Jesse Kehoe – ACRE Management

Jesse Kehoe didn’t plan on becoming a development executive at a global real estate investment firm. In fact, his earliest professional experience was far more hands-on.

“I started my professional career as an assistant superintendent on the jobsite,” he recalls. “I was always good with math, so going into development with a construction background was always a natural progression.”

That uncommon pairing—of tactical construction experience and analytical thinking—has become his hallmark at ACRE Management.

Since joining the firm in 2022, Kehoe has helped accelerate ACRE’s already ambitious development strategy. Founded in 2011, ACRE has evolved into a vertically integrated real estate investment platform with over $6 billion in assets under management. With offices in New York, Miami, Atlanta, and Singapore, ACRE focuses primarily on residential housing across both equity and credit strategies, operating as an owner, operator, and lender. The company’s projects span the capital stack and target high-growth markets in the United States, Southeast Asia, and the United Kingdom.

As director of development, Kehoe oversees ACRE’s expanding U.S. development pipeline, valued at over $1.5 billion. It’s a job that requires equal parts strategy and precision, especially in a market characterized by rising costs, evolving consumer preferences, and unpredictable regulatory hurdles.

“At ACRE, we try to implement an intensive process during the preconstruction phase,” he explains. “We dig into extreme detail during the drawing review to ensure everything is coordinated and that all the finish items that drive rent are fully integrated.”

That attention to detail was tested on UCI Stokes West, a 255-unit multifamily project near the Cleveland Clinic Campus in Cleveland. The development also includes eight townhomes and a wide array of thoughtfully designed amenities, such as collaborative co-working spaces, curated local artwork, and a one-of-a-kind reclaimed wood library that pays tribute to the rich cultural history of the surrounding Fairfax neighborhood.

The result? A development completed ahead of schedule, with zero change orders and not a single dollar spent from the project’s hard cost contingency.

“It’s not very common, and I think it is very much a combined effort with the GC and design team,” Kehoe says, “but it’s a great example of how this process can deliver outstanding results when executed properly.”

A strategy that stands out

Kehoe’s disciplined approach to development mirrors ACRE’s overall strategy. Unlike firms that overextended during the 2021–2022 buying spree—snapping up properties at sub-4 percent cap rates—ACRE focused on fundamentals and pivoted toward long-term value creation through new construction and opportunistic investment.

“We didn’t get caught up in the frenzy,” says Kehoe. “We stayed disciplined and started to focus on other investments such as ground-up developments and forward purchase strategies.”

That foresight has allowed ACRE to move swiftly in a market that now favors nimble, well-capitalized firms. The company has recently closed a $1 billion debt fund and is now starting to raise its seventh fund, targeting $750 million. The infusion of capital positions ACRE to accelerate its pipeline and double down on high-barrier-to-entry markets where demand for housing continues to outpace supply. Looking ahead, ACRE is preparing to break ground on several high-impact projects, including a 337-unit expansion of Adela at MIMO Bay in Miami and a new 262-unit development on Long Island, marking ACRE’s first foray into that market.

“We’re real believers in getting shovels in the ground in 2025 and 2026,” Kehoe says. “Our biggest focus is high-barrier-to-entry markets, and that’s broadened our horizons on where we’re looking.”

Culture as a competitive advantage

As ACRE scales its footprint, Kehoe credits much of the firm’s success to its people and culture.

“We have over 40 investment professionals, and we’ve been in a bit of a hiring frenzy lately,” he says. “I think what’s really special about ACRE is the culture our managing principals have created. It’s a place where people enjoy coming to work, where there’s purpose in what you’re doing.”

That culture is particularly valuable in a development environment that demands collaboration across multiple disciplines—design, construction, finance, legal, and more. ACRE’s vertical integration model means that development doesn’t happen in a silo. Teams work in lockstep, ensuring consistency from acquisition through delivery and stabilization.

“It’s not just a buzzword here,” Kehoe says. “Vertical integration is a strategic advantage. It allows us to make better decisions faster, and it gives everyone a line of sight into the full lifecycle of a project.”

Empowering team members is also essential in Kehoe’s day-to-day leadership.

“The hardest part of my specific role is not getting too far into the details,” he admits. “With a $1.5 billion pipeline, I can’t be a part of every conversation, even though I’d love to. I’ve got a great team, and I need to trust them to make the right decisions.”

Rooted in Family, driven by ambition

Away from the office, Kehoe stays grounded thanks to his wife, Yanessa, who also works in the real estate industry.

“She’s the love of my life and supports my ambition,” he says.

The couple’s two-year-old daughter, Yves, is now the center of his world.

“She’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Any free time I have is typically spent with her. She’s a handful—but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Born in Dublin, Ireland, and the eldest of six siblings, Kehoe’s upbringing instilled a strong work ethic and a sense of adaptability. That resilience has served him well in a profession defined by cycles and change.

“Like every job, it’s always difficult to deal with the ups and downs,” he says. “You can’t assume that because something worked last year—or even six months ago—it will work now. You must stay adaptable.”

Even his athletic past contributes to his competitive mindset. A former college and briefly professional soccer player, Kehoe brings the same intensity to real estate that he once brought to the pitch.

“It’s challenging to switch it off,” he admits, laughing. “I’m extremely competitive, even in daily activities.”

Kehoe also leans heavily on technology to help ACRE remain agile. The development team uses architectural and engineering tools like BIM, AutoCAD, and Revit to identify challenges before they hit the jobsite. Additionally, ACRE employs OnsiteIQ—a construction intelligence platform that uses site imagery and data analytics to track project progress and identify risks. “It’s all about making smarter decisions, faster,” he says.

As ACRE expands its global real estate portfolio, Kehoe remains laser-focused on execution.

“We’ve built a platform that enables us to respond quickly to market needs,” he says. “Our ability to integrate, adapt, and deliver—those are the things that make the difference.”

In a landscape where many real estate firms chase trends, ACRE’s model—and Kehoe’s leadership—stand out for their discipline, clarity, and foresight. Whether he’s walking a site in Miami, reviewing renderings for Long Island, or refining process flow with his team, Kehoe is helping chart the course for a company building more than properties—building the future of real estate.