Business Details
Your Trusted Partner for Real Estate Investment Solutions
Onward Investors is a private markets investment firm specializing in real estate-focused alternative strategies. Our team combines deep equity and credit expertise with a solutions-driven approach to identify and capitalize on market inefficiencies. With over 14 years of experience in real estate equity and 12 years in credit investments, we have deployed $1.5 billion in capital across 60+ transactions. Our holistic underwriting process emphasizes cashflow analysis, asset quality, and risk mitigation to create asymmetric risk-return profiles. The firm's collaborative culture leverages diverse perspectives to develop creative solutions for complex transactions.Our parallel equity and credit strategies enable value creation throughout the investment lifecycle, from sourcing to monetization. We maintain long-term relationships with lenders, advisory firms, and ownership groups to access off-market opportunities. Our track record includes managing $920 million in assets under management and executing transactions across diverse U.S. geographies. The leadership team's extensive tenure together ensures seamless execution and alignment with investor objectives. We prioritize transparency in our operations and maintain rigorous compliance standards across all investment activities.
Services
Real Estate Equity
Asset-Based Credit
Investment Strategies
Portfolio Management
Market Analysis
Risk Mitigation
Capital Investment
Transaction Execution
Value Creation
Strategic Sourcing
Highlights and features
- We have 14+ years of experience in real estate equity investments.
- Our team implements a holistic underwriting approach emphasizing cashflow and asset quality.
- We maintain $920 million in assets under management.
- Our parallel equity and credit strategies enhance value creation throughout the investment lifecycle.
- We have executed 100+ transactions with bank and non-bank lenders.
Services
Real Estate Equity
Our real estate equity practice focuses on opportunistic investments across multiple asset classes. With 14+ years of experience and $1.4 billion in capital invested, we target mispriced assets during market dislocations. Our approach combines bottom-up asset analysis with macroeconomic insights to identify value creation opportunities in both single-asset and portfolio transactions.
Asset-Based Credit
The asset-based credit strategy specializes in real estate-secured debt investments. Having originated or acquired $1.8 billion in loan principal across 100+ transactions, we provide flexible capital solutions including rescue financing and secondary market loan acquisitions. Our expertise spans both senior and subordinated debt positions with a focus on collateral protection and downside risk mitigation.
Portfolio Management
Our portfolio management team actively monitors investments through regular market analysis and asset-level engagement. Utilizing a comprehensive underwriting database and operational expertise, we implement value-enhancement initiatives while maintaining rigorous risk controls. The 12+ year track record includes successful exits across diverse real estate sectors and geographic markets.
Transaction Execution
The transaction execution team specializes in complex deal structuring and rapid execution. With deep experience working with both property owners and lenders, we develop customized solutions that balance investor returns with counterparty needs. Our capabilities include portfolio acquisitions, loan restructurings, and rescue capital deployments executed through a nimble decision-making process.
Market Analysis
Our market analysis function provides real-time insights through continuous monitoring of real estate trends and capital markets. The team leverages data from 60+ completed transactions across various geographies to inform investment decisions. This market intelligence supports both equity and credit strategies through comprehensive assessments of property values, tenancy patterns, and regional economic indicators.
People
Scott Schmitt
Managing Partner
Managing Partner with extensive private markets experience, leading investments in real estate equity and credit strategies to capitalize on market inefficiencies through strategic deal execution and portfolio management.
Jon Lanners
Partner
Partner specializing in real estate credit investments, with a focus on distressed debt opportunities and structured finance solutions across commercial property sectors in secondary market transactions.
Stephanie Lunde
Partner
Partner overseeing portfolio management and asset optimization initiatives, leveraging 12+ years of real estate investment experience to enhance value across equity and debt holdings.
Mark Peterson
Partner
Partner responsible for strategic sourcing and relationship management with lenders, advisory firms, and ownership groups to identify off-market investment opportunities across the United States.
John Solberg
Founding Partner
Founding Partner instrumental in establishing the firm's dual equity and credit investment strategy, providing strategic direction based on 14+ years of real estate market expertise.
Questions
What types of real estate investments does Onward Investors focus on?
We specialize in opportunistic real estate equity investments and asset-backed credit strategies across multiple property types and U.S. geographies.
How does Onward Investors approach risk management?
Our risk management framework combines bottom-up asset analysis, asymmetric risk profiling, and active portfolio monitoring to protect capital during market cycles.
What experience does the investment team have?
Our team has 12-14 years of experience in real estate investments, with $1.5 billion in total capital deployed across 160+ combined transactions.
What geographic markets do you operate in?
We execute transactions across diverse U.S. geographies, focusing on markets with attractive risk-adjusted return profiles for both equity and debt investments.
