Staff Writer-Sacramento Business Journal
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A rebound in the region’s real estate market was supposed to slow down Ethan Conrad, the prolific investor who gobbled up low-price properties in recent years. Instead, Conrad says he’s busier than ever.

So far in 2015, Conrad has picked up 10 properties in the region, including six in the last five weeks. His purchases for a combined $14.1 million total about 231,000 square feet.

Ethan Conrad Properties has been spending money at a rate comparable to 2014, though the number of transactions is higher and the prices somewhat lower, Conrad said in an email.

Conrad said bargains are definitely harder to find than after the recession slammed the region. There are still good deals, though they take more work to find, he said.

Among the properties Conrad bought this month include a 22,000-square-foot office and retail center in Auburn for about $2.4 million and a retail property scheduled to close escrow Tuesday at 2326 Florin Road in Sacramento for about $1 million.