GTIS Partners is a real estate investment firm that was founded by Tom Shapiro in 2005. The company specializes in the acquisition, development, and management of real estate assets.
As of 2025, the company operates in the US and Brazil.
History
GTIS was founded in 2005 by Tom Shapiro, who previously worked at Tishman Speyer.[3]
As of September 2025, GTIS has $4.7 billion of gross assets under management and has made 236 investments totaling $16 billion dollars across 50 major markets in the United States.[4][5]
Investment Strategy
GTIS is headquartered in New York City and has offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, Atlanta, Georgia, Charlottee, North Carolina, Phoenix, Arizona, Dallas and Houston, São Paulo, Brazil, and Munich, Germany.[6]
Following the financial crisis in 2008, GTIS returned with an investment focus on residential real estate and opportunistically began to acquire condominiums, land and homebuilding assets, and single-family rental homes across the US.[7][8] GTIS acquired thousands of single-family homes and rented them out in markets across the United States, and ultimately exited those investments in 2021. The firm shifted its focus toward developing newly constructed “built-to-rent” homes built specifically for rental use, citing the growing demand for high-quality rental housing.[7][8] GTIS has also been active in buying land and buildings for warehouse use and holds properties near the Phoenix Goodyear Airport, Dallas Fort Worth Airport, Houston, Nashville, and Charlotte.[9] In 2022, the firm raised $630 million for the investment and development in underserved communities through Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) funds and tax incentives.[10]
Projects in the United States
Viceroy and Baccarat Residences, Miami
GTIS collaborated with Related Group to purchase a 4-acre site in Brickell, Miami, Florida.[11] The two firms broke ground on the 420 unit Viceroy Residences and 355 unit Baccarat Residences projects in 2023 and 2024 respectively.[11][12][13] The projects together represent over $1.6 billion in total sellout. Related and GTIS Partners secured a $328 million loan from Bank OZK to fund the Baccarat Residences project and a $164 million loan from Truist Bank to fund the Viceroy Residences project.[12][13]
Hovnanian Homebuilding Joint Ventures
As of May 2024, GTIS expanded on a joint venture portfolio with Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. for 12,600 homes valued at $6 billion across the United States.[4][14] To date, the partners have invested in approximately 70 home building communities. The joint venture began in 2010.[15]
Tavalo Build-to-rent projects
In April 2023, GTIS Partners launched Tavalo, a dedicated build-to-rent community development company and a subsidiary of GTIS. Tavalo had already completed its first build-to-rent community in December 2020 in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, Arizona called Tavalo Cadence.[16]
From September 2022 to July 2023, GTIS built the Tavalo Tradition, a build-to-rent townhome community in Port St. Lucie, Florida. In May 2024, GTIS Partners launched the Tavalo Queen Creek Commons project in metro Phoenix.[4] Its build-to-rent portfolio in the Phoenix metro area exceeds 1,100 units and is part of 19 investment portfolio in metro Phoenix by the firm, including build-to-rent communities, for-sale homebuilding communities and industrial investments.[4]
CalSTRS Residential Housing Joint Venture
In December 2017, GTIS began a partnership with the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) to invest in homebuilding and residential land subdivisions and masterplan communities across the United States. The partnership has an opportunistic investment strategy. The investment increased by another $200m in 2020, and most recently was reported to have $750 million in commitments.[17]
Viceroy and Baccarat Residences, Miami
GTIS collaborated with Related Group to purchase a 4-acre site in Brickell, Miami, Florida.[11] The two firms broke ground on the 420 unit Viceroy Residences and 355 unit Baccarat Residences projects in 2023 and 2024 respectively.[11][12][13] The projects together represent over $1.6 billion in total sellout. Related and GTIS Partners secured a $328 million loan from Bank OZK to fund the Baccarat Residences project and a $164 million loan from Truist Bank to fund the Viceroy Residences project.[12][13]
Hovnanian Homebuilding Joint Ventures
As of May 2024, GTIS expanded on a joint venture portfolio with Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. for 12,600 homes valued at $6 billion across the United States.[4][14] To date, the partners have invested in approximately 70 home building communities. The joint venture began in 2010.[15]
Tavalo Build-to-rent projects
