Jim Gillespie is Executive Vice President of Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital, LLC where he focuses on loan origination and management of developer relationships for the firm. Jim is also responsible for establishing and managing BWE’s Direct Bond Purchase Program. Jim has over 20 years of diversified real estate experience focused on originating and structuring debt and direct equity investments for affordable housing nationwide. Before joining Bellwether, Jim was Managing Director at Hunt Mortgage Group.

Previously, Jim was founding Principal and Managing Director of Red Stone Partners where he helped build and manage their proprietary tax-exempt bond funds, deploying over $2.0 Billion in capital during his 9-year tenure. Prior to Red Stone, Jim was Senior Vice President of The Related Companies, responsible for the acquisition, repositioning and financing of over $2.15 Billion in 80/20 bond-financed multifamily properties nationwide.

Jim is a frequent speaker at national and regional affordable housing conferences covering various topics of workforce and affordable housing finance for both 9% and 4% LIHTC (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA/HUD and Tax-Exempt Bond Purchase structures) as well as Section 8 preservation transactions.

Jim holds a BA from Hanover College, an MPA in Urban and Regional Planning and Development from University of Louisville, and an MS in Real Estate Development from Columbia University.

AFFILIATIONS

National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, Board Member Citizen’s Housing and Planning Council of New York, Board Member

National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC)

Urban Land Institute (ULI)