Mark Ruff brings four decades of diverse experience across the real estate industry, blending expertise in finance, investment, development, brokerage, teaching, and consulting. He began his career in 1988 as a Financial Analyst with a Southern California development firm and later joined Arthur Andersen’s Real Estate Capital Markets Group, where he worked on high-profile transactions including bank mergers, securitizations, and large-scale acquisitions.
He went on to establish his own brokerage and property management firm before taking leadership roles at an affordable housing development company, where he advanced from Director of Acquisitions to Vice President of Investments. In these positions, he directed affordable housing acquisitions, site underwriting, and investment strategy for complex real estate assets. Mark has also advised international investors, prepared pro-formas for residential and mixed-use developments, and consulted on U.S. real estate market cycles.
As an educator, Mark has taught at USC, UCLA Extension, and through national professional training programs. At UCLA, he designed and delivered courses in real estate development, market analysis, finance, and investment, including UCLA’s first course in affordable housing development. He recently designed and launched a groundbreaking course, Artificial Intelligence in Real Estate, in Fall 2025.
Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree from USC, an MBA from Woodbury University, a Master of Real Estate Development from USC, and a Professional Designation in Construction Management from UCLA. Beyond his professional work, he has served with nonprofit organizations focused on housing rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy, and he is an avid cyclist who has participated in charity rides such as the 545-mile AIDS LifeCycle ride.