In April 2023, GTIS Partners launched Tavalo, a dedicated build-to-rent community development company and a subsidiary of GTIS. Tavalo had already completed its first build-to-rent community in December 2020 in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, Arizona called Tavalo Cadence.[16]
From September 2022 to July 2023, GTIS built the Tavalo Tradition, a build-to-rent townhome community in Port St. Lucie, Florida. In May 2024, GTIS Partners launched the Tavalo Queen Creek Commons project in metro Phoenix.[4] Its build-to-rent portfolio in the Phoenix metro area exceeds 1,100 units and is part of 19 investment portfolio in metro Phoenix by the firm, including build-to-rent communities, for-sale homebuilding communities and industrial investments.[4]
CalSTRS Residential Housing Joint Venture
In December 2017, GTIS began a partnership with the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) to invest in homebuilding and residential land subdivisions and masterplan communities across the United States. The partnership has an opportunistic investment strategy. The investment increased by another $200m in 2020, and most recently was reported to have $750 million in commitments.[17]
Projects in Brazil
Infinity Tower
GTIS developed the tower which began operations in 2012.[18] In May 2022, the company sold its 62% stake in the São Paulo office building Infinity Tower, marking the largest single asset property sale in Brazil. With a strategic location in the Faria Lima region in São Paulo, 233,500 square feet of the 376,700 square foot property was sold by GTIS Partners for $172 million.[19]
Palacio Tangara
In 2013, GTIS purchased the site that subsequently became the location of Palacio Tangara, a hotel located in Burle Marx Park in São Paulo overlooking a 26-acre stretch of rainforest. The company developed the property and the hotel was opened to the public in 2017 to become a 5 star luxury destination and part of the Oetker Collection.[20][21]
BHG
In 2015, GTIS Partners acquired Brazil Hospitality Group (BHG), Brazil's largest hotel operator.[22] At the time of the acquisition, BHG owned and operated 52 hotels with 10,000 rooms in oceanfront areas of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.[22]
FII
In 2021, GTIS Partners launched its first Brazil-listed real estate investment trust (REIT), the GTIS Brazil Logistics Real Estate Investment Fund, with the acquisition of $248 million in logistics assets in São Paulo's metropolitan area.[23] The acquisition, structured through the creation of a Brazilian REIT called Fundos de Investimento Imobiliário (FII), included equity investment of $130 million and $118 million in real estate receivables certificates.[23]
DCC
In 2022, GTIS Partners developed and delivered the Distribution Center Cajamar (DCC), a logistics facility with 1.5 million square feet of leasable area, located in Cajamar, São Paulo. The center comprises modular warehouses available for rent and includes a rooftop solar farm with a 2.5-megawatt capacity.[24][25]
Campus JK
In February 2026, GTIS Partners announced that it was developing Campus JK, a commercial development of three office buildings spanning more than 100,000 square meters, located on Avenida Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek in São Paulo.[26] Santander Brazil is projected to move its headquarters to the location and occupy the entire development in the second half of 2028.[27]
Infinity Tower
GTIS developed the tower which began operations in 2012.[18] In May 2022, the company sold its 62% stake in the São Paulo office building Infinity Tower, marking the largest single asset property sale in Brazil. With a strategic location in the Faria Lima region in São Paulo, 233,500 square feet of the 376,700 square foot property was sold by GTIS Partners for $172 million.[19]
Palacio Tangara
In 2013, GTIS purchased the site that subsequently became the location of Palacio Tangara, a hotel located in Burle Marx Park in São Paulo overlooking a 26-acre stretch of rainforest. The company developed the property and the hotel was opened to the public in 2017 to become a 5 star luxury destination and part of the Oetker Collection.[20][21]
BHG
In 2015, GTIS Partners acquired Brazil Hospitality Group (BHG), Brazil's largest hotel operator.[22] At the time of the acquisition, BHG owned and operated 52 hotels with 10,000 rooms in oceanfront areas of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.[22]
FII
In 2021, GTIS Partners launched its first Brazil-listed real estate investment trust (REIT), the GTIS Brazil Logistics Real Estate Investment Fund, with the acquisition of $248 million in logistics assets in São Paulo's metropolitan area.[23] The acquisition, structured through the creation of a Brazilian REIT called Fundos de Investimento Imobiliário (FII), included equity investment of $130 million and $118 million in real estate receivables certificates.[23]
DCC
