Urban Southwest (USW), headquartered in Houston, Dallas, and Kansas City, Missouri, is an owner, investor, and manager specializing in value-add multifamily properties that can be purchased at significant discounts to replacement cost. It focuses on selected Sunbelt markets where strong economic and market fundamentals continue to offer opportunities for outstanding yields and returns. The firm was founded in 2007 by Principals Julian Blum and Ben Weil, Previously, Messrs. Blum and Weil were partners in the firm of Americo Real Estate. Founded in 1997, Americo specialized in the redevelopment of multi-tenant industrial throughout the Dallas-Ft Worth Metroplex.
The multifamily rental sector continues to provide the best returns of any real estate asset class. Urban Southwest’s investment strategy is to focus on low-risk investments in apartment properties that produce cash flow going-in, but offer opportunities to “add value” through a combination of investing in interior/exterior upgrades, realizing operating efficiencies and more effectively managing the properties. Urban Southwest has a proven track record of achieving excellent results with this strategy and these types of properties.
PRINCIPAL, DALLAS OFFICE
Ben Weil has over 40 years of experience in commercial real estate. He co-founded Urban Southwest Capital in 2007, which specializes in acquiring value-add multifamily assets, with a focus on properties that were undercapitalized or mismanaged. Mr. Weil oversees the management of the company’s assets and is also responsible for the acquisition and disposition of individual properties. He holds a BBA in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Texas.
PRINCIPAL, HOUSTON AND KANSAS CITY OFFICES
Mr. Blum has 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, giving him the ability to identify exceptional opportunities, quickly correct any management issues. He has invested in some 45 projects since 1998, and was responsible for the acquisition of over 30 properties exceeding 7,000 units since 2009. As a Partner with Urban Southwest Capital, his focus has been in reposition of mismanaged multi-family communities. He was responsible for the acquisition of 30 properties exceeding 6,000 units since 2009. Previously, Mr. Blum was a commercial mortgage banker with the firms Holliday Fenoglio & Fowler, and CB Richard Ellis. During his 12 years in mortgage banking, he was responsible for some 200 debt placement. He holds a B.S. in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.