Early in my career, I was employed as a Market Maker at The Pacific Coast Stock and Options Exchange in San Francisco. I bought and sold equity options on the trading floor. Although challenging and fast paced, the infamous terrorist attacks of 9/11 forced the market to crash and presented an opportunity for me to move on. I quickly earned my real estate license and began working for a small firm in Berkeley, where I had a very successful first year. This led me to develop a strong desire to start my own business. I co-founded Lake Merritt Realty and Lake Merritt Commercial Real Estate in 2003.

I proceeded to specialize in multi-family, retail, industrial, and office property. I quickly discovered that I had a distinct advantage utilizing my skills in the commercial arena, as opposed to the residential market. I found my niche helping investors own more real estate using the famed1031 exchange to produce better cash flows and higher cash on cash returns, increase internal rates of return, while deferring capital gains taxes. I have also been and continue to be, interested and involved in the development sector.

I hold both the distinguished CCIM designation and the California Certified Property Manager (CCRM) credential. I am a licensed Real Estate Broker and have successfully completed the Real Estate Investments course at UC Berkeley. I am an investor, developer and portfolio owner of local real estate. I have successfully completed over $100M in recent real estate transactions.

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My name is ERIC BURRIS. I am a real estate broker and an attorney at law. My personal goal is to help our clients buy and sell real estate, and to satisfy everyone's needs to the best of my ability. Please enjoy our website and feel free to call me.

• Attorney at Law.
• Real Estate Broker.
• Graduate of U.C. Berkeley (B.A. in Legal Studies and Psychology in 1981) and University of San Francisco (J.D. in 1984).

As a Realtor, my job is to provide clients with straight forward, up to date information regarding the real estate market. The industry is an ever-changing entity that requires a well informed and dynamic agent to find, negotiate and close on a property. Many people are involved in a sale, from an inspector to a lender and everything in between. It is important to me to provide my clients with the best service possible, and to also maintain a high level of courtesy, respect and integrity in regard to other professionals involved in a transaction. When a property is sold and everyone is satisfied, I feel that I have accomplished my goal.

I chose to work at Lake Merritt Realty because I believe in working for a small company where I have the freedom to be creative, be myself and excel beyond the limits of a corporate environment.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art from Wayne State University in Detroit, where I was raised.

Thanks for visiting the new LMR website! My mission with the company, and with my clients, is this: to make every real estate transaction an example of the uncompromising level of enthusiasm, dedication and professionalism that I stand by. Representing sellers and buyers in the rapidly changing Bay Area marketplace is a difficult task for any agent, however; it is a challenge I thrive upon. Every step of the process, either with acquisition, development or disposition, requires intense focus, knowledge, strong relationships and seamless execution. It is the responsibility to my clients to provide this level of service that motivates me and drives me to succeed.

Prior to real estate, I spent 12 years working in Oakland as a cameraman for Channel 2. The rigors of that industry; daily deadlines and mandatory hard work ethic requirements, were a natural fit for me, and have become important tools now, with navigating the real estate waters of the East Bay. I am very familiar with the territory and neighborhoods, as well as the politics and players, associated with property investment and development.

I hold a BA Degree in Communications from SFSU. I donate a portion of each of my commissions to the Oral Lee Brown Foundation in Oakland.