Chris McKenzie

Chris McKenzie Principal at Lee & Associates specializing in Industrial Real Estate Los Angeles, CA Chris' expertise includes Industrial, Retail, Office, and Multi-Family.

He has over a decade of business development experience related with commercial real estate as well as experience in the Security and Fire Life Safety industry both in the Government and Private sectors. Chris has transacted properties valued just under $75 million over his career. He has been instrumental in bringing brokers in the commercial real estate communities throughout Southern California

together in 2018 as founder of broker to broker, whose mission statement is “Furthering broker relationships in CRE” and is still running strong. Chris’ passion for serving others clearly shows in his work ethic and he is expeditious, aggressive, analytical and always has his clients’ needs and best interest in mind. Prior to his Real Estate career, Chris served Honorably in the United States Navy and still today vows to live up to the Navy’s core values: Honor, Courage, Commitment.

When congratulations are in order 🍻
03/13/2026

When congratulations are in order 🍻

Running has always been fun for me.Now at 43, with family life and a full plate, speed work doesn’t happen by accident. ...
02/25/2026

Running has always been fun for me.

Now at 43, with family life and a full plate, speed work doesn’t happen by accident. It’s easy to log miles. It’s harder to push the pace.

Today I blocked an hour for intervals. Real ones. The kind that remind you where you’re at.

It’s clear. When my speed improves, the long runs feel better. More controlled. More confident.

There’s a parallel there.

In this business, it’s easy to stay busy. Harder to sharpen the edge.
Speed work is the uncomfortable stuff:

• Making the extra call
• Cleaning up your pipeline
• Preparing better than you think you need to
• Fixing what you’ve been putting off

You don’t notice it day to day. But over time, everything feels smoother.

That’s the goal.

02/21/2026

Friday CRE Tea 🍵 with me… Protect yourself positions for thise commissions 🤣

Client wrapped up a 60,000 SF Class A industrial lease in Commerce.We were pursuing an owner user purchase. It did not c...
02/13/2026

Client wrapped up a 60,000 SF Class A industrial lease in Commerce.

We were pursuing an owner user purchase. It did not come together as planned for many grueling reasons.

So we pivoted.

Lease comps and concessions showed we were negotiating at a strong point in the cycle. We secured favorable rate and terms.

No move.
No disruption.
Solid economics.

They were relieved they did not have to relocate 🤣

That is a win. 💪🏼

DM yourlosangelesbroker if you are weighing buy vs. lease.

Client wrapped up a 60,000 SF Class A industrial lease in Commerce.We were pursuing an owner user purchase. It did not c...
02/13/2026

Client wrapped up a 60,000 SF Class A industrial lease in Commerce.

We were pursuing an owner user purchase. It did not come together.

We pivoted.

Lease comps and concessions showed we were negotiating at a strong point in the cycle. We secured favorable rate and terms.

No move.
No disruption.
Solid economics.

They were relieved they did not have to relocate 🤣

That is a win. 💪🏼

DM me if you are weighing buy vs. lease.

Warehouse

🚧 Construction Update – Class A Medical Office | Palmdale, CAOur new 24,600 SF, two-story Class A medical office buildin...
02/12/2026

🚧 Construction Update – Class A Medical Office | Palmdale, CA

Our new 24,600 SF, two-story Class A medical office building at
41255 11th Street West, Palmdale remains on track for shell delivery June 2026.

Canterra stone was delivered to the site this week, and we continue to see meaningful activity from both prospective tenants and investors evaluating acquisition.

With the significant pipeline of new industrial development, multifamily housing projects, and large-scale single-family residential construction throughout the Antelope Valley, the area is experiencing sustained population and employment growth. That growth directly translates into increased demand for medical, dental, and professional services.

This is one of the few new construction medical projects positioned to serve that expanding base.

⸻

Project Highlights:

• 24,600 SF total building area
• Two-story, elevator served
• Designed for professional and medical use
• 70% office / 30% medical planning configuration
• 68 on-site parking stalls
• 1.20-acre site
• Fully sprinklered
• Modern façade with Canterra stone and upgraded exterior finishes
• June 2026 shell delivery

⸻

Ideal for an Owner-User Hybrid Acquisition

This project presents a compelling opportunity for a medical or professional group to:

• Occupy a significant portion of the building
• Control long-term real estate costs
• Lease remaining space to complementary tenants
• Build equity while operating their practice

Strong fit for:
• Ambulatory surgical centers
• Medical groups
• Urgent care operators
• Dental practices and specialty dental groups
• Specialty medical clinics
• Counseling and behavioral health providers
• Professional service firms

⸻

Investment Opportunity

Seller is open to a sale with attractive seller financing, creating a rare opportunity to acquire a brand-new Class A medical asset in a supply-constrained submarket.

If you would like leasing plans, underwriting assumptions, or to discuss acquisition structure, reach out directly. I am happy to walk you through the project.

Major change to SBA loans 🚨 This is definitely something that should be top of mind for brokers handling owner-user CRE ...
02/04/2026

Major change to SBA loans 🚨

This is definitely something that should be top of mind for brokers handling owner-user CRE purchases so you don’t feel the pain later…

On February 2, 2026, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued a policy notice tightening eligibility requirements for SBA-backed loans, effective March 1, 2026.

