to attract multiple tenants or a single building user. Within 30 days of acquiring the asset, a full building tenant, Progressive Converting, was secured for a 10 year lease term utilizing the property’s central location, bulk distribution design and total upgraded improvement package including: new high grade sprinkler system, new electrical, new office and new exterior paint job / parking lot overlay.

RESULTS

Capitalizing on a stabilized asset and an extremely thriving investment market for bulk distribution space, our Colliers client re-marketed this property to local and institutional investors alike. One Liberty Properties, Inc. was secured as the new buyer in December of 2014. Ultimately that buyer acquired Winnetka Distribution Center for 170% over what our client had first purchased this asset for 13 months earlier.

900 E Hennepin Avenue | Minneapolis, MN

CHALLENGE

After the Colliers leasing team of Steve Nilsson, Peter Mork, and Jason Simek secured an eight year lease deal with Illinois Central School Bus in 2011, the tenant elected to close their Minneapolis operation in July of 2013. The Colliers leasing team quickly signed Sunbelt Rental Inc. to a new direct 15 year lease with the Landlord, Hillcrest Development and thereby terminated the existing lease in place with Illinois Central. Shortly after signing Sunbelt Retal, the leasing team partnered with the Colliers Investment team of Dave Berglund, Mark Kolsrud, and Colin Ryan to market this long-term income producing asset to the investment community.

RESULTS

After 30 days of marketing the property, 900 E Hennepin Avenue was sold to a 1031 Exchange buyer in December of 2014 for over 600% more than it what Hillcrest purchased it for in 2008. The purchase financing for this deal was provided through a partnership with Tim Smith of Welsh Capital. The buyer was looking for a 10 year fixed rate and as much leverage as possible, so Welsh Capital was able to get the deal done at 80% LTV to make the deal work.