Meet Dennis Yarbrough
Lover of opportunity. Campervan man. Landlord for life.
Senior Associate and Soccer Coach Dennis Yarbrough celebrates a big win with his two daughters.
Landlord for life.
Dennis Yarbrough is a senior associate leading The Commercial Group at True Floridian Realty.
Yarbrough got his first taste of real estate when he turned 19. What began with subletting soon turned the sociology-and-investment-focused undergraduate into a real estate-focused side-hustling entrepreneur who purchased and managed multiple properties during his Arizona-based studies.
Yarbrough completed his MBA degree in South Florida in 2010, approximately the same time the real estate market began bouncing back from its 2008 downfall. Reading the markets and seeing an opportunity for real estate to follow the uptick, Yarbrough started working with an agent. After one majorly flawed transaction, Yarbrough took matters into his own hands. He earned his real estate license easily and quickly built a real estate portfolio and project management company.
“Real estate suited my desires to invest wisely and eagerness to move fast. But I was never great at selling homes,” he admitted. Instead, Yarbrough said he found a passion for the multi-family home sector, which led him to commercial real estate.
Now nearly 15 years later, he’s expanded beyond his realtor and project management roles to include single-, multi-family and farmland ownership; the management of multiple flips; the ranks of Airbnb host for several South Florida properties; and the titles of commercial property investor, manager and broker.
He attributes his expansion to his interest in analytics and thriving on social engagement—especially related to community outreach and involvement.
“I do real estate leasing, commercial valuation, warehouse and agriculture land acquisition, lot assemblage and development, consulting—you name it,” he said.
“I started with investing and still enjoy it today. I’m big on charting and graphing to identify trends, and I’m constantly connecting with city representatives and community redevelopment agencies. To make a good investment decision, we have to understand the region’s master plan and any zoning challenges that come with it. That’s where the opportunity often lies.”
Lover of opportunity.
Yarbrough has a serious and discerning approach to business.
As the senior associate of The Commercial Group at True Floridian Realty, Yarbrough enjoys overseeing his team's marketing and management activities.
Together, they follow development news, consider potential opportunities and evaluate expansion, purchase and leasing opportunities for individuals and businesses.
Yet, the team approaches clients based on their level of awareness in the industry—and their personalities.
For example, Yarbrough keeps in touch with the CRAs and Business Development Boards of the counties, cities and areas a more sophisticated developer or investor may want to enter. For the more novice investor, he provides encouragement and advice.
“Often success is based on what and who you know,” he said. “New entrants need to find the resource they can trust to help them learn the market and grow from there. We like being that resource.”
Yarbrough notes some of his favorite experiences stem from the incredible relationships that he builds with clients beyond the transaction.
“I take great pride in my work and the relationships I have with my clients,” Yarbrough said. “Every type of property we work with plays an important role in the community and the economy. That’s why we’re here.”
Campervan man.
Yarbrough is a city boy with country roots. Raised in Lincoln Park, Chicago, some of his favorite memories involve appreciating the outdoors. When he was younger, he and his father frequently road-tripped to the family farm and toured national parks. Often they camped out under the stars.
At 16 and 17 years old, Yarbrough solo backpacked and then road-tripped across the country in an old Volvo.
Today he continues the traditions on weekends and holidays, journeying across the state and country with his wife and their two daughters in the family’s Airstream. That is—when he’s not on the field coaching soccer, on the ice coaching hockey, or in the water fly fishing.
“I’ve loved fly fishing since I was 12,” Yarbrough said. “It allows me to explore places I’ve never been before and provides a challenge where I can relax in nature.”
He paused before finishing, “I believe my dad introduced me to what brought him peace and stress relief, and that’s stayed with me.”
Learn more about Yarbrough and The Commercial Group.
