Steven DeFrancis
CEO, Cortland
Steven DeFrancis is the founder and CEO of Cortland. He has nearly 30 years of experience in complex multifamily development and management, specializing in unique development and value-add opportunities.
Steven founded the company in 2005 as a development firm focused on in-town, mixed-use, apartment community developments. Today, Cortland is a global, vertically integrated multifamily investment and asset management company focused on delivering superior, resident-centric apartment living experiences. Cortland has significant experience in acquiring, developing, renovating, owning, and operating multifamily communities, leveraging the services of its construction, design, and property, asset, and investment management affiliates. Through its hospitality-driven, consumer-focused approach to apartment living, the company seeks to challenge the conventional practices of the apartment industry while working to deliver outsized returns in high-growth metro and suburban areas.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Cortland ranks as one of the largest apartment owners and management firms in the country with more than 80,000 apartment homes across more than 200 apartment communities, primarily throughout the Southeast, Midwest, and Texas. Internationally, Cortland operates development, investment, and property management services in the UK to support the growing build-to-rent sector in that market. The company employs over 2,600 associates in the US and UK and is a “Top Brand Performer” for online reputation among property management companies (Reputation.com, 2022) and a Great Place to Work-Certified™ Company (2022).
Throughout his career, Steven has specialized in multifamily development specific to neighborhood revitalization and positive economic growth. Prior to founding Cortland, Steven served as President and Owner of Capitol Realty, a family-owned real estate brokerage and property management firm in Atlanta that he took over upon graduating from college. In 1995, Steven cofounded Capitol Development Group, whose focus was the development of workforce multifamily properties in Georgia and Florida. He went on to develop over 5,000 apartment homes utilizing various affordable housing programs, including the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. His dedicated efforts took what began as a neighborhood property management company to a half billion dollar investment, development, and asset management company in less than 10 years.
Steven earned his bachelor’s degree in Real Estate from The University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. He is a member of The Buckhead Coalition and serves on the boards of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership and AZ Partsmaster. He is also a member of The Real Estate Roundtable, The Urban Land Institute, and the National Multifamily Housing Council.
Steven resides in Atlanta with his wife, Mary Alicia, and two children, Kennon and Jack.