David Safai

Madison Partners

Age: 35

Specialty: Investment Sales/Leasing

Recent deal: 3130 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica

David Safai says he wakes up each morning with the same thought to help motivate him through the work day.

“I get up and think to myself that I can make a million dollars,” said Safai, owner of Santa Monica-based Madison Partners. “I know it sounds corny, but there is always another deal out there to work on.”

The motivation seems to be working.

Even in a crowded real estate market, Safai expects his company to wrap up the fiscal year with $300 million worth of transactions not bad for his second year in business.

Safai previously spent six years at Beitler Commercial Realty, but eventually left because he didn’t see much room for advancement.

“I wanted to become a partner, and it just wasn’t happening there,” he said. “So, I went out on my own.”

From September to December of 1996, the company had $94 million worth of transactions. So far this year, Madison Partners which has four brokers did $125 million in transactions.

In March, Safai led the company through $60 million worth of transactions. The two biggest included:

– 85,000 square-feet at 3130 Wilshire Blvd. The buyer was Lowe Enterprises and seller was Rubin Pachulski Properties. The off market deal was an estimated $12 million.

– 95,000 square-feet at 11777 San Vicente Blvd. The deal was an estimated $19 million, and sold to Douglas Emmett Realty.

Safai, who lives in Pacific Palisades, expects for even bigger deals in the future. The market “has never been better,” he said.

“I have the rest of my life to pick up golf,” said Safai, who graduated from the University of Southern California in 1988. “I haven’t seen a market like this ever. It’s hot, and this is the perfect time to be doing what I’m doing.”

Joe Bel Bruno