How ACRE Turned Workforce Housing Into an Investment Grade Asset Class w/ Michael Van Der Poel

Season 7, Episode 3: How did ACRE grow from a post-GFC workforce housing thesis into a global real estate investment firm? Today, we sit down with Michael Van Der Poel, Founding Partner at ACRE, to break down the strategy behind that rise. Michael shares how he spotted workforce housing before it became an institutional trade, and how ACRE built its early portfolio by buying distressed multifamily assets at deeply discounted prices. We also get into raising capital from Asia, building a vertically integrated platform, and expanding across both equity and credit strategies. Whether you’re interested in capital raising, private credit, or where real estate opportunity sits in today’s cycle, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we dive into the conviction, timing, and risk discipline that helped ACRE grow from a scrappy startup into an institutional investment platform. Shoutout to our sponsor, Henry AI. The fast track to investor-ready decks that actually stand out. TOPICS 00:00 – Introduction 02:17 – Michael Van Der Poel’s Background and Early Real Estate Career 06:55 – ACRE’s Workforce Housing Thesis After the GFC 09:56 – Raising the First Fund and Buying Distressed Multifamily 15:00 – Building ACRE’s Credit Platform 21:13 – Why ACRE Plays Across Equity, Credit, and Development 23:21 – Pricing Equity Risk and Finding Returns in Today’s Market 38:50 – Rental Housing, AI Disruption, and the Future of Jobs 41:03 – Where ACRE Sees Opportunity Right Now 46:19 – Multifamily Outlook and the Next Buying Window For more episodes of No Cap by CRE Daily visit https://www.credaily.com/podcast/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoCapCREDaily About No Cap Podcast Commercial real estate is a $20 trillion industry and a force that shapes America’s economic fabric and culture. No Cap by CRE Daily is the commercial real estate podcast that gives you an unfiltered ”No Cap” look into the industry’s biggest trends and the money game behind them. Each week co-hosts Jack Stone and Alex Gornik break down the latest headlines with some of the most influential and entertaining figures in commercial real estate. About CRE Daily CRE Daily is a digital media company covering the business of commercial real estate. Our mission is to empower professionals with the knowledge they need to make smarter decisions and do more business. We do this through our flagship newsletter (CRE Daily) which is read by 65,000+ investors, developers, brokers, and business leaders across the country. Our smart brevity format combined with need-to-know trends has made us one of the fastest growing media brands in commercial real estate.