CBRE Multifamily Team Delivers Institutional Service to Middle Market

Ben Mollahan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-mollahan-981322176/) and Adam Foley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-foley-8b3766146/) are Senior Associates with the CBRE Bay Area Multifamily Investment Properties Group, where they focus on the acquisition and disposition of multifamily properties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The duo are known for providing institutional quality service for the middle market and private capital, which results in the highest and best value for clients.

Since joining the CBRE Bay Area Multifamily Investment Properties Group, Mollahan and Foley have been involved in the acquisition and disposition of more than 3,500 apartment units representing more than 960 million dollars in transaction volume. Their rapid ascent demonstrates not only exceptional production but also a sophisticated understanding of how to bridge institutional-grade execution with the personalized service that middle-market clients require.

The team’s approach combines thorough market analysis, strategic positioning, and aggressive marketing to create competitive tension that drives optimal outcomes. Their track record shows consistent ability to exceed client expectations on both pricing and execution timeline, a rare achievement in a market as competitive and nuanced as the Bay Area multifamily sector.

Mollahan and Foley were finalists in the Association of Silicon Valley Brokers “Rookie of the Year” award in 2024, formal recognition of their exceptional early-career performance. Beyond their production metrics, both professionals have demonstrated commitment to industry engagement and community leadership that extends well beyond transaction work.

Mollahan serves as a board member of the Belden Club in San Francisco, one of the city’s historic business networking organizations. This role reflects his commitment to building relationships across the broader business community and contributing to the civic fabric of San Francisco.

Foley maintains active involvement in multiple industry organizations, including the Santa Clara University Alumni Association, Urban Land Institute, and NAIOP Developing Leaders Program. He also serves on the Board of the Housing Industry Foundation BLI, demonstrating commitment to the broader housing ecosystem and workforce development in the construction trades.

Client testimonials underscore the team’s ability to deliver exceptional service across all phases of transaction execution. One client described CBRE as a fantastic partner in the listing and sale of two neighboring multifamily properties in the Peninsula, noting that the team explained and built out a thorough selling strategy and created significant competition amongst investors which ultimately drove the price up beyond expectations.

The client praised the team’s communication, planning, negotiation, and task execution as excellent throughout the entire process, noting that many of the small details were handled directly by the team with minimal burden placed on the family. The client stated appreciation for working with the team and characterized the overall experience as excellent.

Another client, Rayanne and the Burriesci Family, stated that Mollahan, Foley, and the rest of the CBRE team did a fantastic job marketing, selling, and advising on their properties. The team walked them through the timeline of a sale and was very effective in answering all questions and explaining every step along the way. The family thanked the team for making a difficult process so easy for them and their family.

The team’s success reflects several distinguishing characteristics that set them apart in the competitive Bay Area multifamily market. First, their institutional training and resources, combined with entrepreneurial drive, allows them to deliver sophisticated analytics and marketing while maintaining the responsiveness and personal attention that private clients value.

Second, their deep knowledge of Bay Area submarkets—from Peninsula communities to East Bay neighborhoods to San Francisco proper—enables them to position properties with precision and identify the optimal buyer universe for each asset. This geographic fluency is particularly valuable in a region as fragmented and diverse as the Bay Area, where micro-market dynamics can significantly impact valuation and buyer interest.

Third, their collaborative approach and clear communication style helps clients navigate complex decisions with confidence. Many private owners and family offices are engaging with the multifamily market infrequently, often holding assets for decades before deciding to sell. Mollahan and Foley’s ability to educate, advise, and execute with transparency has built trust that translates into repeat business and referrals.

The multifamily investment market has experienced significant volatility in recent years, with interest rate increases, changing capital availability, and shifting return expectations creating a more complex environment for both buyers and sellers. In this context, Mollahan and Foley’s ability to maintain consistent production while delivering strong client outcomes demonstrates both market expertise and adaptability.

Looking ahead, the team is well-positioned to continue building on their early success. Their combination of production capability, market knowledge, and client service orientation suggests a trajectory toward becoming among the leading multifamily advisors in the Bay Area. Their involvement in industry organizations and commitment to professional development indicates understanding that sustained success requires continuous learning and relationship building beyond individual transactions.

The Bay Area multifamily market remains one of the most dynamic and competitive in the nation, characterized by supply constraints, strong underlying demand fundamentals, and diverse buyer constituencies ranging from private individuals to institutional investors. Success in this market requires not only transaction skills but also strategic vision, market intelligence, and ability to navigate the region’s complex regulatory environment.

Mollahan and Foley have demonstrated these capabilities early in their careers, establishing themselves as trusted advisors to middle-market and private capital clients who require institutional-quality execution. Their recognition as Finance & Capital Markets Innovators reflects both their individual achievements and their contribution to advancing client service standards in the Bay Area multifamily investment sector.