After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in business administration in 1973, Ted launched a career in real estate focusing on the Oakland area, where he was born and raised. By 1975, Ted had already established his own company, Commonwealth Real Estate Companies, which continues to provide investment brokerage, property management, and development services to its clients to this day. In addition to being a licensed real estate broker, he is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), a Certified Property Manager (CPM), and a managing partner in several investment and development partnerships.