#352: Building Workforce Housing to Close Supply Gaps in Growing Markets with Tom O'Hare, USNA '01

Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/ Want to join us in Charleston, SC on June 1st & 2nd? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events ____ Tom O'Hare is a U.S. Navy veteran and the founder of Keel Capital and Keel Home Development, where he leads multifamily and infill residential projects across the Midwest and Northern Virginia. Before starting his own companies, Tom spent 17 years in real estate investment banking and later served as CIO and COO of a national single-family rental platform. During that time, he worked on large institutional portfolios and gained firsthand experience in how deals are evaluated, financed, and executed at scale. He now brings that perspective into his own development work. Today, Tom focuses on workforce housing and ground-up projects that help close supply gaps in growing markets. He partners with investors, local governments, and community stakeholders to move projects from concept to completion and deliver housing that meets real community needs. In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Tom about: Stepping Into Entrepreneurship: What it took for Tom to leave a corporate executive role and "turn pro" as a full-time developer Midwest Multifamily Strategy: Why markets like Michigan and Ohio offer strong demand, supply gaps, and favorable development incentives Urban Infill Development: How shorter-cycle projects in Northern Virginia complement long-term multifamily developments The Brixton Project: A 148-unit workforce housing development backed by tax increment financing and strong rent fundamentals Deal Sourcing Through Relationships: Why Tom finds the best opportunities through networks, direct outreach, and boots-on-the-ground insights. Timestamps: 00:28 Tom's Real Estate Journey 01:20 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 04:46 Types of Real Estate Projects 07:57 Current Projects and Market Focus 10:12 Future Goals and Plans 14:31 Sourcing Deals and Partnerships Connect with Tom: LinkedIn | Thomas O'Hare www.keelcap.com tom@keelcap.com If you found value in today's episode, don't keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you're a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we'd love for you to join our community and get started today. Make sure you never miss an episode subscribe now and help support the show: Apple Podcasts Spotify Leave us a 5-star review! A special thank you to Tom for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA '01

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