Director of Real Estate Acquisition & Development

Sanford Barrows Group; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 200,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanford Barrows Group is seeking a Director of Real Estate Acquisitions & Development (Affordable Housing / Multifamily) in Miami, FL. This in-office role requires a minimum of 10 years in real estate, with strong LIHTC, Section 8, and tax-exempt bond experience.

Lead acquisitions and development across a growing affordable housing portfolio, from analysis to stabilization. The candidate will manage development timelines, budgets, and cross-functional teams, negotiating complex transactions and

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years in real estate acquisitions, investments, and/or development, with significant exposure to affordable multifamily housing.
• Strong knowledge of LIHTC, Section 8, and tax-exempt bond financing.
• Experience negotiating and completing real estate acquisition and development transactions.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue affordable housing investments, including multifamily acquisitions and redevelopment.
• Lead transaction negotiations and manage due diligence through closing.
• Oversee project budgets, schedules, and development milestones.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, lawyers, and authorities.
• Ensure projects align with financial targets and affordability restrictions.

Skills

Real estate acquisitions

Development

LIHTC expertise

Section 8 experience

Tax-exempt bonds

Financial underwriting

Negotiation

Project management

Stakeholder relationships

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate or related

Job description

Title: Director of Real Estate Acquisitions & Development (Affordable Housing / Multifamily)

Location: Miami, FL (in-office role, not hybrid / remote)

Salary: $200k - $275k base, depending on experience, plus strong bonus potential that includes equity / carried interest / profit sharing.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced real estate professional to lead acquisition and development initiatives within a growing affordable housing portfolio. This position will focus on identifying and securing multifamily investment opportunities, evaluating financial feasibility, structuring transactions, and managing development projects through completion.

The ideal candidate will bring a minimum of 10 years of real estate experience, including a strong background in affordable housing transactions, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Section 8 housing programs, and tax-exempt bond financing. Established relationships throughout the affordable housing investment and development community are essential.

Primary Responsibilitie s

Investment Opportunities & Acquisitions

• Identify and pursue affordable housing investments, including multifamily acquisitions, property preservation, redevelopment, and rehabilitation opportunities.
• Develop and leverage relationships with real estate brokers, property owners, developers, and other industry contacts to establish a consistent pipeline of potential transactions.
• Perform financial underwriting, market research, investment analysis, and feasibility assessments to determine project viability.
• Lead transaction negotiations, including letters of intent, purchase agreements, and related contractual documentation.
• Manage property-level due diligence, assess potential risks, and prepare investment recommendations for senior management.
• Direct affordable housing projects throughout the investment and development lifecycle, from initial analysis and acquisition through financing, construction, completion, and stabilization.
• Work closely with architects, engineers, contractors, legal advisors, consultants, and property management professionals.
• Oversee project budgets, financial projections, construction schedules, and development milestones.
• Address issues involving permitting, environmental reviews, construction, financing, and other development-related challenges.
• Ensure projects remain aligned with financial targets, approved timelines, investment strategies, and applicable affordability restrictions.

Affordable Housing Financing & Regulatory Coordination

• Apply knowledge of affordable housing financing structures, including 4% and 9% LIHTC programs, Section 8 rental assistance, HUD programs, and tax-exempt municipal bonds.
• Coordinate with state housing finance agencies, local housing authorities, municipalities, and government entities regarding funding opportunities, approvals, and development incentives.
• Work alongside legal counsel, tax credit specialists, and compliance advisors to ensure transactions satisfy applicable federal, state, and local housing requirements.
• Partner with internal finance, construction, legal, and asset management teams to execute investment strategies and advance the affordable housing development pipeline.

Qualifications & Experience

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in real estate acquisitions, investments, and/or development, with significant exposure to affordable multifamily housing.
• Strong working knowledge of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Section 8 programs, and tax-exempt bond financing.
• Demonstrated success identifying, analyzing, negotiating, and completing real estate acquisition and development transactions.
• Established network of affordable housing brokers and other real estate industry professionals.
• Thorough understanding of affordable housing capital structures, financial modeling, underwriting, and project feasibility.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams, including financial institutions, attorneys, developers, consultants, and government agencies.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple transactions and development initiatives from initial sourcing through closing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Direct experience across both affordable housing acquisitions and ground-up development or rehabilitation.
• Hands-on involvement with 4% and 9% LIHTC transactions, HUD-assisted housing, project-based Section 8 rental assistance, and bond-financed affordable housing developments.
• Existing relationships with housing finance agencies, public-sector organizations, municipalities, and affordable housing development professionals.

Ideal Candidate

A results-oriented real estate professional with strong financial expertise, an established network within the affordable housing sector, and the ability to independently source, structure, negotiate, and execute complex multifamily investment and development opportunities.