PROPERTY HUNTERS: Blackfin founders Doug Root and Andrew Buchanan are ready to make a deal.
DIVEST AND CONQUER: Having sold off certain assets, David LaRue has Forest City focused on its strengths.
WALKING TALL: Lincoln Property Co. calmly stood its ground while others stumbled out of the post-recession years.
OPPORTUNITY SEEKERS: While the REITs sell and sell, private firms like Jack O'Connor's Weidner Apartment Homes see the chance to grow their portfolios.
LIFE IN THE BALANCE: Innovators like Christoper Brown break rules that divide live, work, and play.
PURPOSE DRIVEN: Three boutique firms rely on core values to fast-track their growth.
BAY AREA JUGGERNAUT: Executive of the Year Yat-Pang Au's storied surge to become San Francisco's largest operator.