Benjamin Finley

Biography: Driving transformative change and sustainability in affordable housing markets encapsulates my professional ethos. As a committed advocate for social impact through real estate, my career is guided by the principle that everyone deserves access to affordable, quality housing. This passion not only fuels my work but also shapes my vision for future developments in the industry. With an extensive background in real estate investment and capital market transactions, I specialize in the acquisition and preservation of affordable housing across the United States. My expertise encompasses all facets of the transaction process, including investment sourcing, strategic negotiations and transaction management. Leveraging adaptive technology and innovative business strategies, I excel in orchestrating platform growth and enhancing operational procedures to meet high-stake objectives. Among my most recent career milestones, I have successfully led the disposition of over 195 communities totaling 17,800 units, generating $1.4 billion in sales proceeds in just a two-year period. This achievement was part of a strategic portfolio simplification at April Housing, a Blackstone portfolio company. Additionally, while President at Richman Community Capital, I spearheaded multiple initiatives that significantly benefited investment stakeholders, including deploying refinancing strategies that enhanced returns and fostered investor relations nationally. Prior to Richman, I was Senior Vice President and Head of Acquisitions at Avanath Capital Management where I lead a team of professionals which sourced, negotiated and closed more than 80 transactions totaling $1.8 billion in affordable, workforce and market-rate multifamily housing. My goals are to establish impactful collaborations that foster the growth and preservation of affordable housing communities across the nation. I hold a bachelor's in finance from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. I have been a committed member of ULI since 2006 having served on various multifamily councils.