Business Details
35 Years
experience
Commercial Real Estate Due Diligence Experts
Since 1991, Real Estate Advisory has established itself as a leader in commercial real estate due diligence. Our firm specializes in simplifying complex environmental and construction issues through a multidisciplinary approach that combines expertise in environmental law, industrial hygiene, construction management, and investment banking. We serve owners, property managers, lawyers, and lenders nationwide, delivering precise assessments and actionable insights tailored to transactional needs. Our centralized project management ensures consistent quality and responsiveness, with all reports reviewed directly from our Chicago headquarters. With regional offices across major U.S. cities, we provide local regulatory expertise while maintaining national service capabilities.Our team of full-time professionals, not independent contractors, guarantees direct client access to project experts and ongoing professional development. We pioneered post-Fleet Factors due diligence protocols and continue to refine methodologies that eliminate ambiguity in environmental and structural assessments. Our remediation division addresses radon, soil vapor, groundwater contamination, and other hazards. Clients benefit from timely delivery optimized through centralized scheduling and staffing. Our reputation is built on unambiguous reporting that distills complex technical issues into clear business decisions, supported by a corporate culture prioritizing client-focused professionalism.
Services
Due Diligence
Environmental Assessments
Construction Assessments
Remediation Services
Multi-Family Assessments
Green Building Audits
Radon Mitigation
Soil Vapor Remediation
Groundwater Treatment
Regulatory Compliance
Details
- Year established: 1991
Highlights and features
- We specialize in transactional due diligence for commercial real estate since 1991
- Our multidisciplinary team combines environmental law, construction, and investment banking expertise
- Centralized Chicago-based project management ensures consistent quality and responsiveness
- We maintain regional offices in major U.S. cities for local regulatory knowledge
- Our full-time professional staff provides direct client access to project experts
Services
Due Diligence
Our due diligence services evaluate environmental and physical property conditions for commercial real estate transactions. We identify regulatory compliance issues, environmental risks, and structural concerns while providing clear mitigation strategies. Clients receive actionable insights that facilitate informed investment decisions and smooth transaction closings.
Environmental Assessments
We conduct comprehensive environmental assessments including Phase I/II investigations and hazardous material evaluations. Our experts analyze soil, water, and air quality while addressing asbestos, radon, and vapor intrusion concerns. Reports deliver precise risk quantification and remediation recommendations tailored to transaction timelines.
Construction Assessments
Our construction assessments evaluate building systems and infrastructure conditions. We provide detailed cost projections for repairs, maintenance, and capital improvements over loan terms. Services include structural analysis, mechanical system evaluations, and compliance verification with current building codes.
Remediation Services
We manage environmental remediation projects addressing soil contamination, groundwater pollution, and indoor air quality issues. Our solutions include soil vapor extraction, radon mitigation, and hazardous material abatement. We coordinate regulatory compliance and verify remediation success through post-treatment testing.
Multi-Family Assessments
Specialized assessments for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac compliant properties include physical condition analysis and regulatory compliance verification. We evaluate building systems, safety features, and maintenance requirements while providing budget forecasts for renovations and long-term property management.
People
Kevin Simmons
Founder & Managing Member
Kevin Simmons founded REA in 1991 and established its transactional consulting framework. He oversees strategic direction while maintaining active involvement in complex due diligence assignments across commercial real estate sectors.
Kevin Mueller
Vice President Operations
As Vice President since 1996, Kevin Mueller manages Chicago operations and ensures quality control across all client deliverables. He coordinates national project execution while maintaining direct client communication channels.
Penny Mattes-Rumore
Corporate Operations
Penny Mattes-Rumore has directed corporate operations since 1996, managing project scheduling and staffing logistics. She ensures timely delivery of services across REA's national service network while maintaining cost efficiency.
Neal Smith
Founder & Managing Member
Co-founder Neal Smith leads Atlanta operations and specializes in complex environmental assessments. With 30+ years experience, he develops technical methodologies for evaluating hazardous waste sites and contaminated properties.
Steve Sheppard
Senior Project Manager
Steve Sheppard has managed Boston projects since 1998, focusing on construction defect analysis and remediation oversight. He implements REA's quality assurance protocols while serving as primary client liaison for major transactions.
Questions
What commercial real estate due diligence services do you offer?
We provide environmental assessments, construction evaluations, remediation management, multi-family property inspections, and regulatory compliance verification for commercial real estate transactions.
How does your transactional focus benefit clients?
Our transactional approach prioritizes time-sensitive deliverables with clear risk quantification, enabling faster deal closures while maintaining technical accuracy and regulatory compliance.
Do you operate nationally or regionally?
We provide national service through regional offices in major U.S. cities, combining local regulatory expertise with centralized quality control from our Chicago headquarters.
What makes your team different from competitors?
Our full-time professionals maintain direct client access to project experts, while our multidisciplinary approach integrates environmental law, construction management, and investment banking expertise.
How do you handle remediation projects?
Our Remedial Solutions division manages environmental cleanup including radon mitigation, soil vapor extraction, contaminated soil removal, and groundwater treatment with regulatory compliance verification.
Can you handle Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac requirements?
Yes, we specialize in multi-family property assessments meeting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac protocols, including physical condition analysis and regulatory compliance verification for residential conversions.
