Ballast Launches New Brand Identity and Integrated Platform

Ballast, a vertically integrated real estate investment and operating company managing more than $3 billion in residential assets, announced today the launch of its new brand identity and corporate website. Formerly known as Ballast Investments, the streamlined brand Ballast reflects the firm’s longstanding position as an integrated real estate platform, encompassing institutional investment, sophisticated property management, and in-house construction capabilities.

Founded in 2014 by former Carlyle Group alumni Greg MacDonald and Ryan Brewer, Ballast has steadily evolved from its initial focus as a San Francisco-based multifamily investor into a national institutional operator. The firm’s integrated subsidiaries—Brick + Timber for property management and Halyard for architecture, design, and construction—provide Ballast with capabilities usually associated with larger institutional firms. Today, Ballast operates a diversified portfolio of more than 7,700 residential units across 480 properties.

Integral to the firm’s success is its proprietary AI-driven operational platform, developed in partnership with Palantir Technologies, which integrates real-time data across leasing, maintenance, asset management, and construction. This technology-driven approach allows Ballast to achieve measurable operational improvements, including enhanced NOI margins, faster leasing velocities, reduced legal actions, and consistently high tenant satisfaction ratings.

The rebrand comes at a pivotal moment, reinforcing Ballast’s existing institutional partnerships and disciplined growth strategy. Recent initiatives include the launch of Ballast Fund I, a value-add discretionary fund focused on multifamily opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area’s supply-constrained submarkets, and the establishment of a national platform targeting high-quality manufactured home communities. Ballast continues to maintain longstanding institutional relationships with leading global investors, including Carlyle, Brookfield, Goldman Sachs and Liberty Mutual Investments, underscoring its credibility as a trusted operator capable of managing complex transactions at scale.

Greg MacDonald

Co-Founder – CEO

Image Courtesy of: Ballast

“This rebrand simply acknowledges what Ballast has already become: an integrated real estate platform built around disciplined investment and operational execution,” said Greg MacDonald, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “By integrating our investment, management, and construction functions, we’ve positioned ourselves to deliver stronger performance, transparency, and alignment for our capital partners. The name change reflects the maturity and scale we’ve reached and better captures the platform approach we’ve been implementing for years.”

Ballast’s sophisticated operational model and rigorous underwriting approach help the firm successfully navigate market cycles and maintain the trust of its institutional partners. Recent transactions, including the acquisition of Grosvenor Court Apartments in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, assignment as property manager of 3,165 units at Parkmerced, and the purchase of a distressed 2,196-unit multifamily portfolio alongside Brookfield, exemplify Ballast’s disciplined, value-oriented approach.

“Our capital partners value Ballast because we go beyond transactional expertise, bringing together operational experience, institutional rigor, and technology to drive consistent results,” said Ryan Brewer, Co-Founder and Managing Principal. “The updated branding and website are a clearer reflection of how we operate today, highlighting our approach as long-term stewards of institutional capital.”

Ryan Brewer

Co-Founder – Managing Principal

Image Courtesy of: Ballast

The new Ballast website, www.ballast.com, highlights the firm’s integrated capabilities, recent institutional transactions, and key performance metrics, offering institutional investors clearer insight into the firm’s operations, investment approach, and track record.

ABOUT BALLAST

Ballast is a vertically integrated real estate investment and operating platform with more than $3 billion in assets under management and over 7,700 residential units nationwide. Headquartered in San Francisco, the firm offers institutional-grade capabilities across acquisitions, asset management, property operations (via Brick + Timber), and in-house construction (via Halyard). Ballast leverages advanced technology and real-time data analytics to optimize performance, increase transparency, and drive durable returns. Its integrated model combines deep local market expertise with long-standing institutional partnerships to create long-term value at scale.