Ballast Real Estate Portfolio

Ballast sources multifamily acquisition opportunities from industry relationships and the brokerage, finance and legal communities. Please contact Ballast with acquisition opportunities. See our Acquisition Criteria.

Property: Clare Heights Senior Apartments

Size: 45 Units

Location: Milwaukee, WI

Acquisition: 2017

Strategy

Property: Northern Star Apartments

Size:36 Units

Location:Bemidji, MN

Acquisition: 2017

Strategy

Northern Star Apartments was constructed as affordable housing in 1996. The asset was acquired in an off market transaction. 83% of units have been upgraded with new cabinets, countertops, stainless appliances, and lighting. Rents are 15%-20% below competitive apartments. Ballast will upgrade remaining unrenovated units and gradually shift rents to market levels.

Bemidji is home to a 5,000 student public university, an expanding regional medical center and 5 of the fastest growing small businesses in the U.S. Bemidji also boasts the fastest broadband speeds in Minnesota, a regional airport that recently underwent $70MM in upgrades and a new convention center.

Property: Breckenridge Apartments

Size:72 Units

Location:Findlay, OH

Acquisition: 2018

Strategy

Breckenridge Apartments was constructed as affordable housing in 1999. The asset was acquired in an off market transaction. 60% of units have been upgraded with new cabinets, vinyl flooring, carpets and lighting. Ballast will upgrade remaining unrenovated units with new flooring, lighting and cabinets. The acquisition seeks to capitalize on the deep demand for well maintained and upgraded affordable housing amidst very low levels of new supply.

Findlay is a town of 42,000 located in northwest Ohio. It’s largest employer is Blanchard Valley Health. It’s also home to the global headquarters of Marathon Petroleum, Cooper Tire & Rubber, Whirlpool’s largest dishwashing manufacturing facility, a cluster of large distribution centers and University of Findlay. Findlay’s wage growth since 2010 has been nearly double the national average. Site Selection Magazine has named Findlay the top micropolitan community in the country for the past 3 years.

Property: Marsh Run Townhomes

Size:48 Units

Location: Brainerd, MN

Acquisition: 2018

Strategy

Marsh Run Townhomes consists of 2-story, 2BR & 3BR market-rate apartments with attached garages. The community sits within a quiet, residential neighborhood 2-miles east of Downtown Brainerd. Unique to the area, these townhome-style homes attract families, couples, single professionals, and students. The average rent is approximately 25% of the area's median income. Ballast will provide new laminate countertops, refurbish cabinets and install stainless steel appliance packages as units turn over.

The Brainerd/Baxter area, with a population of approximately 22,000 lies 100 miles north of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The area’s most recent apartment community was constructed in 2011. The Brainerd Lakes region is one of the Midwest’s premier tourist destinations and is renown for pristine lakes, world-class golf, and year-round outdoor activities. The area’s major employers are in the healthcare, education, and tourism industries. Brainerd recently passed a $200MM referendum to construct and refurbish local school buildings and has devised an initiative to revitalize its downtown district and connect it with the natural amenities along the Mississippi River.

Property:Regency Heights & Johnston Heights

Size:159 Units

Location: Johnston & Iowa City, Iowa

Acquisition: 2018

Strategy

In a joint venture with two regional real estate firms, Ballast partnered in the acquisition of a 159-unit apartment portfolio located in Johnston and Iowa City, IA. The transaction afforded the JV an opportunity to acquire both a bank-owned property in the growth-oriented Johnston submarket and an independent senior housing community in a market with high barriers to entry. The partnership will improve operational efficiencies through enhancing marketing, implementing revenue enhancement programs, modernizing of common areas, and optimizing staffing.

Property: Nicolet Townhomes

Size:34 Units

Location: Appleton, WI

Acquisition: 2019

Strategy

Nicolet Townhomes was acquired in an off-market transaction; it was formerly owned by a national real estate investment trust whose footprint is mainly in large metro areas. Measuring over 1,600sf, these 3BR/2BA, split level townhomes offer a compelling alternative to homeownership. Each unit has an attached, two car garage and a backyard. The supply of this type of rental housing has been very limited: new multifamily supply has primarily consisted of garden-style and high rise apartments. Ballast will modernize each unit with new appliances, cabinets, flooring, countertops, and lighting. Monthly rents will be below 30% of the MSA’s median household income.

The property is located in proximity to the interstate highway and the area’s central retail corridor. The Appleton MSA has a population of 231,000. The local economy revolves around manufacturing, healthcare and financial services. Appleton boasts a minor league baseball team, performance arts center, a bevy of summer festivals and a host of natural amenities.

Property: Iowa Workforce Housing Portfolio

Size: 260 Units

Location: Cedar Rapids & Newton, Iowa

Acquisition: 2019

Strategy

In a joint venture with two regional real estate firms, Ballast partnered in the acquisition of a 260-unit workforce housing portfolio located in Cedar Rapids and Newton, Iowa. Although marketed by a national real estate brokerage, the JV believed that the portfolio’s size, location in tertiary markets, classification as affordable housing and loan assumption requirement restricted the number of potential buyers. Both Cedar Rapids and Newton have growing populations and strong local economies. The JV will invest a meaningful amount of capital to upgrade both interior and exterior building aesthetics while taking advantage of the strong supply-demand fundamentals in the workforce housing space.

Property: Lisbon Apartments

Size:20 Units

Location: Milwaukee, WI

Acquisition: 2019

Strategy

Lisbon Apartments consists of 20, 1BR apartment units. The former owner, who self managed the property for over 20 years, was retiring and marketed the property for sale. The property is located in Milwaukee’s Enderis Park, middle-class neighborhood with well kept single family homes and is directly across the street from the Village of Wauwatosa. Ballast will add value to the property by replacing the roof, overhauling the landscaping, refreshing the common areas and modernizing unit interiors.

Property: Tamarack Gardens

Size: 32 Units

Location: Lake Mills, WI

Acquisition: 2020

Strategy

In an off-market transaction, Ballast acquired a 32-unit townhome-style, senior housing community in Lake Mills, a growing town just outside Madison, WI. Each single-story townhome consists of 2BR/2BA units with attached garages. A burgeoning senior age demographic should lead to increased demand for this product. The property was constructed in 2008, and Ballast plans to update each unit by upgrading flooring, lighting cabinets and countertops.

Property: Crescent Lofts

Size:176 Units

Location: Davenport, IA

Acquisition: 2020

Strategy

In a joint venture with two regional real estate firms, Ballast partnered in the acquisition of a 176-unit apartment portfolio located in Davenport, IA. The property, originally constructed as warehouses in the early 1900s, was meticulously rehabbed by seller and operates as a hybrid market rate/affordable housing community. The JV assumed a series of loans, containing favorable terms, that the city provided for the rehab of the property. This attractive capital structure, coupled with ability to convert a portion of the affordable housing units to market rate in the future, should provide both downside risk protection and future value creation

Property: Cottages of Cottage Grove

Size: 59 Units

Location: Cottage Grove, MN

Acquisition: 2021

Strategy

Acquired in May 2021, The Cottages of Cottage Grove is a 59-unit, independent senior housing community that was constructed as affordable housing in 1993. Located in a growing, affluent suburb of St. Paul, this community is the only townhome product in the area, while it’s immediate proximity to Target, Walmart and fast casual dining is a strong driver of demand from prospective residents. Over time, Ballast will upgrade units with new flooring, lighting, appliances, and countertops so that residents can experience modern apartment living at an affordable price point.