About DeRosa Group
DeRosa Group is a family-owned business investing in residential and commercial property with a mission of Transforming Lives Through Real Estate®. Founded by Matt and Liz Faircloth in 2004, our journey began with a modest duplex purchase just outside of Philadelphia, fueled by a $30,000 private loan. Since then, we have mastered the art of turning properties into their highest and best use, revolutionizing single-family homes, multi-family residences, apartments, mixed-use spaces, retail outlets, and offices.
From transformative gut-rehabs to lucrative value-add opportunities, our expertise spans the spectrum of property conditions. At DeRosa Group, we live and breathe our core values — integrity, transparency, and win-win partnerships — infusing every aspect of our business.
OUR OFFERINGS
We are committed to making a difference in the world by providing quality housing, flexible commercial space, and helping others build their wealth through real estate.
TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH REAL ESTATE®
We see the human side of real estate.
We are committed to create secure wealth-building opportunities for our investors, allowing them to participate in projects that make money while making a difference.
We create safe, family-oriented communities that our residents are proud to call home. Our team members thrive, knowing that their work transforms the lives of many.
THE DEROSA GROUP
Successful real estate investing requires a smart, experienced and dedicated team. We provide the expertise, resources and the network necessary to achieve the financial outcomes you want most. This is the team that's here to protect your money and ensure that it works for you.
MATT FAIRCLOTH
FOUNDER & CEO
Matt Faircloth has been a full-time investor since 2005. In that time, he has successfully completed projects involving dozens of fix and flips, office buildings, single family homes, and apartment buildings. He commands thousands of multifamily units in partnership with millions in passive investor equity, earning him recognition as a trusted authority, regular contributor and podcast guest on BiggerPockets®.
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With an active YouTube channel dedicated to educating investors and a bestselling book, "Raising Private Capital: How to Build Your Real Estate Empire with Other People's Money," Matt offers invaluable insights and strategies to elevate your real estate journey.
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JUSTIN FRASER
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Justin is an Apartment Syndicator, Asset Manager, and Real Estate Investor, responsible for managing thousands of units across the country. Justin has been a Real Estate Investor since 2014 when he bought a single-family home as a rental property.
For years, Justin flipped houses and owned single family rentals until May of 2018 when he formed 88 Real Estate Capital and closed on his first apartment syndication. By September 2018, Justin exited his corporate job as a Project Manager and jumped full time into real estate investing. Justin built an asset management business, responsible for running the business of these apartment complexes. His team manages the business of running DeRosa apartment complexes including coordinating property managers, CAPEX investments, staff, and more to ensure the successful implementation of our business plans.
Justin is also the host of True Multifamily, a podcast about the business of apartment investing, showcasing the real work that happens after a deal closes. Justin was recently featured in a USA Today publication as a "Top 10 Real Estate Expert of 2022".
With an active YouTube channel dedicated to educating investors and a bestselling book, "Raising Private Capital: How to Build Your Real Estate Empire with Other People's Money," Matt offers invaluable insights and strategies to elevate your real estate journey.
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HERVÉ FRANCOIS
ACQUISITIONS MANAGER
Hervé Francois held positions as a Financial Analyst and Institutional Salesperson at Citigroup, Credit Suisse First Boston and several other firms over a 23-year career on Wall Street. As a Financial Analyst, he covered a broad number of technology stocks and ranked 3rd place in Stock Picking category in Wall Street Journal’s “Best Analyst’s On The Street” for 2002.
Hervé also led U.S. Equity Sales at Mizuho Securities and its first full year of operation, he was a top producer generating over $7,000,000 in trading commissions and investment banking revenue while opening over 150 new client accounts. Hervé started H&H Real Estate Group in 2018 which focuses on investing in syndicated offerings.
In 2019, he joined the DeRosa Group to help the firm identify its target markets for larger multi-family deals and has since grown into multiple roles within the company.
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TARA SMILEY
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, DEROSA LIVING
Tara Smiley joins DeRosa Group as an Asset Manager with an impressive 17-year track record in the multifamily industry. She specializes in asset management and multifamily operations for both owner and 3rd party operators, excelling in value-add strategies, renovations, rebranding, and mixed-use assets.
