CREA LLC
CREA LLC is a privately held, Indianapolis-based Low-Income Housing Tax Credit syndicator that connects institutional investors with affordable housing developers, having raised over $13.5B in LIHTC equity across 1,059 properties. It operates four US offices and earns transaction and asset management fees on syndicated deals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CREA LLC does
CREA LLC (legal name CREA, LLC) is a privately held, full-service Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) syndicator headquartered at 30 S. Meridian St., Suite 400, Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 2001 and operating with 11–50 employees across four US offices (Indianapolis, Boston, New York, and San Diego), the firm structures and manages LIHTC equity transactions between institutional investors seeking tax-advantaged affordable housing exposure and affordable housing developers needing equity capital for their projects. Cumulative disclosed impact metrics include $13.5B+ in LIHTC equity raised, 1,059 properties under management, and 97.4K+ affordable homes developed.
The company's product surface centers on LIHTC Equity Syndication Services, its core offering, supported by a stakeholder-coordination platform called CREAConnect that connects investors and developers for transaction management and partnership coordination. Complementary programs include CREACares (a corporate social impact initiative supporting affordable housing communities) and CREA Foundation, Inc. (a nonprofit educational initiative assisting students). The technology footprint is positioned as enabling integration across the LIHTC ecosystem rather than as a distinct software product line; no patents, API, SDK, or AI/ML disclosures are present.
CREA's revenue model is transaction-fee-based: the firm earns structuring and management fees on the LIHTC equity it syndicates, with pricing negotiated deal-by-deal and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise relationship-driven, executed through dedicated Investor Partnerships and Developer Partnerships programs via direct B2B field sales, supplemented by LIHTC industry conference participation and LinkedIn/website thought leadership. The firm is led by Jeffrey Whiting (President & CEO), Tony Bertoldi (Co-President), and Roger Shank (CFO), with senior coverage spanning acquisitions, originations, investor relations, marketing, account management, IT, and HR. No parent company, outside investors, or funding rounds are disclosed.
CREA LLC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CREA LLC
- Legal name
- CREA, LLC
- Website
- https://cityrealestateadvisors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CREA LLC is a privately held, Indianapolis-based Low-Income Housing Tax Credit syndicator that connects institutional investors with affordable housing developers, having raised over $13.5B in LIHTC equity across 1,059 properties. It operates four US offices and earns transaction and asset management fees on syndicated deals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CREA LLC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affordable Housing Tax Credit Syndication
- NAICS
- Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (5312)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Real Estate Asset Management (BPAJAMAB)
Keywords
Where CREA LLC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
CREA LLC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- LIHTC Equity Syndication: CREA raises equity capital from investors and syndicates it into Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) transactions, earning fees for structuring and managing these tax credit investments. The company has raised over $13.5B in LIHTC equity.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
CREA LLC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CREA LLC is a national Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) syndicator that raises equity from institutional investors and syndicates that capital into affordable housing developments sponsored by developers. The firm provides transaction structuring, investor and developer relationship management, and ongoing asset management, supported by its CREAConnect technology platform that connects and manages stakeholder interactions.
Product overview
CREA LLC is a single unified affordable housing investment company offering tax credit syndication services. The company operates as a tax credit syndicator focused on LIHTC equity raising, with affiliated initiatives including CREAConnect (impact tracking platform), CREACares (community impact program), and CREA Foundation (educational support). The company manages properties under its portfolio and partners with investors and developers to create affordable housing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CREA Foundation: CREA Foundation, Inc. is committed to helping students cross the finish line through education support programs.
- CREAConnect
- CREACares
Products and services
- LIHTC Equity Syndication Services Full-service LIHTC equity syndication in which CREA raises institutional capital, structures the investment, pairs it with affordable housing developers, and provides ongoing asset management and reporting. The service is offered to institutional investors seeking tax credit investments and to developers seeking equity for LIHTC-financed rental housing.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,059 properties under management
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CREA LLC
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CREA LLC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CREA LLC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Developer PartnerscoreAffordable housing developers who own and operate properties. CREA provides equity syndication services to enable these developers to access institutional capital for their affordable housing projects.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CREA LLC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Stratford Capital Group: Affordable housing and LIHTC-focused investment manager serving institutional investors with comparable equity-syndication capabilities, though smaller in scale than CREA.
- National Equity Fund: Mission-driven LIHTC syndicator deploying equity into affordable housing developments, with a comparable tax-credit-focused business model serving similar institutional investor and developer segments.
Broad incumbents
- PNC Real Estate: Large bank-affiliated CRE platform that includes LIHTC syndication among a broader CRE capital markets practice, competing for institutional tax-credit investors with more diversified capabilities.
- JLL Capital Markets: Global CRE advisory platform that participates in tax credit syndication and affordable housing capital raising alongside broader investment sales, advisory, and debt placement services.
- Walker & Dunlop: Large CRE capital markets and servicing platform with multifamily and affordable housing financing capabilities, overlapping with CREA in serving affordable housing developers seeking tax-credit equity.
Direct peers
- Enterprise Community Investment: Affordable housing-focused investment platform that syndicates LIHTC equity and deploys capital into community development, structurally similar to CREA's syndication + impact positioning.
- Boston Financial Investment Management: Long-standing LIHTC syndicator and asset manager focused exclusively on affordable housing, with a directly comparable product mix and institutional investor base.
- Hunt Capital Partners: Specialist LIHTC syndicator targeting institutional investors and developers of affordable housing, with a comparable equity-syndication-first business model.
- R4 Capital: Specialized LIHTC syndicator and affordable housing lender, directly comparable in business model, customer base (institutional tax credit investors), and product focus to CREA.
- Raymond James Tax Credit Funds: One of the largest LIHTC syndicators in the US, operating the same equity syndication model for institutional investors in affordable housing — a directly comparable counterparty to CREA.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CREA LLC social profiles
Digital presenceCREA LLC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CREA LLC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
CREA LLC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
CREA LLC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CREA LLC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CREA LLC
What does CREA LLC do?
CREA LLC is a national Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) syndicator that raises equity from institutional investors and syndicates that capital into affordable housing developments sponsored by developers. The firm provides transaction structuring, investor and developer relationship management, and ongoing asset management, supported by its CREAConnect technology platform that connects and manages stakeholder interactions.
Is CREA LLC a public or private company?
CREA LLC is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was CREA LLC founded?
CREA LLC was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CREA LLC based?
CREA LLC is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does CREA LLC make money?
One revenue line is on record: LIHTC Equity Syndication.
Who are CREA LLC's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Stratford Capital Group and National Equity Fund. Broad incumbents are PNC Real Estate, JLL Capital Markets and Walker & Dunlop. Direct peers are Enterprise Community Investment, Boston Financial Investment Management, Hunt Capital Partners, R4 Capital and Raymond James Tax Credit Funds.
Does CREA LLC have an API?
No public API is recorded for CREA LLC.
What industry is CREA LLC in?
CREA LLC's product category is Affordable Housing Tax Credit Syndication. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAMAB, Commercial Real Estate Asset Management. Its NAICS code is 5312 and its SIC code is 6531.