In 2022, GTIS Partners developed and delivered the Distribution Center Cajamar (DCC), a logistics facility with 1.5 million square feet of leasable area, located in Cajamar, São Paulo. The center comprises modular warehouses available for rent and includes a rooftop solar farm with a 2.5-megawatt capacity.[24][25]
Campus JK
In February 2026, GTIS Partners announced that it was developing Campus JK, a commercial development of three office buildings spanning more than 100,000 square meters, located on Avenida Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek in São Paulo.[26] Santander Brazil is projected to move its headquarters to the location and occupy the entire development in the second half of 2028.[27]
References
- GTIS Partners (Real Estate) IPE Reference Hub, IPE, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Plamedia Ifasso. New York's GTIS Partners buys DFW site for industrial project Dallas Business Journal, 17 September 2025, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Katherine Clarke. GTIS aims for $126M sellout at condos near Museum of Natural History The Real Deal, 2016-02-11, retrieved 2025-04-04^
- Angela Gonzales. Global real estate investment firm adds more build-to-rent units in metro Phoenix Phoienix Business Journal, 2024-05-06, retrieved 2025-04-04^
- Patrick Clark. GTIS’s Shapiro Sees Homebuyer Challenges Getting ‘a Lot Worse’ Bloomberg, 20 May 2022, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Florian Martin. New York-based GTIS Partners purchases land for new distribution center in Pasadena Houston Business Journal, 2023-05-16, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Angela Gonzales. Global real estate investment firm adds more build-to-rent units in metro Phoenix Phoienix Business Journal, 2024-05-06, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- John Gittelsohn. Landlord Cashes Out Foreclosure Crisis Bet in $300 Million Deal Bloomberg, 2021-06-30, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Steve Brown. New York investor plans DFW Airport warehouse project The Dallas Morning News, 17 October 2023, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Cole Lipsky. GTIS Partners Raises $630M for QOZ Fund Mergers & Acquisitions, 17 February 2022, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Katherine Kallergis. Viceroy reborn: Related launches sales of branded Brickell condo tower The Real Deal, 11 April 2024, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Julia Echikson. Related Group Scores $328M From Bank OZK to Build Baccarat Residences in Brickell Commercial Observer, 29 March 2024, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Brian Bandell. Baccarat Brickell condo with ancient remains on site secures loan www.bizjournals.com, 2024-04-01, retrieved 2025-04-08^
- Andrea Zander. GTIS Partners, Hovnanian Enterprises expands homebuilding JV portfolio to $1b of equity to build 12,600 homes valued Institutional Real Estate, Inc., 2 May 2024, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Hovnanian Enterprises and GTIS Partners Announce Formation of Homebuilding Joint Venture NBC News, GlobeNewswire, 22 December 2010, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Jeffrey Steele. GTIS Partners Breaks Ground on Phoenix-Area OZ Community MHN Multi-Housing News, 7 December 2020^
- Jon Peterson. CalSTRS leads the charge in investing pension capital into US homebuilding Real Assets, 8 December 2017, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- GTIS Partners sells Infinity Tower in Brazil Real Assets, 23 May 2022, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Felipe Marques. GTIS Sells Stake in Brazil Office Building for $172 Million Bloomberg, 19 May 2022^
- Claire Wrathall. Inside Palacio Tangara, the hotel setting new standards of luxury in Sao Paulo The Telegraph, 6 June 2017, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Iris Dorbian. GTIS Partners sells Brazilian property for $172m PE Hub, 20 May 2022, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Kenneth Rapoza. Brazil's Biggest Hotel Chains No Longer Brazilian Owned Forbes, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- GTIS buys $248m logistics portfolio for new Brazilian REIT Real Assets, 19 October 2021, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- GTIS Partners: Again Named The Most Sustainable Private Equity Real Estate Firm in South America AP News, 17 December 2020, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Novo centro logístico de Cajamar alia infraestrutura de ponta à qualidade de vida dos seus usuarios Revista Buildings, 11 May 2022, retrieved 10 January 2026^
- Ana Luiza Tieghi. Santander to build new campus-style headquarters in São Paulo Valor International, 2026-02-26, retrieved 2026-03-24^
- Beatriz Quesada. Santander Brasil vai transferir sede para novo ‘campus’ em São Paulo a partir de 2028 Bloomberg Línea Brasil, 2026-02-24, retrieved 2026-03-24^