
AMERICAN SOUTH REAL ESTATE FUND
About ASREF
The American South Real Estate Fund (the “Fund” or “ASREF”) provides mezzanine debt, preferred equity, and equity financing for real estate projects located in emerging low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in ten southern states.
ASREF is an impact fund having a Triple Bottom Line (“TBL”) investment strategy:
First Bottom Line:
Second Bottom Line:
Third Bottom Line:
Manager
American South Fund Management, LLC (“ASFM“) is a joint venture between SDS Capital Group (“SDS”) and Vintage Realty Company (“Vintage”). ASREF couples SDS’ impact-fund investment platform with Vintage’s hands-on real estate development expertise, as follows:
SDS Capital Group (SDS)
SDS was founded in 2001 by Deborah La Franchi. SDS specializes in structuring and managing impact funds. These funds seek risk-adjusted market rates of return (the First Bottom Line), while also targeting positive economic and community development impacts (the Second Bottom Line) and environmental sustainability (the Third Bottom Line). SDS has over $1 billion of current and past impact assets under management, which includes its own portfolio of impact investments ($580 million) and those of third-party impact funds ($494 million) using SDS’ investment platform. For the fourth year in a row, SDS was named to Impact Assets 50, a select group of fund managers in the impact investing space.
Vintage Realty Company (Vintage)
Vintage is a 150-person, full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana, with a regional presence in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi. Vintage’s team manages the Fund’s originations, secures and structures all equity and debt, manages the construction process, and manages the assets. Vintage also has full-scale real estate brokerage and property management divisions. Vintage utilizes a comprehensive, integrated management approach that provides the opportunity to maximize value for its portfolio – as well as for its clients’ properties – throughout the asset lifecycle. Vintage has served as the developer for 3,811 multi-family units, with 2,914 units under its current management, and an additional 760 units currently under construction or in the development phase. Upon delivery of these new units, the Vintage portfolio will represent a market value of approximately $500 million. The integrity and vision of the founders has yielded the loyalty of employees, clients and investors. Vintage has been actively developing, managing and brokering real estate projects throughout the South since its inception in 1988.
Our Team

Deborah La Franchi
Ms. La Franchi has 22 years of investment experience and is the founder and CEO of SDS Capital Group — a...
Deborah La Franchi


David Alexander
Mr. Alexander oversees operations and provides strategic direction for the Fund, particularly on the investment side. Mr. Alexander sits on...
David Alexander


Kip Hamilton
Mr. Hamilton oversees the day-to-day operations of the Fund and leads the investment and asset management teams. Mr. Hamilton sits...
Kip Hamilton


Kent Peters
Mr. Peters serves as the day-to-day in-house point person at Vintage for ASREF and is responsible for piloting originations, due...
Kent Peters


Laura Baron
Ms. Baron oversees the Fund’s financial management and sits on the Investment Committee. Ms. Baron is engaged in all aspects...
Laura Baron


Tyler Epps
Mr. Epps, who works out of the Fund’s Atlanta office, leads ASREF’s originations and also assists in underwriting and asset...
Tyler Epps


Sarah Parsons
Ms. Parsons joined Vintage Realty Company in February 2014 as a Property Manager in Multi-Family, managing a 208-unit apartment community....
Sarah Parsons


Jimmy Backofen
Mr. Backofen participates in the investment and asset management activities of the Fund and sits on the Investment Committee. Mr....
Jimmy Backofen


Asteria Steinberger
Ms. Steinberger sits on the ASREF II Investment Committee. Ms. Steinberger’s experience in real estate centers on underwriting, asset management,...
Asteria Steinberger


Kendall Demouchet
Mr. Demouchet is an Associate with Vintage Realty and provides underwriting and origination support. His education and training includes economic...
Kendall Demouchet


Rathi Ramasamy, MPH
Ms. Ramasamy manages the project and fund level impact reports for ASREF II. She is responsible for finalizing all social,...
Rathi Ramasamy, MPH


Austin Ross
Mr. Ross is responsible for underwriting, origination and asset management support on behalf of ASREF. Prior to joining Vintage Realty...
Austin Ross

