The Avanta Difference is the level of care we put into every investment, every design, every build. We believe in building homes and communities that our own families would be proud to call home. We blend outstanding real estate development and investment expertise for reliable outcomes that feel like they’re one‑of‑a‑kind.
Team Experience
Avanta Residential is comprised of an experienced team of architects, finance professionals, construction managers, developers, asset managers, and qualified investment and property managers. Our team leads the industry with a combination of proven development expertise, operational capabilities, local market depth, and an unparalleled national reach.
As Vice President of Construction Management, Dan is engaged in the design process, working closely with the A&E, Contractors, and Avanta team from project concept through construction completion. Dan has over 30 years of development and construction experience and is responsible for construction documents and permitting to ensure a cohesive, cost-effective set of documents. Dan is also responsible for all aspects of the construction, including acting as the Owner's Construction Project Manager. Dan is a certified building inspector and has a Bachelor of Science degree from Utah State University in Engineering.
As Director of Capital Transactions, Penny oversees commercial real estate loan origination and underwriting. She has over 30 years of industry experience, including commercial property valuation and underwriting, loan document negotiation, purchase contract negotiation, and closing coordination. Penny has a Bachelor of Business Administration specializing in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi.
As Financial Analyst, Matt provides proforma project modeling, underwriting valuation analysis, and market research support. Matt previously worked for a non-bank real estate lender that has provided over $3 billion in capital nationwide; responsible for the pre-LOI underwriting, credit review, and market research process for multifamily and mixed-use assets. Matt graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance with an emphasis in commercial real estate.
As Capital Transactions Manager, Marina is responsible for tracking and managing land purchase contract closings and construction loan closings. Marina has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience, including commercial loan documentation, title insurance, property insurance, and purchase contracts. She has a Liberal Arts degree from Ferris State University.
Rebecca Jenkins serves as the Senior Asset Manager at Avanta Residential, where she oversees the Company’s Asset Management function across the Avanta portfolio. Rebecca is also responsible for site selection, feasibility, and market analysis. She brings over 17 years of expertise in multifamily and build-to-rent (BTR) operations. With a strong background in asset management, revenue strategy, and value maximization, Rebecca has built a reputation for driving exceptional outcomes through innovative strategies and keen business insight. Prior to joining Avanta Residential, Rebecca held the position of Director of Leasing Strategy & Revenue Management at DR Horton. There, she managed a national portfolio of BTR community assets, collaborating with teams to develop and execute strategies that enhanced deal approvals, lease-ups, and dispositions. Her results-driven approach consistently increased value and created operational efficiencies.
Robert Kelly Senior Vice President of Construction
As Senior Vice President of Construction, Robert focuses primarily on structuring and negotiating contracts and administering and managing those contracts during the construction phase, all with an emphasis on controlling construction costs and minimizing and managing construction risk. Robert brings forty years of development and construction experience managing the development of projects with construction budgets up to $600 million. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Tyler and a Master of Business Administration degree from San Diego State University.
As Business Manager, Cindy is responsible for the Company's day-to-day operations, working closely with the Executive Committee; she is responsible for human resources, onboarding, IT, and administrative functions. Cindy has over 30 years of administrative, facilities, and project management experience. She has experience working for start-up companies, where she served as a Project Manager of Facilities, managing office and data center buildouts, working with real estate brokers and attorneys to negotiate and finalize lease agreements, budgeting, and coordinating the development of space plans, managing architects, contractors, cable/wiring, and furniture installation.
As Director of Development, Matthew is responsible for site selection, feasibility, and market analysis in the Florida market. Matthew has over 12 years of real estate experience, with over 10 of those years focused on developing luxury multifamily projects. Matthew was involved in the development of over 2,000 luxury rental units with a total market capitalization of approximately $700 million. Matthew earned a BBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University.
As Financial Analyst, Logan provides proforma project modeling, underwriting valuation analysis, and market research support. Previously, Logan worked as a consultant for a full-service property tax consulting company; responsible for reviewing assigned taxable values and facilitating valuation appeals on behalf of his clients; he successfully reduced over $200 million in taxable value on various asset classes. Logan graduated from the University of Denver with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Real Estate and the Built Environment, concentrating on property development.
As Vice President of Acquisitions, José is responsible for underwriting potential investments, obtaining investor approvals, asset management, performance reporting, and data analytics. José previously worked with Hunt Development and was a member of Hunt Mortgage Group in the Agency Debt and Affordable Housing Debt groups, where he was responsible for sourcing, screening, and underwriting potential transactions. José earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Statistics (Cum Laude) from the University of South Florida in 2008 and a Master of Business Administration degree in Real Estate and Finance (with Distinction) in 2015 from DePaul University.
As Director of Development, Bud is responsible for site selection, feasibility, and market analysis in the Georgia market. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for developing and executing business plans, helping banks, developers, and builders maximize real estate opportunities. Bud has extensive experience with inside and outside-level sales and sales management, budget management, sales training, and recruiting. Bud graduated from Ball State University's College of Architecture and Urban Planning.
Peter Spier is the President of Avanta Residential. He is responsible for oversight of the Company’s investment and development strategy, deal-sourcing, capital market activities, and operations.
Mr. Spier previously served as Managing Director of Avanta and Senior Vice President of Hunt Companies, Inc. He has 20 years of experience acquiring, developing, operating, and financing multiple types of real estate, including multifamily, affordable housing, high-rise office, medical office, and mixed-use projects.
Mr. Spier holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of the Arts in Applied Economics from Southern Methodist University.
History
Avanta was created from a deep foundation of experience. Hunt Companies Inc. created Avanta to strengthen what a diversified, family-owned holding company can do when investing in single-family neighborhoods. Avanta has been expanding rapidly since its inception in 2020, both in the regions we serve and in our staff to support our growth.
Hunt by the numbers
Drawing on Hunt’s extensive real estate background and more than $16 billion in completed developments, Avanta is positioned to set the standard for the industry by creating single-family rental neighborhoods. Hunt’s portfolio includes more than $8.5 billion in completed real estate developments, including the development of over 70,000 single-family rental homes across the United States, 52,000 of which are still owned and operated today.
Invesco Partnership
In 2021, Invesco Real Estate strategically invested in Avanta to position it as a pre-eminent Build-To-Rent enterprise. Invesco Real Estate invests in direct property and publicly traded real estate securities around the world. Their global strength is complemented by the expertise of specialists who live in their local markets.
