
Rick Courtney
Rick Courtney has been in the multifamily real estate industry since 1984, making him one of the few experts in his field to have navigated four decades of fluctuating investment cycles. This 37-year veteran also has 15 years of experience at the C-suite level, most recently as president and COO of San Antonio-based, Brass, where he oversaw assets under management (AUM) and the development of a $1.4 billion pipeline. In total, Rick has transacted and/or managed more than 15,000 units and 3.2 million square feet of commercial space across the country.
This well-rounded experience, impressive in its own right, subsequently allowed Rick to recognize that the middle-market has historically been vastly overlooked. It was this realization that led Rick and his partner, John Matheson, to found the private equity firm, Essential Realty Partners in April 2021. Although launched just last spring, the firm came out of the gate strong with an innovative $150M GP stake offering to pursue transactions ranging from $15M - $75M in 15 initial target markets across the U.S.
Based in Dallas, Texas, Essential Realty Partners’ primary objective is to acquire and operate core-plus, value-add, and opportunistic, apartment and single-family “built-to-rent” communities in high-growth markets. Unlike other firms in this sector, Rick and John are utilizing their 75-years of industry expertise to bring an institutional-level skillset to this staggering $8 trillion market. “This market is highly fragmented and inefficient and thus provides abundant opportunity for skilled operators” Rick explains. “But Essential Realty Partners is about more than just doing deals. We are a legacy company that serves investors, striving always put their interests ahead of our own, and we take our fiduciary responsibilities very seriously.”
In complement of their inspiring business acumen, Rick and John are equally attentive to the needs of their community. “Coming out of the pandemic, we feel that as Essential Realty Partners continues to grow and evolve, we must maintain a sustainable company culture that celebrates integrity and excellence and is valuable to everyone, not just investors,” Rick states.
Rick’s position as CEO allows him to implement these admirable goals, while adeptly guiding the firm on its course for continued growth. His philosophy and practical experience allow him to spearhead the firm’s national acquisition and asset management platforms and to provide insight as a member of the firm’s executive and investment committees.
Rick is a licensed broker in multiple states, holds numerous professional titles such as the elite CCIM and CPM designations, and graduated cum laude from Pepperdine University. John is an alumnus of Georgetown Law and Harvard Business School and, combined with his skills and experience, helps to uniquely position Essential Realty Partners for rapid success on the national stage.
Rick Courtney
CEO & Co-Founder — Essential Realty Partners
Website: www.erpartners.us
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickcourtney/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ERPartners.us