News
- Press
- Investments
Wilmington NC Investment Life At Lakeside Villas

Multifamily Housing News 1.27.2023
ASREF partners with Olive Tree on purchase of 429-unit affordable housing townhome community. Located in Wilmington, North Carolina, “The Life at Lakeside Villas,” is the latest joint venture between ASREF and Olive Tree Holdings. This $29M purchase marks their fifth project partnership of impact investments in affordable housing in the South.
Wilmington NC Investment Life at Lakeside Villas
Multifamily Housing News 1.27.2023
ASREF partners with Olive Tree on purchase of 429-unit affordable housing townhome community. Located in Wilmington, North Carolina, “The Life at Lakeside Villas,” is the latest joint venture between ASREF and Olive Tree Holdings. This $29M purchase marks their fifth project partnership of impact investments in affordable housing in the South.
12hundred Studios Ribbon Cutting In Atlanta Hunter Hills

Tenth Street Ventures And Partners Celebrate Ribbon Cutting With Atlanta Mayor Andre On 12hundred Studios On Mobile St In Atlanta’s Hunter Hills The 40-unit apartment complex has been revamped with attainable rents at 60% AMI; American South Fund Management impact fund supports affordable housing developments for low-income residents throughout the South.
12hundred Studios Ribbon Cutting In Atlanta Hunter Hills
Tenth Street Ventures And Partners Celebrate Ribbon Cutting With Atlanta Mayor Andre On 12hundred Studios On Mobile St In Atlanta’s Hunter Hills The 40-unit apartment complex has been revamped with attainable rents at 60% AMI; American South Fund Management impact fund supports affordable housing developments for low-income residents throughout the South.
$12.5 Million To Develop Workforce Housing In Flagler Beach Florida

The Preserve at Flagler Beach Press Release 6.2022
Piedmont and American South Fund Management Announce Newest Investment in Florida; $12.5 Million to Develop Workforce Housing. The Preserve At Flagler Beach ground-up development to construct 240-unit garden-style workforce apartment community.
$12.5 Million to Develop Workforce Housing in Flagler Beach Florida
The Preserve at Flagler Beach Press Release 6.2022
Piedmont and American South Fund Management Announce Newest Investment in Florida; $12.5 Million to Develop Workforce Housing. The Preserve At Flagler Beach ground-up development to construct 240-unit garden-style workforce apartment community.
$23M Investment Partnership With Olive Tree Holdings

$23M Investment Partnership with Olive Tree Holdings

ESTRELLA AT KIEST – DALLAS, TX
ESTRELLA AT KIEST – DALLAS, TX
Estrella at Kiest Affordable Housing Development by ZNE Capital and LeavenWealth closes on $3.0M Equity Investment from American South Fund Management
The acquisition and renovation of this 232-unit apartment community will help preserve the affordable housing stock in South Dallas
Dallas, TX – June XX, 2022 – Funding has closed on the acquisition/renovation of Estrella at Kiest, a 232-unit apartment community in Dallas, Texas. The $35.2M project will be owned and operated by ZNE Capital and LeavenWealth. This is the first multifamily investment in Dallas for American South Fund Management (ASFM), a partnership between SDS Capital Group and Vintage Realty Company. Post renovation, all 232 apartment units will be available at rental rates that are affordable to families at less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) level, bringing critically-needed affordable housing to this community.
ZNE Capital and LeavenWealth are already underway on building renovations including repairs to 25 units damaged by the 2021 Cold Wave in Texas and an additional 24 units damaged in a 2021 fire. ZNE’s renovation and business model focuses on green-focused upgrades with the installation of roof-mounted solar panels, low flow water fixtures, and electrical upgrades to increase energy efficiency and promote savings at the project as well as costs to tenants. Transitioning the development to a green, sustainable projects is central to ZNE’s business philosophy.
“Estrella at Kiest continues ZNE Capital’s mission of decarbonizing existing affordable housing communities,” said Owen Barret, President of ZNE. “This project is living proof that you can decrease the carbon emissions from the built environment and preserve affordable housing.”
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) ranked second in the country for overall population growth within a metro area between July 2020 and July 2021.[1] Accordingly, rents in Dallas have seen a steady increase of 18% over the past year.[2] The Estrella at Kiest renovation is comprised of 16 two-story buildings located on a 10.5-acre site. The property offers quality multifamily housing including one, two and three-bedroom unit options.
“ASFM is very pleased to finance this impactful project. Estrella at Kiest provides much needed affordable housing and directly aligns with our goal of making a difference for low-income residents and communities throughout the South,” said Deborah La Franchi, ASFM Managing Partner. “In a tight housing market like Dallas, it is crucial to preserve and renovate more affordable housing.”
“We are thrilled to continue to expand our Texas footprint to Dallas,” said David Alexander, ASFM Managing Partner. “ZNE Capital is an excellent partner in the multifamily market and similarly prioritizes investing in projects that create significant impacts within socio-economically disadvantaged areas.”
Impact funds managed by ASFM target their impact investments into distressed communities of color within a 10-state footprint across the South. Since 2018, impact funds managed by ASFM have made 18 investments in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana and Arkansas totaling $80.0 million and over $446 million of project costs to date.

