Emmitt Smith’s best deal

NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl MVP Emmitt Smith dove headlong into the real estate game back in 2004. Since then, he has started his own brokerage, a lending firm, a construction company and built a portfolio of office and multifamily assets. And in a recent interview, he talks deals and explains why he is the real deal.

“The best deal I ever made was through my partnership with ESmith Legacy — we built and sold about a thousand multifamily units up in the Baltimore area,” Smith told Bisnow.

Smith added: “I feel like one that we missed out on was one up in Harlem on 125th and Lennox. It was a pretty sizable deal, and when I say sizable I mean where the land itself was being valued north of $50M, and the property itself had the potential to be a $250M deal or more.”

Smith went on to explain that because of his previous career, people sometimes assume he is just a figurehead who doesn’t actually run the show.

“I had a guy come in earlier this week. He complimented me on my book, but he was like, ‘Is this the real deal?’ Yes, I am the real deal! I do come into the office! I do go on meetings! I do understand what’s going on within our platform, or what we’re developing and what we have developed. Yes, I do have multiple companies, but I spend a ton of time with every last one of my companies. I’m more than just a former athlete or a ‘Dancing With The Stars’ guy. The sky is not the limit for any athlete or any person, so why would I put any limits on myself?” [Bisnow] –Christopher Cameron