Phipps Realty Advisors

What Phipps Realty Advisors does

Phipps Realty Advisors is a veteran-owned boutique commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, serving clients in the Columbus and Central Ohio region. The firm operates two product lines: brokerage services (buyer and seller representation, tenant and landlord representation, and disposition services for commercial investment and owner-user properties) and advisory services (market information and strategic consultation). Revenue is generated through transaction-based commissions on commercial real estate deals, in line with standard industry practice, with no pricing publicly disclosed.

The firm is led by Shad Phipps (Founder, CEO, and Principal Broker; SIOR and CCIM designations) and Scott Behrmann (Founding Member and President), with Tuff Zemba joining as Associate in 2024 to extend coverage into Licking and Muskingum Counties. The founders together bring over 50 years of commercial real estate experience, including 11+ years previously at CBRE Investment Properties serving private investors. The firm operates without proprietary technology platforms or AI/ML capabilities, relying instead on direct sales, personal relationships, and a minimal digital footprint (company website, properties listings page, and email newsletter).

The customer base spans commercial property investors, business owners, tenants and landlords, and special situations including receivers, trustees, lenders, and government entities. Marketing is primarily referral- and direct-outreach-driven, leveraging the founders' prior institutional relationships. The firm is privately held with no disclosed external institutional investment or private equity backing.

Name

Phipps Realty Advisors

Legal name

Phipps Realty Advisors

Website

https://phippsra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Phipps Realty Advisors is a veteran-owned boutique commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, serving investors, business owners, tenants, landlords, and special-situation clients across the Columbus and Central Ohio region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Real Estate Brokerage and Advisory

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (5312)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Real Estate Brokerage (Leasing & Sales) (FSAEAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Investment Sales Brokerage (BPAJABAI), Tenant Representation & Corporate Services Brokerage (BPAJABAJ), Real Estate Investment Advisory (Acquisitions/Dispositions, Capital Allocation) (BPAJANAA)

Keywords

• Commercial real estate brokerage
• Investment sales advisory
• Tenant landlord representation
• Commercial real estate consulting
• Central Ohio CRE

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commercial real estate brokerage commissions: Earns transaction-based commissions on commercial real estate deals including buyer/seller representations, tenant/landlord lease transactions, and sale/leaseback arrangements. Revenue is generated on a per-transaction basis tied to deal value, typical of commercial real estate brokerage model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Phipps Realty Advisors is a boutique commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm that represents buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants of commercial property across Columbus and Central Ohio. Its offerings include commercial sales and leasing, investment sales, tenant and landlord representation, and CRE advisory services such as site selection, market and underwriting analysis, and ownership strategy consulting. The firm serves property owners, tenants, investors, and developers seeking local market expertise and senior-level service on individual CRE assignments.

Product overview

Phipps Realty Advisors offers a unified commercial real estate brokerage and advisory services platform. The firm operates as a veteran-owned boutique firm providing Brokerage Services (buyer/seller representation, tenant/landlord representation, disposition services) and Advisory Services (market information, strategic consultation) for commercial investment properties and owner-user properties in Columbus and Central Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Brokerage representation for the sale, purchase, and leasing of commercial properties across office, retail, industrial, and multifamily asset types in Columbus and Central Ohio. Targeted at commercial property owners, buyers, tenants, and investors seeking a boutique, senior-led brokerage experience.
• Investment Sales Representation of sellers and buyers in the disposition and acquisition of commercial investment real estate assets in Columbus and Central Ohio. Targeted at investors and property owners seeking transaction execution supported by local market analysis and capitalization expertise.
• Tenant and Landlord Representation Advisory and negotiation support for tenants evaluating or renewing space and for landlords marketing and leasing commercial property. Targeted at commercial tenants and property owners in Central Ohio seeking market-aligned lease terms.
• Commercial Real Estate Advisory Services Strategic consulting engagements covering site selection, market and comparable analysis, underwriting support, and ownership strategy for commercial real estate clients. Targeted at commercial property owners, tenants, investors, and developers requiring standalone advisory support outside of an active sale or lease assignment.
• Property Management Support Services Operational and management support services for commercial property owners to assist with day-to-day ownership tasks. Targeted at commercial property owners in Central Ohio who need supplemental management support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years of combined industry experience available to clients

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CBRE Group: The world's largest commercial real estate services firm, where Phipps RA's two founders collectively spent over 30 years in the Investment Properties group. Competes for the same Columbus investment sales and tenant/landlord representation mandates at a much larger scale.
• Colliers International: Global commercial real estate services and investment management firm. Competitor in the Columbus market for investment sales, office/industrial leasing, and owner-user representation mandates.
• Cushman & Wakefield: Global commercial real estate services firm with significant presence in the U.S. Midwest, including Ohio. Competes for institutional investment sales, agency leasing, and tenant representation engagements in the Columbus/Central Ohio region.
• Avison Young: Global commercial real estate services firm with owner-direct and principal-led model that more closely resembles a boutique. Competes for investment sales, leasing, and advisory mandates in the Columbus and broader Midwest markets.
• JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle): Global commercial real estate services firm offering investment sales, leasing, and advisory across all major property types, including a meaningful presence in Columbus. Overlaps with Phipps RA on tenant representation, landlord leasing, and investment sales.
• Newmark Group: Global commercial real estate advisory and services firm with a growing capital markets and investment sales practice. Competes for investment sales and leasing assignments in secondary markets like Columbus where it has been expanding.

Regional players

• NAI Ohio Equities: Long-standing Columbus-based commercial real estate firm providing brokerage, property management, and advisory services across all property types. A direct local competitor serving the same Columbus/Central Ohio investor and owner-user market.
• The Robert Weiler Company: Established Columbus commercial real estate firm where Shad Phipps worked as an Investment Specialist before CBRE. Competes for buyer/seller, tenant, and landlord representation mandates in the Central Ohio market.
• Equity (Equity Inc.): Columbus-headquartered commercial real estate development and investment firm where Shad Phipps previously served as a Development Officer. Operates as both a principal and service provider in the Central Ohio market, with overlap on investment and owner-user transactions.

Direct peers

• Marcus & Millichap: Specialized commercial real estate investment sales brokerage focused on private investors, with a similar transaction-commission model. Both firms target the same private real estate investor client base for investment property dispositions and acquisitions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Phipps Realty Advisors