Jay Soneff of Jamis Companies, Inc. Local real estate agent with over 28 years experience in the Ballpark Neighborhood.

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Jay Soneff was born and raised in Denver, Colorado.  The third generation Denverite attended John F. Kennedy High School.  He earned a Division I baseball scholarship to The University of Colorado under Coach Irv Brown.  In four years, Jay graduated with a Business Degree in Finance and Real Estate with a minor in economics.

 

Jay was the first to take advantage of the new rules with the real estate commission that allowed for a real estate degree to replace the two years of Salesman status requirement for broker licensing. At age 22, Jay was the youngest Broker in the state. 

 

In 1978, Jay began his career in real estate by taking an associate brokers position with Duncan and Duncan Realty under managing broker and owner Patricia Richards.  Pat Richards was the Colorado Realtor of the Year and perhaps the most successful broker in the State.  Pat’s knowledge and dedication to delivering the utmost in service was instrumental in forming Jay’s success in attracting and retaining clients.

 

His first year in the residential real estate sales business, Jay lead the office in total number of closed transactions.  As his personal business grew and he developed a desire to work with a broader client base, Jay left Duncan and Duncan in 1979 to work with Moore and Company Realty.

 

Jay was hired by Bill Moore, the President and Owner of the company.  Moore and Company was for many years the largest privately owned real estate company in Colorado.  In Jay’s very first year in the Southwest office, he led the office in total transactions. 

 

In 1980 Jay became interested in commercial real estate and in late 1980; Jay partnered with a Canadian Hotel Developer to purchase Downtown Denver and Southeast Denver properties for commercial development.  The company, Northwest Properties, assembled over $25 million dollars of land in less than two years.  In 1981, the collapse of the oil business and the Canadian economy dictated the liquidation of the partnership’s properties.  Jay then formed his own company, Jamis Companies, Inc. in 1981.

 

Jamis Companies specialized in the assembling, developing and sale of Downtown Denver properties.  Jamis developed its first office building in a joint venture with Bernard Blecker and Grant Marsh.   The Market Park Office building was constructed in Lower Downtown at a cost of 13.9 million dollars. The building, located at 15^th Street and Market now serves as the headquarters to the Denver Chamber of Commerce.

 

In 1986, Jamis began acquiring distressed retail properties and redeveloping them into vibrant centers. Jamis developed over 200,000 square feet of retail and office space in the northwest metro area up until the Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980’s. 

 

Jamis’ greatest accomplishments arose through the acquisition, redevelopment and construction of underutilized real estate.  Recognizing the great importance of understanding the construction field, Jay enrolled and graduated from The Daniels College of Business at Denver University with a Masters degree in Real Estate and Construction Management.

 

Due to the difficult 1980’s and the extreme risks in the real estate markets, Jamis shifted its focus to performing contract brokerage and development work for cities and Non-For Profit organizations.   In the 1990’s, Jamis brokered and joint ventured several major projects.  The first project Jamis developed was the Alcohol Treatment Facility known as Denver C.A.R.E.S in the Golden Triangle.  Jamis earned this opportunity as the finalist in a competitive RFP.  Jamis’s development partner in the project was Hensel Phelps.

 

A second major development awarded to Jamis was the relocation and construction of a new Headquarter facility for Denver Waste Water Management at Alameda Ave. and Interstate 25.  Jamis assembled the land, procured the entitlements and coordinated the development review process with the architects and engineers.

 

Jamis also acquired and assisted in the redevelopment of properties for successful Non for Profits such as The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.  Jamis acquired several properties for CCH’s low income housing program and also re-developed the CCH’s new headquarters in Downtown Denver.

 

The last 10 years at Jamis has been a process of evolving into a full service real estate consulting firm with divisions of both commercial and residential investment real estate, mortgage financing, property management and a hospitality and promotions department.

 

Jamis has a rapidly expanding property management division with properties under management of all property types.  The absolute goal of the division is to maximize the value of the asset for the client. 

 

Jamis has also grown its real estate lending division with Jay’s affiliation with Numerica Funding out of Virginia Beach.  Through Numerica, a direct lender Mortgage Banking operation, our clients enjoy the benefits of access to all available residential mortgage products without paying an outside mortgage broker.

 

Jay’s success in all aspects of the real estate business has been based on a solid understanding of location selection and the experience to identify and minimize the risks of the endeavor.  Jay’s substantial experience has been gained from hundreds of complex transactions.  This background and experience is crucial in assisting the client to evaluate realistically the challenges of the investment development and construction process.

 

Jay is married to his elementary school Sweetheart, Jan.  Jan is a volunteer Victim’s advocate for the Lakewood Police Department.  In July this year they celebrated their 30^th wedding anniversary.  Jay and Jan have two children, Jay Jr., and Jaclyn.