Spotlight on Tri West Realty

12/17/23

When work obligations prevented Brian O’Connor from attending his best friend’s wedding, he knew he needed to make a change. Brian left his successful job in high-tech sales, moved from California to Arizona, and opened his boutique real estate investment company, Tri West Realty in 2008.

“Tri West Realty is a full-service real estate brokerage and development company focused in the West Valley and serves both residential and commercial clients,” says Brian, the company’s founder. “That’s where I spend most of my time and energy and have built my network over the years.”

Bringing the Right Team Together to Serve the West Valley Community

Tri West Realty is dedicated to developing high-quality projects that add value to the community and enhance its potential. Brian works with a team of reputable partners to ensure the success of any construction project, bringing experience, knowledge, and professional service to every new development.

Brian’s current project is an adaptive reuse opportunity to transform a church in Litchfield Park into a boutique retail space geared toward providing services to the community. “Our inspiration for the project is Luci’s at the Orchard,” says Brian. “We wanted to build a gathering place for the community. Where moms can go with kids, businesspeople can meet, and seniors can gather for coffee.”

The project is still under construction but is already 100% pre-leased. “Businesses have reached out to us strictly by word of mouth. That’s what’s really exciting,” says Brian. He anticipates the project will be completed within a year. “I love working on projects like this, matching up resources to bring the vision to reality.”

While development is one aspect of his business, Brian also handles residential and commercial real estate services “the way they were meant to be done.” In Brian’s view, that means providing personal attention and knowledge to each client throughout the entire transaction process.

The understanding that every deal is different helps Tri West Realty distinguish itself from its competition. “We can provide value, understanding, experience, and knowledge to every aspect of our business,” says Brian. Joking that he knows a little about a lot, Brian believes his personal experience as an investor, mortgage broker, and real estate broker allows him to walk in the shoes of his customers and provide a truly personal experience with a successful outcome.

Finding a Banking Partner That Believes 

With the recent shift in capital markets tightening and after hearing a lot of “no’s” from other banks, Brian was connected with RBAZ Banker Kristen McLean through a mutual acquaintance. “Connecting with Kristen was a unique experience with her past experience as a developer,” says Brian. “She and the bank believed in the project. It was a feeling of partnership right from the beginning and has been a wonderful experience.”

“When you walk into the bank, people stand up and greet you,” says Brian. “And that means a lot. It’s an organization that really cares for its customers. I am very appreciative of the bank, the team, and Kristen.” “I was introduced to Brian through a mutual colleague, and I knew from the start that Brian was a talented developer with a vision and passion for developing community driven projects. Brian’s community involvement surpasses just development as he also is a charter member of the West Valley Mavericks Foundation; a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting programs that improve the quality of life for children, families, and those in need all across the West Valley,” says Kristen.

“We are grateful to provide financing for Brian’s adaptive reuse project. It’s going to be a great place for the community, and we look forward to seeing his project reach completion,” says Kristen. “Brian and his company have been a great fit for RBAZ as we both support local businesses and are committed to improving our communities.”

Focused on Family & Community

For Brian, he’s right where he wants to be: self-employed doing what he loves while still having the time and flexibility to dedicate to his wife and two daughters. He loves coaching his daughters’ on school basketball teams, enjoys CrossFit, snowboarding, summers in Donner Lake, CA, while still finding time to give back to the West Valley Community through the West Valley Mavericks. “I feel lucky and grateful to be right where I’m at.”

The Bank is grateful to be a part of Tri West Realty’s success.