What changed 👇
• 100% of owners must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals 🇺🇸
• All owners must have their principal residence in the United States 🏠
• Legal permanent residents are no longer eligible to own any interest ❌
• The prior 5% foreign ownership exception has been fully rescinded

Why this matters for deals
This update is policy-driven and applies across SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, including all direct and indirect ownership layers. There is no de minimis threshold ⚠️ Even a small, passive ownership interest can disqualify a loan.

For owner-user buyers, this is now a gating item 🔒

For brokers, questions and clarifying upfront when discussing qualification, not something discovered mid-escrow 📋

Talked about maybe hanging Friday.Randomly parked yesterday at the same time and ended up on the same trail instead 🏔️ f...
02/02/2026

Talked about maybe hanging Friday.
Randomly parked yesterday at the same time and ended up on the same trail instead 🏔️ for a run

Good miles. Good views. Solid conversation.
Adam caught me right before the peak. Empty tank. Seeing spots ☠️

Fruit stand after was non-negotiable 🍉🥭🍍🍋‍🟩

Looking back at 2025, both the data told a very clear story in the LA North industrial market. 📊Based on CoStar industri...
01/19/2026

Looking back at 2025, both the data told a very clear story in the LA North industrial market. 📊

Based on CoStar industrial sale comps, there were 195 closed industrial transactions in 2025 totaling roughly $623M in deal volume. The median deal size was about 7,200 SF. Most transactions occurred in smaller buildings, and as building size increased, completed deals dropped off meaningfully.

A major factor throughout the year was the City of Los Angeles Measure ULA transfer tax. In practice, the added cost stalled many potential transactions and rendered others no longer economically viable, particularly for larger and higher-value assets subject to the tax thresholds.

The result was a bifurcated market. Sub-10,000 SF industrial drove liquidity in 2025, supported by owner-users and private capital. Larger buildings traded far more selectively once Measure ULA was fully underwritten.

That said, the back half of the year brought real momentum. 📈 Deals got done, capital adjusted, and year-end activity picked up as buyers and sellers found ways to bridge gaps.

That energy is carrying into 2026. More clarity, more realistic underwriting, and more conversations turning into executed deals. Let’s keep it moving. 🚀

If you would like to connect and discuss talk how this impacts pricing, timing, or exit strategy for a specific asset, shoot me a DM.

We are live in the The City of Bakersfield 📍 Two former Farmer Boys locations have hit the market, offering operators, i...
01/12/2026

We are live in the The City of Bakersfield 📍

Two former Farmer Boys locations have hit the market, offering operators, investors, and 1031 buyers a chance to secure freestanding drive-thru real estate in a market that continues to outperform many major California metros on stability and liquidity.

Bakersfield retail vacancy remains in the low to mid 6% range, with availability only slightly higher. New retail construction is limited to roughly 0.5% of total inventory, and more than 90% of that space is already pre-leased. Over the past 12 months, retail sales activity has remained steady, with cap rates generally in the low to mid 7% range and pricing supported by daily-needs and service-oriented tenancy. Rent growth has been modest but positive at approximately 1% to 2%, reinforcing the market’s durability.
Both sites are fully built-out restaurant assets and well positioned for brands pushing growth within the State of California.

📍 5544 California Ave | Southwest Bakersfield
🔸 ±3,219 SF freestanding building on ±0.87 acres
🔸 Drive-thru and outdoor dining
🔸 28 parking stalls
🔸 Zoning C-2
🔸 Strong national co-tenancy and excellent access to Highway 99, Westside Parkway, and Stockdale Highway

📍 2617 Haley St | Central Bakersfield
🔸 ±3,275 SF freestanding building on ±0.73 acres
🔸 Drive-thru and outdoor dining
🔸 46 parking stalls
🔸 Zoning C-2
🔸 Direct access to Highway 178 and dense surrounding neighborhoods

Retail continues to be one of the most resilient asset classes for both operators and investors. These properties check the boxes on access, visibility, parking, and real infrastructure, making them compelling for expansion, repositioning, or long-term holds.

Both properties are available now.

Please reach out to discuss or to arrange a tour.

Lee & Associates-LA North/Ventura, Inc.
Lee & Associates - Central Valley
Amanda Brock
Chad J. Brock

Full circle moment.Years ago, I sold the fire and security systems for this building.Now, I’ve come full circle — repres...
11/16/2025

Full circle moment.

Years ago, I sold the fire and security systems for this building.
Now, I’ve come full circle — representing a client’s industrial expansion and closing on 28177 Avenue Crocker, a 19,432 SF freestanding building in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Teamwork made this one possible. Grateful to have collaborated with my Lee & Associates partners across regions and with Colliers to deliver another win for our client’s national growth strategy.

📍Northern Los Angeles | Santa Clarita Valley
yourlosangelesbroker

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15060 Ventura Boulevard Suite 100
Sherman Oaks, CA
91403

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8am - 5:30pm
Friday 8am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+18189869800

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