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Home 9 What We Do 9 Our Strategy

Thesis-Driven Approach

Real estate is inherently local and specialized. Belay’s investment approach provides clients with efficient, scalable access to under-the-radar opportunities in local markets while effectively managing risk.

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Alpha Generation

Belay’s strategy focuses on alpha generation—not beta exposure—by targeting small and middle-market real estate transactions, typically under $50 million in total capitalization, that benefit from inefficiencies and dislocations driven by micro-market trends. This segment of the real estate market is relatively opaque and primarily relationship driven, creating pockets of opportunity for those that can successfully gain access. By partnering with top-tier local operators and sector specialists, Belay benefits from their unique expertise, on-the-ground market intel and deep relationships, gaining a first-mover advantage to opportunities that are positioned for growth. Smaller transactions also offer greater exit flexibility and relative liquidity, benefiting from a broader pool of potential buyers.

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Access to Unique Real Estate

Belay leverages programmatic joint ventures to access a broad network of operators, streamline execution in under-served real estate segments, and secure first-look opportunities on proprietary deal flow. By partnering with established local operators and sector specialists, Belay builds long-term, collaborative relationships that align with our targeted strategies. These partnerships give Belay access to multiple acquisitions and development teams across the U.S.—each effectively acting as an extension of Belay’s team—creating a broad, yet targeted sourcing network that generates consistent and diverse deal flow. Our approach maximizes deal flow efficiently by drawing on collective networks, resources, and industry expertise.

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Proactive Management

Belay takes a hands-on approach to asset management. Belay works closely with our operating partners to implement institutional best practices that enhance execution and long-term value creation. By actively managing assets, we continuously refine business plans, adapting to evolving market conditions to optimize performance and returns. This proactive approach enhances operational efficiency, strengthens asset positioning, and drives investment outcomes at the properties.

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Enhanced Economics

By partnering with local and specialized operators through programmatic joint ventures, Belay structures scalable relationships with preferential economics driven directly by real estate performance that can also provide participation in GP economics, without taking direct platform stakes or assuming platform-level risks. This approach enables access to high-potential operators, while maintaining governance control and avoiding corporate liabilities. When applied selectively, this strategy can benefit from operator growth.

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thesis driven approach

In today’s rapidly evolving market, Belay’s top-down thesis-driven approach is critical to identifying strategies that align with both current macroeconomic conditions and localized demand drivers. As volatility and dislocation continue to shape the investment landscape, we recognize that some of the most attractive opportunities stem from temporary disruptions and localized inefficiencies, which Belay identifies through a combination of local intelligence from its operating partners and a macro market assessment by property type and markets. By actively monitoring market cycles and maintaining strategic flexibility, Belay is well-positioned to adapt in real time—allowing us to target high-conviction opportunities as they emerge and preserve value through changing conditions.