LIFE AT LAKESIDE VILLAS – WILMINGTON, NC
LIFE AT LAKESIDE VILLAS – WILMINGTON, NC
Olive Tree Affordable Housing, the affordable housing subsidiary of Olive Tree Holdings, a private real estate-focused private investment firm, today announced the acquisition of The Life at Lakeside Villas, a 429-unit affordable multi-family development at the 1519 Lake turnoff in Wilmington, North Carolina. With equity provided by the American South Fund Management Team, Olive Tree has announced a capital improvement program to begin in the second quarter of 2023 to improve the quality of life for residents.

LIFE AT ELMWOOD GROVE – SPRINGDALE, AR
LIFE AT ELMWOOD GROVE – SPRINGDALE, AR
Olive Tree Holdings and American South Real Estate Fund II Announce $23M Investment Partnership Supporting Affordable Housing
The Life at Elmwood Grove Development to Renovate 192 Affordable Multifamily Housing Units in Springdale, AR
Springdale, AR – November 23, 2021 – Funding has been secured to acquire and begin the renovation of The Life at Elwood Grove (formerly known as Springdale Ridge Apartments,) a 192-unit affordable multifamily apartment community in Springdale, Arkansas. The 16-building garden style project is being rehabilitated by Olive Tree Holdings (“Olive Tree”). Life at Elwood Grove is Olive Tree’s 40th multifamily acquisition. This is Olive Tree’s fourth partnership with American South Real Estate Fund (ASREF) I and II, managed American South Fund Management (ASFM), a partnership between SDS Capital Group and Vintage Realty Company. All 192 units will be rented at rates affordable to low-income families.
“Olive Tree’s mission has centered on finding and improving existing assets or new projects that can provide quality housing to workforce households and families across the country. With The Life at Elmwood Grove, we now manage over 8,000 units of affordable housing nationally, meeting a critical need within underserved communities. The financial partnership between Olive Tree and American South Real Estate Fund II , enables us to quickly acquire and initiate project construction. This expedites our pursuit of quality developments that offer affordable rents,” said Ian Bel, Principal, Olive Tree.
The development is located near a variety of major employers that include the University of Arkansas, Tyson Foods (the second largest food company in the S&P 500 and largest employer in Springdale) and Walmart’s global headquarters. The Fayetteville MSA has experienced 2% annual growth for the past decade. Median home values in the area increased by approximately 20%, while median household income rose by just 2.3%. The Life at Elmwood Grove development offers quality housing that is affordable to the community. Income levels within a 5-mile radius of the apartment complex are below 80% of area median income (AMI), with the units being affordable to families at this income level.

LIFE AT STERLING WOODS – HOUSTON, TX
LIFE AT STERLING WOODS – HOUSTON, TX
ASREF II ANNOUNCES FIRST INVESTMENT – IN HOUSTON
Houston, TX – August 4, 2021 – Funding has been secured to acquire and begin the improvement of The Life at Sterling Woods (formerly known as Villas on Winkler) complex into a 234-unit senior/ affordable multifamily apartment community in Houston, Texas. The project is being rehabilitated by Olive Tree Holdings and will be managed by their affiliate property management and construction management company, The Life Properties, which oversees the day-to-day operation and business plan execution exclusively for Olive Tree Holdings’ multifamily portfolio. The Life at Sterling Woods is Olive Tree Holdings’ 34th multifamily acquisition and the 13th in the Houston market.