SAN FRANCISCO, CA – San Francisco-based private real estate investment firm Hamilton Zanze (HZ) marked a record year in 2016, reaching over $500 million in acquisitions, the firm’s best year yet. The milestone comes as HZ celebrates its 15th year in business and over $2.8 billion in acquisitions since its inception. Hamilton Zanze owns and manages 85 multifamily properties in 10 states including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington.
Last year also marked Hamilton Zanze’s expanding footprint outside of the Southwest, with the purchase of a three-property investment in the Atlanta area, the firm’s first investment in the state of Georgia. The purchase signifies a continued confidence in multifamily investments as well as the firm’s focus on investing in communities where the economy is strong, employment is growing, and apartment demand is steadily increasing.
“We are committed to the long-term growth of our businesses on an incremental approach, which is how we have gotten where we are with HZ,” said Tony Zanze, COO and co-founder. “By expanding into new markets, we are setting the stage for a very long-term horizon in which we continue to seek and make investments in properties we understand and believe in, and provide for our investors’ financial security.”
Multifamily investments remain a solid option for investors as U.S. homeownership rates continue to fall. Per the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of Americans who own their homes declined to 63.7% in the fourth quarter, well below the record low of 65%. Millennials are deferring home-buying and starting families; instead, more are opting to remain in the family home or rent, citing affordability, student debt and convenience. And, as 75 million Baby Boomers are set to retire, the attractiveness of multifamily rental communities, including 55+ retirement communities, will continue to rise.
“Hamilton Zanze is positioned and structured for long-term growth and prosperity,” stated Mark Hamilton, CEO and co-founder. “We are always looking ahead at new programs and anticipating the future as different sources of capital come and go. We want to make sure our growth is thoughtful with higher quality and larger properties, offering more stable performance going forward.”