Development executive hoping to make Raleigh real estate company one of the largest student housing providers in the country
RALEIGH, NC – January 9, 2013 – The Preiss Company is proud to announce the recent promotion of Dan Leff to Vice President of Acquisitions. In his role, Leff will be responsible for the acquisition of student apartments, managing the development of new and existing housing properties in the company’s portfolio, and managing the financial underwriting for all new acquisitions.
The Preiss Company formed The Acquisitions and Development Team in 2007 to include the company’s key development professionals. Donna Preiss, company founder and CEO, says that The Preiss Company’s aggressive growth plan required individuals with the experience and capability to effectively charge into these new markets.
“Our Property Management platform allows us rapid growth in markets where we currently have product,” explains Preiss. “In new markets, we have developed quick due diligence and transitional programs that allow for successful adaptation to this aggressive growth initiative. We’re very pleased to have Dan lead this team and are confident that his expertise will help us continue to be a leader in the student housing industry.”
Prior to joining The Preiss Company, Leff was a Partner for L Star, a real estate investment firm in Raleigh that specializes in acquiring distressed debt. The firm partners with some of the country’s pre-eminent private equity and wealth management funds to acquire assets across the Southeast. During his almost four years with the company, Leff was involved in the purchase of 10,000 lots across North and South Carolina, established relationships with municipal bond holders which led to the purchase of $45 million in community development district bonds on community in South Carolina, managed land fund to purchase and entitle raw land for future residential developments, and sourced and closed deals for two new builders entering the Raleigh market.
Leff graduated from Arizona State University with a BS in Finance and has over 16 years’ experience in the finance and real estate industries. He says that one of the biggest challenges facing him in his new role will be competition.
“The student housing space has changed dramatically in the past few years, with the addition of new players and equity groups looking for deals,” explains Leff. “With team members dedicated to being the best in the business, The Preiss Company has grown to be one of the top owners/managers of student housing properties in the country. I feel lucky to be part of the team and look forward to contributing to the continued growth of the company.”
About The Preiss Company
Founded in 1987, The Preiss Company specializes in the development, acquisition and management of off-campus student housing. The Raleigh-based company is the nation’s fifth largest privately held and largest woman-owned owner and operator of private student housing. The company’s portfolio currently comprises over 16,000 beds in nine states and eleven markets. For more information, visit www.tpco.com.
