Ritchie Hallanan Real Estate and Alain Pinel Realtors Unite

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Alain Pinel’s expansion into San Francisco and North Bay includes addition of real estate veteran Tim Murray as regional executive and retention of owners Joseph Gartland Moore and David Papale.San Francisco, Calif.– Two of Northern California’s most venerated real estate firms joined forces today, announced Alain Pinel Realtors (APR) President and Chief Operating Officer Larry Knapp, with Alain Pinel Realtors acquiring the assets and limited liabilities of San Francisco-based Ritchie Hallanan Real Estate Ltd. At the same time, it appointed Timothy Murray, a 29-year real estate veteran and former President of Pacific Union Real Estate, as Vice President and Regional Manager for San Francisco and the North Bay.The union gives Alain Pinel Realtors an immediate and long sought-after, major presence in San Francisco by association with a San Francisco boutique realty firm that has important ties to the city. The deal comes with a bonus, too. Ritchie Hallanan’s St. Helena office is part of the acquisition, thus giving Alain Pinel Realtors’ direct access to the North Bay for the first time and the lucrative real estate markets in the North Bay’s wine region. The addition of Tim Murray will help APR implement a strategic plan to compete and win business in new areas.Joseph Gartland Moore and David Papale — Richie Hallanan’s owners, were each named Director of Agent Development for Alain Pinel Realtors new San Francisco office; they are life-long friends having met in the third grade. In addition to operating as real estate sales professionals, they will be responsible for agent training, mentoring and recruiting.“The real accomplishment today is in bringing together three great entities in Ritchie Hallanan, Tim Murray and Alain Pinel Realtors, while retaining Joseph Moore and David Papale as part of the management and production team. Their respective ties and deep roots in the city, combined with our regional coverage, financial resources and family-owned operating style gives us the presence in San Francisco and the North Bay we’ve been looking for,” said Mr. Knapp.Monetary terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The two Ritchie Hallanan offices will now operate as Alain Pinel Realtors, Mr. Knapp said.With the expansion, Alain Pinel Realtors now has 25 offices in eight Northern California counties and over 1,200 real estate agents. Alain Pinel Realtors, a family-owned business, is consistently ranked in the top 10 realty firms nationwide by RealTrends, a Colorado trade organization.Messrs. Moore and Papale are both third-generation San Franciscans and became co-managing principals of Ritchie Hallanan, when they founded the firm in 1993. They named and built the business around two of the city’s “legendary” real estate professionals, Sue Ritchie & Doris Hallanan, who worked as partners since 1984. Mrs. Ritchie and Mrs. Hallanan have remained associated with the company since its formation.Ritchie Hallanan has 22 real estate agents in San Francisco and six in St. Helena, with both offices specializing in high-end and luxury-class real estate – the same primary niche enjoyed by Alain Pinel Realtors since its inception in 1990. In March of 2006 Ritchie Hallanan moved the company to its present location at 3701 Buchanan Street in the Marina District.The charming, two-story building is approximately 5,000 square feet and can comfortably seat 45 real estate agents. Ironically, the building was the original location of Pacific Union Real Estate. In St. Helena, the firm occupies approximately 1,200 square feet in the downtown business district. Situated in the heart of Napa Valley’s wine region, APR plans to increase its presence among affluent home buyers and sellers in the region.In a joint statement, Messrs. Papale and Moore said they wanted to take a proactive approach to growing in both locations, so they sought a relationship with a firm that is highly regarded by real estate professionals and the general public.“Alain Pinel Realtors’ reputation for running local offices with some degree of autonomy was appealing to us. In addition, we should be able to capture more referral business between the Peninsula and San Francisco,” they said. With six offices in San Mateo County, Alain Pinel is one of the most competitive real estate firms on the Peninsula.Tim Murray called the merged companies an ideal match. “I have known Larry Knapp for the better part of 20 years and always respected him as a competitor. I am very excited to be working for a locally-owned company with a great brand, and to have Joseph and David on the team. We will be able to carry on the strong traditions of a San Francisco professional services firm and grow in the North Bay.”Author and real estate broker Ray Brown noted the caliber of the people united by the business transfer and benefit to the public: “When great minds come together, problem solving becomes that much better, and this is a problem-solving business. The public benefits by having a stronger company in San Francisco and the North Bay, with more choices in terms of the professionals they hire to help them buy or sell real estate. Putting Ritchie Hallanan and Alain Pinel Realtors together is a case of one-plus-one equals three,” he said. Brown was the 16-year host of “Ray Brown on Real Estate,” which aired on KNBR, and is co-author of the books Home Buying for Dummies, House Selling for Dummies and Mortgages for Dummies. He started as a real estate agent in 1974.BIOGRAPHIESTimothy A. MurrayVice President & Regional ManagerSan Francisco and North BayTimothy A. (Tim) Murray manages the San Francisco and St. Helena offices of Alain Pinel Realtors and is responsible for day-to-day operations at both locations and charged with growing the firm in the city and North Bay.He was President and CEO of Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate from September 2003 to early 2007 – a firm he started with in 1978 by selling condominiums. He rose rapidly through the ranks of Pacific Union as a successful agent when, in 1989, Tim left the company for a management position with McGuire Real Estate, another Bay Area real estate firm. Until his departure from McGuire Real Estate in 1995, he managed not only the downtown office but also two prestigious condominium developments on Russian Hill and Nob Hill. Tim subsequently went on to open two offices in Lake Tahoe for Dickson Realty, the largest independent real estate firm in Northern Nevada. Tim returned to San Francisco in March 2003 when he accepted the position of VP Branch Manager at Pacific Union’s Civic Center branch.He has served on numerous luxury real estate panels in the United States, England and New Zealand. Tim also set up an apprenticeship program in London at Christie’s Great Estates, an 18-month state-of-the-art apprenticeship program that teaches agents to sell and market exceptional properties.Tim is a member of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Association of Realtors and serves on the advisory council for the Board of Regents, Bay Area Chapter, of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate. He is also very committed to public service and local philanthropy, including:■ SFCAPC – San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center Board of Directors.