Our Team

Michael Haaland is the construction supervisor. He has remodeled over 150 properties in California, built several single family dwellings, and has supervised the rehabilitation of all the Texas units acquired. Michael has been around the construction sites from an early age, his dad a seasoned builder in the early stages of San Diego.

Ian Sells with a degree in Real Estate Finance from SDSU, heads up the Texas and San Diego management teams. He effectively manages the 450+ Texas apartment units in five Texas communities as well as 70+ Property Management Company in San Diego. His integrity, leadership and skill has made HSB Investments the dynamic company that it is.

Brandon Blum is the financing expert on the ownership team. A mortgage specialist in California for five years, he has put together tens of millions of dollars of loans for many satisfied customers. He has organized millions of dollars of investment money from many different sources. He is the point of contact for all contract negotiations, due diligence, and deadlines.

Executive Staff

Betty Zamora, Executive Assistant responsible for handling all business matters for HSB Investments and HSB Management. She is an important part to HSB's success and organization. She has over 25 years of experience in the real estate business handling over 50 loan files a month as a top producer at more than one company.

LuAnne Wonders, Texas Executive Assistant responsible for overseeing all onsite property managers and their maintenance staff. She has over 30 years Property management experience and is currently managing over 450 units.

Wayne Haaland, responsible for locating deals and creating new business contact throughout the country.

Job Site Managers

Daniel Recob - Texas Foreman

Greg Barbin - Texas Foreman

Property Managers & Staff

Nate Davies - San Diego, CA. Heads the SDSU property Management operation.

Shellie Skahill - San Diego, CA. Administration Assistant and Executive Assistant.

Areliy Flores - Houston, Texas

Ruthie Bell -Houston, Texas

Ina Velazco - Lubbock, Texas

Maria Moreno - Houston, Texas

Our History

Four years ago, HSB Investments, LLC analyzed the San Diego rental market and determined the strongest demand for housing was in the San Diego State University area. The University lacks campus housing and 90 percent of the students are forced to live off campus. HSB and a select group of investors began purchasing and renovating single family homes in the immediate campus area to create a larger supply of attractive, affordable student housing. The investment team purchased two and three bedroom homes and converted them into six to nine bedroom dwellings. In all cases, the city's requirements and conditions for permit issuance and occupancy permits were met and even exceeded.

Most of the houses were in substandard condition on acquisition and all were extensively remodeled and improved, including exterior landscaping. In most cases, about 1500 square feet was added to each home, thereby creating a dwelling with a much higher value. After each house was completed, it was refinanced, and all initial capital invested was returned to the investors.

In approximately two years, HSB and the investors acquired and now own and manage over 80 single-family dwellings in the college area with an aggregate value approaching 50 million dollars. Nearly 600 college students now live in HSB investment homes.    

Current Focus

In 2007, HSB decided to make its move into commercial real estate. With rental markets gaining strength as home ownership was becoming harder because of financing and home prices, HSB saw an incredible opportunity in multi-family dwellings.

After an in-depth analysis, HSB decided to concentrate on investments in Texas. Among the factors influencing this decision was:

• "C Class" apartments on the west coast are priced between $100,000 to $150,000 per unit, with rents that average from $ 1,100 to $ 1,500 per unit. In Texas, comparative apartments are priced between $25,000 to $35,000, with rents that average $500-$600 dollars. Because of this favorable Price to Rent Ratio, returns on investment are accelerated.
  
• Several cities in Texas are rated as the best rental markets in the nation.
  
• Houston is the fourth largest city in the US.
  
• HSB is concentrating on working class income areas in predominantly working class city.

• HSB is acquiring dilapidated apartment buildings in need rehabilitaion.

• Typically properties aquired by HSB are located in strong rental markets, but have fallen short on occupacy due to mismanagement and lack of maintance.

The rehab process takes approximately 4-6 months depending on size of the project. It takes about 8-9 months for the property to be up and running smoothly. HSB's infrastructure and experience is the biggest reason for its immediate success in Texas. As contractors, managers, and lenders, we operate without compromising quality at all levels of the endeavor, controlling our costs by employing most of our trades rather than hiring Contractors.

In addition, HSB has complete control over the apartment management, thereby insuring that each acquired development is operated at full potential. Finally, HSB is actively involved in the loan process to assure smoother construction to permanent financing transitions.

Since starting in Houston in the summer of 2007, HSB has acquired over 450 apartment units in seven projects.