Company News
Boston Financial Closes $170 Million National Multi-Investor Fund
Patrick Duggan
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Boston Financial, the largest syndicator of U.S. Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (“LIHTC”) with a portfolio of over $16 billion in assets under management, today announced the closing of Boston Financial Institutional Tax Credits 60 Limited Partnership (“ITC 60”), a $170 million multi-investor LIHTC fund.
Boston Financial secured commitments from six institutional investors for ITC 60, including a mix of regional and national banks and insurance companies, enabling the deployment of capital with 14 affordable housing developers – 30% of whom are nonprofit organizations. The fund will provide capital for both new construction and preservation of 1,418 affordable rental homes in 16 communities across 13 states: California, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
“At a time when more Americans than ever are facing a lack of affordable housing, it’s critical that we maintain our congoing commitment to providing affordable housing capital solutions,” said Rob Golden, CEO of Boston Financial. “ITC 60 is the first new LIHTC multi-fund that Boston Financial has closed since I assumed the role of CEO in May of this year, and I am very pleased at this successful closing. I am proud of my team’s hard work in building this fund and grateful for the continued support and trust that our investor partners place in Boston Financial and our platform.”
ITC 60 is expected to create over 2,100 new jobs, bringing an estimated $250 million in wages and business income to surrounding communities, as well as over $90 million in tax revenue. Nearly 45% of the properties will bring affordable rental homes to minority communities, and several properties will have units designated for seniors, veterans, people with physical or mental disabilities, and formerly unhoused families.
“We are in the midst of a protracted affordable housing crisis, with over 22 million households — half of all renters nationwide — spending more than 30% of their income on rent. This burden disproportionately affects very low-income families, seniors, and unhoused people,” added Thomas Paramore, Head of Housing and Community Investments at Boston Financial. “I am honored to be part of a team that works hand-in-hand with investors and developers to create desperately needed affordable housing.”
ITC 60 also represents the continued support that Boston Financial’s parent company, ORIX USA, provides for Boston Financial’s LIHTC platform and commitment to affordable housing.
“We continue to have tremendous support from our parent company, ORIX USA, which provides robust resources to the Boston Financial platform and our fund executions,” Golden said. “It is differentiating and additive to have a parent company aligned with our commitment to tackling our country’s affordable housing challenges. While Boston Financial has one of the most sustainable stand-alone syndication models in our industry, our ability to leverage ORIX USA’s balance sheet and platform is an invaluable advantage in delivering exceptional product offerings for our clients.”
What ITC 60 Means For Communities
ITC 60 includes communities such as Pointe Common. Located in Fullerton, California – in the heart of Orange County – Pointe Common will provide 65 quality, affordable apartments restricted to households between 30% — 70% of the area median income. Being developed by Boston Financial’s long-time partner Meta, Pointe Common is focused on families. Over half of the homes are critically needed family-sized 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments, and the community features a slate of amenities for all residents, including a BBQ and picnic area, computer room, community room, common laundry, on-site management, playground, and services including afterschool programming and adult educational, health and wellness, and skill building classes. Boston Financial has worked with Meta on almost 20 communities, totaling almost 2,300 affordable homes.
The Fund also includes communities like Walnut Street Apartments in Foxborough, Massachusetts – mere miles from Gilette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. Walnut Street will bring 141 new one-bedroom affordable apartments for low-income seniors to the community. Massachusetts has the second highest cost of living in the United States, with sky high home prices and rents. That high cost of living is especially hard to navigate for low-income families and seniors living on fixed incomes.
Built by Boston Financial’s long-time partners Peabody Properties and Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative along with JV partners OnyxGroup and Novo Growth Partners, Walnut Street is focused on seniors and designed to create a community feel and a sense of belonging – something that’s essential for seniors. The development features a grilling area and quad, plus pickleball and bocce courts, allowing residents to enjoy the beautiful setting just outside of their homes. There is also a senior-focused fitness room to help promote physical health for the residents, a community garden with raised garden beds, and an on-site dog park. According to the American Humane Society, studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets is linked to several health benefits, including: decreased blood pressure, cholesterol levels, feelings of loneliness, anxiety and symptoms of PTSD.
The first phase of Walnut Street is ongoing, with 141 units under construction, and a second phase is in the works. Expanding the supply of affordable housing has been a top priority for the Healy-Driscoll administration, which recently passed the Affordable Home Act, a $5.1 billion bond bill, to fund new housing. Walnut Street is the first new affordable development to come to Foxborough in decades. The land Walnut Street is built on was originally owned by the state, which was ultimately conveyed to the partnership via a long-term ground lease with the Foxborough Housing Authority. Walnut Street shows how rapidly new affordable housing can be built when government, developers, investors, and community groups all work together.
Since the beginning of the LIHTC program in 1986, Boston Financial has worked with over 200 investors to preserve or build over 360,000 affordable homes. Boston Financial manages the largest syndicated Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) portfolio in the country, comprising almost 1,900 properties. Boston Financial’s vision is to create a future where everyone has a home, one investment at a time. Boston Financial was founded in 1969 and acquired by ORIX Corporation USA in 2016.