■ 2007 Board of Directors and 2006 Gala Chair, Baykeeper Annual Fundraiser; Baykeeper’s mission is to protect SF Bay, Sacramento Delta and Lake Tahoe (see www.baykeeper.org).■ Co-Chair of the Annual Fundraising Breakfast for Think College Now (www.thinkcollegenow.org).■ Tim is a frequent financial contributor to a variety of organizations and non-profits, such as World Wildlife Fund; Home Away From Homelessness; Girl Ventures; Boys Town of Italy and Girls Town of Italy (supports world wide orphanage in Rome); Napa Valley Museum; Boys and Girls Clubs of California; Children International; San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center and Living Water (provides clean drinking water by installing clean water wells in the Third World locations).David PapaleDirector of Agent Development & Sales ProfessionalSan FranciscoLicensed to sell real estate since 1978, David Papale’s name and word in the community has proven to be one of his greatest assets and enabled him to enjoy a city-wide reputation among homeowners, investors and Realtors at large. From 1993 until April 2007, he was co-owner and managing principal of Ritchie Hallanan Real Estate Ltd., running the firm’s day-to-day operations.With Alain Pinel Realtors, David actively sells real estate and also serves in training, mentoring and recruiting capacities for the firm.David’s contacts allow him access to clients from the marble corridors of San Francisco’s famed Gold Coast mansions to the new horizons of SOMA and beyond. In the early 1980s, he developed luxury condominiums on Russian Hill and converted several buildings in Cow Hollow into condominiums. He was instrumental in the development of 2040 Broadway, 11 luxury condominiums in Pacific Heights and 474 Lombard Street, seven luxury condominiums on Telegraph Hill. He developed the luxury office space in the previous location of Ritchie Hallanan at 1800 Filbert Street at Octavia. David grew up in Presidio Heights in a large family with five siblings and he enjoys the celebrity of being an identical twin. His grandmother was born in San Francisco’s fabled North Beach and his daughters are fourth generation native San Franciscans. David graduated from Saint Ignatius High School and the University of San Francisco.Associations:■ President, Marin Villa Association, a 60-unit investment complex.■ Managing Partner of Washington Street Properties (a residential investment group).■ The San Francisco Board of Realtors since 1978.■ The California Association of Realtors since 1978.■ The National Association of Realtors since 1978.■ The San Francisco Apartment House Association.■ The Guardsmen of San Francisco.■ The Olympic Club.Joseph Gartland MooreDirector of Agent Development & Sales ProfessionalSan FranciscoOne of San Francisco’s top producing real estate sales professionals, prior to joining Alain Pinel Realtors Joseph Moore was co-owner and managing principal of Ritchie Hallanan Real Estate Ltd., a firm he acquired in 1993 with David Papale and ran until April 2007. Together, they guided the company through substantial growth in both slow and explosive markets.His primary focus is on marketing real estate for sale and he has gained an in depth knowledge of what “sells” a property. He is often quoted in both the local and national media on the state of the real estate market and innovations in the marketing of real estate.With Alain Pinel Realtors, Joseph actively sells real estate and also serves in training, mentoring and recruiting capacities for the firm.Joseph began his real estate career as a sales associate at McGuire Real Estate. He brings significant business experience and insight to residential sales. Prior to real estate he spent over ten years working in his family’s San Francisco-based manufacturing business. In that time, his scope of activity included sales, marketing, operations, and general management of five factories on both the East and West coasts. From 1983 to 1987 he was the Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Moore Manufacturing Inc. and related companies, which were sold to competitors in the winter of 1986.A third-generation native San Franciscan who grew up in Presidio Heights and resides in Monterey Heights with his wife and three children, Joseph was educated locally at Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, The University of Santa Clara and the Menlo College School of Business Administration. He has been a homeowner and investor in The City since the late 1970s when he converted his first building into condominiums.Joseph is a member of the San Francisco Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. He comes from a large family many of whom are active in San Francisco business, cultural, charitable and civic affairs. Joseph has served on numerous charitable and cultural boards, including the San Francisco Boys and Girls Clubs, Columbia Park Boys & Girls Club, Saint Brendan Men’s Club (President 1994-1996) and The Guardsmen (President 1992-1993).He is also a member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.About Alain Pinel RealtorsFounded by Paul Hulme in 1990, Alain Pinel Realtors has redefined the business of residential real estate and now has 25 prestigious and luxurious offices in Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Alain Pinel is one of the largest real estate firms nationally with 2006 sales volume of $6.71 billion and an average sales price per transaction side of $1.14 million. Alain Pinel Realtors is a founding member of Luxury Portfolio, an operating unit of The Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (formerly RELO). APR has a joint venture partnership in the mortgage lending institution, Private Mortgage Advisors, which is an affiliate of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. For a complete listing of Alain Pinel Realtors offices, services and agents, please visit our website at apr.com or call 408-741-1111.