Our Story

Trust. The Process.™

Many real estate entrepreneurs, and capital sources alike, struggle to navigate the capital markets and find reliable partners. Having financed many hundreds of millions of dollars in deals, and billions collectively, we know how to avoid common pitfalls, uncertainties and misunderstandings that can often derail opportunities. Our expert team has engineered a world-class capital matching process with a simple, 3-step approach. You’ll avoid wasting time and end up with refreshingly simplified deal flows and trustworthy partners.

FUND YOUR DEAL

Who We Are

We are a premier capital markets intermediary dedicated to helping clients successfully chart their course.

What We Do

By thoughtfully structuring transactions and navigating capital markets, we offer commercial real estate sponsors innovative solutions and competitive terms.

Why We Do It

Enterprising real estate entrepreneurs are the core value creators of the real estate industry yet have a lack of viable financing options in today’s marketplace. We’re here to change that.

Experts

Meet Our Team

Stephen Smeke

Managing Director

Mr. Smeke founded Valencia Realty Capital (“VRC”) in 2013 after recognizing the substantial inefficiencies faced by established yet entrepreneurial real estate developers and operators in the equity and debt capital markets. His leadership is characterized by a commitment to a first principles approach in institutionalizing the capital matchmaking process, striving for a refined and reliable experience for both investors and sponsors alike. Since starting VRC, the company has facilitated many hundreds of millions of dollars in debt & equity transactions across the spectrum of CRE asset classes, fulfilling mandates for dozens of esteemed family offices and institutional investor relationships. He holds a magna cum laude degree in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Stephen is a proud resident of St. Petersburg, FL where he enjoys the sunshine with his wife and son.

Alex Riccio

Partner, Director

Mr. Riccio joined Valencia Realty Capital in 2017, and leads VRC’s underwriting, transaction marketing, and capital markets efforts. Prior to VRC, Mr. Riccio worked as a senior analyst for the top producing investment sales office at CBRE’s New York Institutional Sales Group. While at CBRE, Alex underwrote over $2 billion in real estate transactions and in 2016 was part of the #1 ranked investment sales team in CBRE worldwide. Prior to CBRE, Alex was a portfolio analyst at GE Capital Real Estate evaluating multifamily, office, industrial and hospitality assets. Mr. Riccio completed his undergraduate degree at Providence College where he majored in Finance and minored in Computer Science. Mr. Riccio is an accomplished deal maker and commands notable expertise on even the most complex situations. Mr. Riccio resides in Hanover, MA with his wife and two kids, and enjoys hockey, boxing, and MMA.

Jacob Felger

Vice President

Jacob joined the Valencia team in 2022, after graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in economics and computer science. Jacob has underwritten over $250 million of structured capital solutions across multifamily, industrial, hospitality, retail, office, and other specialty CRE assets for Valencia’s clients. In his spare time, Jacob enjoys golfing with friends and visiting his family in Miami Beach, FL.

William Mettler

Capital Advisor

As a capital advisor for VRC, Will Mettler is responsible for evaluating and uncovering capital placement opportunities. Mr. Mettler assists in the business development efforts of VRC, streamlining business processes and managing marketing initiatives. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder and is an Eagle Scout of the Boy Scouts of America.

“Valencia Realty Capital is an exceptional partner in navigating the complex landscape of sourcing capital. Their ingenious strategy and unique approach towards sourcing the perfect capital fit for our culture and projects have been instrumental in our success. Their team goes beyond the conventional methods, delving deep into understanding our vision, values, and aspirations. With their keen insight and expertise, they seamlessly align the right capital resources that not only meet our financial needs but also resonate with our organizational ethos. Valencia Realty Capital’s commitment to innovation and creativity sets them apart in the industry. Their tailored solutions and unwavering dedication have empowered us to realize our goals and propel our project forward with confidence. We highly recommend Valencia Realty Capital to anyone seeking a strategic capital partner who not only secures funding but also fosters a symbiotic relationship built on trust, integrity, and shared vision.”

– Scott Clark, Clark Capital

“It has been an absolute pleasure working with the Valencia Realty Capital team since 2016! Their knowledge of the capital markets and ability to execute on stabilized and creatively financed deals has played a major role in the growth of my company. On top or their expertise, they provide top-notch service and are a pleasure to work with!”

–Greg Donahue, 21 George Investors

“During one of the most challenging periods to close acquisitions due to interest rate volatility, Valencia was not only able to raise equity and structure the debt, but also brought in a general partner with whom we have since developed a longer term relationship with. Valencia was also able to put together a loan transaction on another property that, due to its size and mixed use component, was passed on by most of the traditional lenders. The team is professional, knowledgeable, and are not afraid to have the difficult conversations when needed.”

– Guy Holbrook, Tidegate Capital

“Valencia Realty Capital is one of my favorite brokers. They excel in two areas: integrity and execution. Regarding integrity, they are honest and transparent. It’s clear they are motivated more to do the right thing than just boost their own profits. They want their clients to be successful. Regarding execution, they are one of the best. They build meaningful relationships with many capital sources. They understand the underwriting criteria for each capital source. So, when a client asks for help raising capital, they know which capital sources will work for your situation. And because capital sources know the client has already been vetted for their source, the clients get expedited service with a high confidence of closing. It’s amazing and a much better process than what typical brokers do. I highly recommend Valencia Realty Capital! They are one of the best!”

– Mike Kaeding, Norhart

“Very knowledgeable and dependable. Valencia has been able to get the deals done that others could not. Every transaction I have done with them has been executed with certainty, precision and care throughout the process.”

– Adam, Real Estate Developer, Boston, MA