Ohio doesn’t shout like New York or shine like California—but when it comes to stable, cash-flowing real estate investment, it speaks volumes. From the industrial backbone of Cleveland and the rebounding grit of Dayton to the tech-charged energy of Columbus and the creative edge of Cincinnati, the Buckeye State has become a key target for investors looking for long-term yield, development upside, and regulatory sanity. Real estate capital is flowing here from all corners—coastal private equity, Midwest family offices, local syndicates, and mission-aligned investment funds.

What makes Ohio attractive? Low barriers to entry, value-oriented pricing, a rising tide of institutional interest, and a surprisingly strong pipeline of real estate tech startups and operating partners. Below is a curated list of the most active, strategic, and capitalised real estate investors in Ohio—spanning core, value-add, workforce housing, logistics, adaptive reuse, and more. Whether you’re building your first fund, raising for a mid-rise in Columbus, or digitising the leasing experience in Akron—this is where the money is.

• Casto – Columbus-based and active across the Midwest and Southeast, Casto focuses on retail, multifamily, and mixed-use development. Projects include Bridge Park in Dublin and the Lennox Flats near OSU. The firm has deep institutional LP ties and co-invests across deal sizes.
• Crawford Hoying – A major developer-investor behind massive mixed-use projects like Bridge Park and The Peninsula in Columbus. Based in Dublin, OH, and backed by a blend of private and public capital. Also invests in hospitality, senior living, and urban infill.
• NRP Group – Headquartered in Cleveland, NRP is one of the largest multifamily developers in the U.S., with a major presence in Ohio. They’re behind dozens of LIHTC and market-rate projects across the state and have strong relationships with local housing authorities and state agencies.
• Weston Inc. – Cleveland-based Weston owns and manages over 12 million square feet of industrial space in Ohio. They’re actively acquiring warehouse, flex, and logistics properties in suburban and tertiary markets, with a focus on long-term NNN leases.
• Five Seven – A private real estate investment firm focused on Cincinnati and Dayton. Recently completed the Fire Blocks District revitalisation in downtown Dayton. Invests in urban redevelopment, mixed-use, and boutique multifamily, often in public-private structures.
• Champion Companies – Based in Westerville, Champion is a vertically integrated multifamily investor with over 5,000 units under management in Central Ohio. Focused on value-add renovations, Class B repositioning, and suburban garden-style communities.
• Stark Enterprises – With holdings across Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, Stark invests in retail, student housing, and urban redevelopment. Projects include Crocker Park and nuCLEus. Also partners with universities and medical systems on real estate ventures.
• Borror – Columbus-based firm that develops, manages, and invests in urban multifamily and mixed-use properties. Their High Street projects near Short North have set a design standard in the market. Interested in boutique GP partnerships and off-market deals.
• The Model Group – Cincinnati’s leading impact-focused real estate firm. Model has restored over 2,000 historic units and commercial spaces in Over-the-Rhine. Known for creative capital stacking, tax credit work, and deep community engagement.
• Nelson Waddell Development – Focused on Columbus and Dayton, this firm invests in light industrial, self-storage, and retail repositioning. Active in brownfield redevelopment and ground-up flex space near major highways and airports.
• Flaherty & Collins Properties – Although based in Indianapolis, they’re heavily active in Ohio. Recent projects include The Yards at Old State in Delaware and mixed-use developments in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Strong in LIHTC, NMTC, and public infrastructure partnerships.
• Schottenstein Real Estate Group – Private developer of upscale apartments, retail, and commercial centers. Based in Columbus, they’ve completed projects in Powell, Grove City, and Pickerington. Family-backed, vertically integrated, and growth-focused.
• Oberer Companies – Based in Miamisburg and active in Dayton and Springfield, Oberer invests in residential communities and lifestyle centers. Notably partnered with Epcon and Ryan Homes. Focused on land development and build-to-rent platforms.
• Confluent Development – National firm with active industrial and healthcare developments in the Toledo and Columbus markets. Frequently partners with REITs and institutional LPs on build-to-suit facilities, especially in logistics and outpatient healthcare.
• Flik Companies – A family-owned group in Akron investing in historic commercial and residential assets. Currently renovating several Art Deco buildings for boutique rentals. Very open to co-GP deals with creatives and design-forward teams.
• The Connor Group – Dayton-based investor and operator of luxury apartment communities in Ohio and beyond. The firm manages over $3 billion in assets and recently launched a tech-forward living initiative focused on smart amenities and community apps.
• Legacy Capital Partners – Cleveland-based private equity firm investing in multifamily and senior housing across Ohio. Partners with regional developers and syndicators. Also testing tokenised real estate investment models for retail LPs.
• Borror Rock Group – A joint venture between Borror and local capital firms. Focuses on luxury condo development and adaptive reuse in the Columbus metro area. Notable for micro-unit developments targeting Gen Z renters.
• Rogers Development Group – Cincinnati-based firm investing in creative office, residential, and retail in up-and-coming neighbourhoods like Walnut Hills and Price Hill. Deep community ties and a focus on long-hold generational assets.
• Towerview Ventures – Young venture-backed firm investing in co-living and SFR portfolios in Ohio’s college towns. Projects in Athens and Bowling Green include energy-efficient townhome developments with full digital lease-up infrastructure.

Ohio’s real estate startup ecosystem is also rising. Notable ventures like Nestig (Cleveland), Leasecake (Columbus, expanding), and Rhove (a fractional real estate investment app) are attracting investor attention from the state’s real estate families and regional VCs. These platforms are reimagining rent, equity, and experience—often in close collaboration with institutional landlords.

If you’re planning to raise capital or restructure your deal for an Ohio project, dive into Investorlist.com for fresh LP connections and emerging capital sources across the Midwest.

Ohio has always been about resilience—but now it’s about reinvention. The capital pouring in isn’t here for a quick flip. It’s here for scale. For structure. For neighbourhoods that work. If you know how to build durable real estate backed by aligned capital, Ohio just might be the best-kept investment secret in America.