John Hess

John joined Fortitude Investment Group to expand its outstanding brand onto the national stage. He brings a 30 plus-year, West Coast-based practice and experience in real estate to Fortitude. John started his focus on 1031 tax-deferred exchanges into Securitized Real Estate Transactions in 2002 and has completed over $65 million in transactions. He works closely with clients and their professionals (CPAs, Realtors and Attorneys) to accommodate their time-sensitive 1031 replacement property requirements. John’s focus today is on educating accredited investors regarding their options in a 1031 Exchange—where many of these options include the opportunity to diversify into a fractional interest in a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST). A DST investment is structured to provide an ownership interest in one or more institutional-quality properties professionally managed by national organizations.

Throughout his career John has engaged in many aspects of real estate. Growing up in British Columbia, John joined his family’s development business. In 1981, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and became Assistant Vice President with Heller Financial. John specialized in commercial construction loans and was responsible for project analysis, appraisal review, and loan administration. He later formed First Western Development CA, a retail development company. As president, John oversaw all aspects including planning, entitlements, financing, leasing/sales and management. John joined Sigma Financial as a Registered Representative in 2002 and Omni Brokerage Services in 2005. While at these firms John maintained a primary focus on 1031 Exchanges into Securitized Real Estate. Recently, John has been a part of a development team working in conjunction with several major nonprofits to renovate and rebuild foreclosed homes in blighted neighborhoods. As a Registered Representative, John maintains his Series 22 and 63 securities licenses. In addition, he holds a California Real Estate Brokers license. Check John’s background on FINRA’s Broker Check.

John graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Mary’s College Moraga, California, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Economics. He resides in Alamo, California with his wife Vicki.