Tara’s achievements include large multistate portfolio management, showcasing her reputation as a capable and results-driven leader. As an author and blogger in various prominent industry sites and publications, she is also a content creator for several training and onboarding programs utilized in multifamily. Tara brings a unique perspective to the DeRosa Group where she plays a pivotal role in managing 1,800 existing units and furthering the company's growth endeavors since joining in 2023.
JACOB SANDOVAL
HEAD OF INVESTOR RELATIONS
Jacob was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area where he still lives today. He graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Accounting and has a 10+ year of experience working for both Fortune 500 companies and Technology startups alike across a variety of disciplines. Jacob joined the DeRosa Group in 2024, 1 year after being a student in the Bigger Pockets Multifamily bootcamp. He was incredibly drawn to the DeRosa team their mission and made the decision to leave Corporate America and pursue his passion of real estate investing.
Jacob is a real estate investor himself, with a portfolio of multifamily units and short-term rentals. He also hosts the “Financial Freedom Fighters” podcast where he educates his audience on the concepts of real estate investing. he believes that real estate is the most proven vehicle to achieve financial freedom and he’s made it his mission to help as many people invest in real estate as possible!
ERIC LIZAMA
EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGER
A retired Army officer and combat veteran, Eric Lizama brings extensive leadership and operational experience to his role at the DeRosa Group. With a proven track record in orchestrating large-scale military operations and managing multi-million dollar budgets, Eric seamlessly transitioned his skills into the multifamily real estate sector.
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Having played a pivotal role in the Army’s flight school program, Eric excelled as the Course Manager by introducing strategic enhancements and improvements that met current operational demands. In 2023, he joined the DeRosa Group, overseeing the education department and contributing to the company's growth.
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Since 2016, Eric has been actively involved in real estate investing. His military-honed strategic mindset and understanding of real estate dynamics make him a valuable asset in developing educational programs and driving the DeRosa Group's expansion. Eric Lizama is committed to leveraging his leadership experience to enhance educational initiatives and contribute to the company's success.
ADAM ROSS
PROJECT MANAGER
Adam Ross is a former management consultant with 16 years of experience in driving operational excellence and financial growth for diverse businesses. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in helping companies at various stages, from ambitious startups seeking market share to Fortune 50 enterprises navigating complex restructuring processes.
Adam's expertise in operations management, project management, and process improvement has consistently enabled him to identify strategic opportunities for optimizing efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing revenues. His exceptional ability to cultivate genuine relationships with clients underscores his commitment to delivering tailored solutions and driving long-term success.
LIZ FAIRCLOTH
CO-FOUNDER & BOARD MEMBER
Liz began her real estate journey in 2005. As the co-founder of DeRosa Group alongside her husband, Matt Faircloth, Liz played a pivotal role in the company's remarkable growth over a decade.
With a background in management consulting, Liz honed her expertise in a personality assessment program, collaborating with small businesses and Fortune 500 companies alike. She has facilitated numerous trainings and workshops for prestigious universities, conferences, and executive-level programs. Rooted in her passion for supporting women, Liz's pursuit of a Master's degree in Social Work fueled her dedication to empowering women.
In 2018, she joined forces with her friend Andresa to launch the influential Real Estate InvestHER® podcast and community. Together, their mission is to empower women to embrace financial freedom and create a harmonious life on their own terms.
HAIT PATEL
UNDERWRITER
Hait Patel studied Finance at University of South Dakota and pursued a career in hotel management. As a kid, he was drawn to building and fixing real estate as his family was involved in this business.
Hait has years of experience in limited service hotel property management, underwriting, and acquisitions. He has done multiple value add hotel deals while overseeing a staff of 180 employees. Hait joined DeRosa Group in 2022 as an Underwriting Analyst.
MATT ALLEN
ADVISOR
Matt Allen is a retired investment operations manager with over 27 years of experience with institutional fund accounting, compliance, management, and operations. For 18 years Matt helped to build a $10 billion private equity business within Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. There he focused on negotiating and structuring private equity contracts and investments globally. He has experience with tax matters, investment due diligence, cash management, client management and fund governance. Matt is currently a commercial real estate broker in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Matt is an avid investor, has a law degree from Temple University and has a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University.