Join us at the 2018 Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Conference in Washington D.C. from October 8-11. We are participating in one exciting panel:

Evolving into Real Estate: Strategies for Taking the Plunge into Real Estate Development

Thursday, October 11, 2018: 9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM
Moderator: Saul Ettlin, Community Vision
Panelists: Sean Closkey, ReBuild Metro, Inc.; Terri Haymaker, IFF; and Brika Eklund, Self-Help

Whether facing decades of disinvestment, steady growth, or booming success alongside mounting residential and organizational displacement, our communities are filled with commercial and residential real estate assets that can be positioned as agents of lasting change to stabilize and enrich neighborhoods. Successful real estate development requires financial capital, risk tolerance, trusting relationships, and talented staff. As CDFIs succeed in community-based lending, some turn to real estate as another tool for combating market forces, meeting unmet community needs, and supporting niche markets. From real estate readiness and project consulting with community organizations to over three decades of direct real estate development experience, panelists will share their organizations’ experiences starting real estate programs, working in real estate development, and ownership considerations for CDFIs. The panel will be followed by interactive breakout sessions for attendees to brainstorm how their CDFIs can get involved with community real estate and share their organizations’ experiences.

Track: Community Facilities
Level: Introductory