MARKET OPPORTUNITIES TRACK: Using Data-Driven Insights to Solve the Affordability Puzzle

Joanie Wilson

Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriter for Affordable and Bridge, M&T Realty Capital Corporation

Joanie Wilson is a Chief Underwriter at M and T Realty Capital Corporation focused on Affordable Housing and Bridge Financing. Joanie has a variety of program experience including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Private Placement, and Bridge lending. Over the last 12+ years, she has focused on both market rate and affordable housing; however the last 3 years have focused primarily on affordable housing.

Lu Chen

Director - Senior Economist, Moody's Analytics CRE

Lu Chen is a Director and Senior Economist at Moody's Analytics. She has worked in the commercial real estate industry for over a decade. Lu has deep knowledge in urban economics and credit risk models, with special focus on metro/regional CRE market performance, housing affordability and affordable housing, senior housing, student housing, and urban migration. Lu’s team publishes quarterly housing affordability report. Her insights have featured in leading industry and national publications, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Associated Press, PBS, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, Axios, The Hill, and etc.

Pharrah Jackson

Vice President, Greystone

Pharrah Jackson is a Vice President with Greystone’s Dedicated Affordable Housing Platform, responsible for assisting Borrowers in financing their multifamily housing transactions. Pharrah is also the co-host for the GLOW CRE podcast, a podcast focused on getting more women into commercial real estate. Pharrah has more than 22 years of affordable housing experience that spans production, underwriting, closing, servicing and asset management. In her 19+ years with Greystone, she has held many roles, from VP of finance for Greystone Affordable Development to Deputy Chief Underwriter for the dedicated Affordable lending team. During her tenure with Greystone she has been involved in financing more than 1,200 affordable housing properties totaling more than $9 billion in debt.

Tony Love

Senior Originator, BWE

Tony Love is Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing and FHA Lending at Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital in Cleveland, OH.  Tony is responsible for originating and closing financing for affordable and conventional multifamily projects.  He received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Urban Studies from the College of Wooster in 1986, a Master’s of Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991, and an Executive Master’s of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University in 2004. Tony is an active MBA member and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee. He is a strong advocate for the industry and received the MBA's Burton C. Woods Legislative Service award in 2014.