Cedar Tree Village Shopping Center is located at Herndon and Cedar avenues in Fresno. The Visintainer Group took several offers on the property. Visintainer image

Brett Visintainer’s path to commercial real estate ran through a Dallas Cowboys training camp — and an injury that ended his football career before it really began.

The Fresno State kicker turned that setback into a second career, launching Visintainer Group in 2018 with a strategy that looked well beyond the Central Valley. This week, the Fresno-based brokerage announced it has surpassed $1 billion in transactions across 18 states.

The milestone reflects more than 250 property acquisitions, dispositions and 1031 exchanges — and a deliberate push to compete nationally from a Central Valley base.

“This milestone is a reflection of the trust our clients place in us and the consistency of our team’s execution,” Visintainer said. “Reaching $1 billion is meaningful, but what matters most is how we got here — through relationships, discipline and results.”

Gridiron to commercial real estate

Visintainer, a CCIM-designee and principal of the firm, said the transition from sports to commercial real estate was driven by the same competitive mindset he carried onto the field. He is ninth in Fresno State history with 31 field goals made, according to Sports Reference.

“Football was a great avenue where you take that same personality and you put it into business,” Visintainer said. “You know, I was lucky enough to find the success I did, going to Fresno State and then having a chance to sign with the Cowboys, and taking those principles, work ethic, determination and then applying it to business.”

Thinking beyond Fresno

After working in office leasing and sales, Visintainer launched his own firm with a focus on investment real estate, leaning on mentorship, outside coaching and a strategy uncommon in the Central Valley at the time.

Rather than limiting the group’s focus to Fresno, Visintainer said the region’s smaller deals pushed the company to think larger.

“Focusing just on Fresno was not going to be a recipe for success,” he said, noting that they wanted to look for areas all over the country.

The strategy led to Visintainer Group building relationships with brokers and developers across the country, helping source deals for investors, mainly those completing 1031 exchanges. About half of the firm’s transactions are off-market, Visintainer said, which gives clients access to opportunities with less competition.

They have also expanded their reach by focusing on sectors where investors continue to show interest, including grocery-anchored retail, industrial and multifamily properties.

Navigating a shifting market

Over the years, one of the biggest challenges has been the disconnect between buyer expectations and seller pricing following interest rate hikes.

“Sellers aren’t able to achieve pricing they may have seen with lower rates,” he said. “Our job is helping set expectations and show where the market is.”

What comes next

Even as the company has reached a significant milestone, Visintainer said the next phase of growth is centered around expanding its multifamily business and supporting younger brokers building their own reputations within the firm. He added that the success has been shaped by focusing on education and advisory work rather than simply marketing properties.

“I just love helping people find the right deals that fit their objectives. Every deal is different,” he said. “Our growth has been intentional. We’ve built a platform that combines local market expertise with national connectivity.”