James Wilson

James M. Wilson is the principal of Crestline and its affiliated companies. Mr. Wilson also is a frequent consultant on community development strategies and multifamily redevelopment and financing for various clients. Prior to forming Crestline Communities, James worked as the development manager for Lennar Affordable Communities in Portland, Ore., where he specialized in the financing and development of multifamily communities, managed public private partnerships, and worked in neighborhood stabilization and enhancement. During his tenure at Lennar he developed more than $100 million in multifamily properties in seven states.

His responsibilities included planning, acquisition, rehabilitation, development and financing of mixed use, multi-family and senior housing projects. James started his career in Birmingham, Alabama with Collateral Mortgage Ltd. as a multifamily mortgage banker. While with the bank he underwrote more than $1 billion in commercial real estate loans, opened new markets and managed new securitized products. Mr. Wilson received his degree in finance and real estate from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, and his MBA with concentration in real estate, finance and strategy from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He maintains a commercial brokerage license, is a CCIM designee, a NAHB Housing Credit Certified Professional, and a member of ULI.

James’ overall experience includes finance work in primary and secondary real estate markets, securitizations, tax credits, and bond financing. He has worked in a variety of public/private projects, completing multi-phased projects involving up to 7 layers of financing. He has served as development manager or director for multiuse, multiphase projects, tax credit projects, and transportation development projects.