Accounting Firm Buys Goodkin Group
In a bid to expand its real estate consulting practice, KPMG Peat Marwick has acquired La Jolla-based Goodkin Group, a pioneering real estate market research firm. Terms of the acquisition were not announced.
Peat Marwick, the largest of the Big 8 international accounting firms with 250 offices worldwide, said the acquisition was designed to broaden the real estate services the firm already offers, particularly to residential developers and to those seeking demographic trend information. Goodkin will service regional, statewide and international clients from a home base in San Diego, the firm said.
Founded in Los Angeles in 1956 by Chairman Sanford Goodkin, Goodkin Group helped establish the science of housing market research. Clients over the years have included many of the state’s largest home builders. Current Goodkin clients include the Navy, Hyatt Corp. and Del E. Webb Corp. Goodkin moved the firm to the San Diego area in 1971.
The new firm will be named Peat Marwick/Goodkin Real Estate Consulting Group. About 12 Goodkin employees will be quartered at Peat Marwick’s offices in downtown San Diego.
Goodkin, 58, who signed an employment agreement covering at least five years as part of the sale, refused to approximate Goodkin Group’s total billings last year. Goodkin’s brother, Lewis, also operates a real estate market research firm in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., unrelated to Goodkin Group.
