Spira Equity Partners

Our Call to Action

We are in a national housing crisis.

Over 37 million households across the U.S. are cost-burdened (with over 30% of their incomes spent on housing alone). A renter with a 40-hour work week earning minimum wage can afford a typical 2-bedroom apartment in exactly ZERO counties nationwide. The demand for affordable housing is far outpacing supply. Many families will inevitably be displaced from their homes.

Such housing instability leads to detrimental effects on educational attainment and increasing healthcare concerns, including frequent hospitalizations and debilitating mental illness. Household economic outcomes are also limited without access to stable and affordable housing.

Spira believes that housing stability is a perquisite for the underprivileged population to break free from the cycle of poverty and access real upward mobility.

About Us

Spira is a real estate investment firm committed to creating lasting social impact through our investments in affordable housing. With a focus on risk mitigation across our operations, we are an active, long-term owner accustomed to rolling up our sleeves.

Our core operations include acquiring communities with a history of resilient tenants, reinvesting into property-wide capital improvement programs and adding optimal stakeholder value, including extending the affordability of our communities and providing on-site tenant services.

As a prudent steward of affordable housing communities across the U.S., our approach to our mandate is underpinned by our triple bottom line approach.

Creating Positive Impact

RESPONSIBLE

Joining 5,000 global institutional investors with a mission to create a more sustainable world.

SOCIAL

Investing in critical property rehabilitations to ensure safe sanitary housing in good repair for all.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Implementing energy efficiency and water conservation improvements for the long term.

SCALABLE

Working closely with best-in-class partners to realize efficiencies for prolonged housing affordability.

Our Experienced Team

A trusted team with deep experience, focused on quality execution

STEPHEN HO

Managing Partner

Stephen is an experienced operator and financier with specific expertise in private equity, real estate and investing. Prior to co-founding Spira Equity Partners, Stephen was Co-Founder and Principal for Sierra Point Group (“SPG”). SPG is a U.S. affordable multifamily housing sponsor/developer where he sourced, negotiated, closed, and asset managed projects totaling $72 million across 437 units in California and Washington. Of these projects, SPG successfully rehabilitated their California portfolio utilizing financing from Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (“LIHTC”).

Prior to SPG, Stephen was Venture Partner at Vanedge Capital I, LP, a $138 million venture capital fund where he was responsible for fundraising, sourcing investment candidates, due diligence, negotiations and closing transactions. Prior to Vanedge, he was previously General Manager at a 110 full-time employee, luxury 4S automotive retailer where he specialized in maximizing operational efficiencies.

Stephen received his M.B.A. and B.B.A., a Joint Major in Economics and Business, from Simon Fraser University. He is an active and selected Member of the Urban Land Institute Affordable and Workforce Housing Council.

ROBERT LEE

Managing Partner

Robert has over fifteen years of experience in private equity, investing and accounting. He is involved with all aspects of acquisitions and operations of Spira Equity Partners. Prior to co-founding Spira, Robert was a Vice President with Brookfield Asset Management, a global alternative asset manager with $250 billion of assets under management across over 30 countries, where he focused on acquisitions and other strategic initiatives.

At Brookfield, Robert played a key role in the acquisition of over $10 billion in infrastructure and natural resource assets. During this time, Robert also held asset management roles and worked closely with management teams of portfolio companies to maximize returns for its investors.

Prior to joining Brookfield, Robert was with the Transaction Advisory group with KPMG consulting clients on M&A due diligence for potential acquisitions. Robert is a CFA Charterholder and Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA). He received his Bachelor of Commerce from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.