GTIS Partners
Professional services
UnclaimedGTIS Partners is a private real estate investment firm focused on acquiring, developing, and managing residential, industrial, hospitality, and commercial properties.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
GTIS Partners is a privately held real estate investment firm founded in 2005 by Tom Shapiro, a former Tishman Speyer executive. The firm invests across the United States and Brazil, combining property acquisition, development, asset management, and joint-venture investing. Its activities have included residential land and homebuilding, single-family rentals, purpose-built build-to-rent communities, logistics and industrial properties, office buildings, hotels, and mixed-use or large-scale urban developments. The firm's investment approach changed notably after the 2008 financial crisis. GTIS returned to the market with an emphasis on residential opportunities, including condominiums, land, homebuilding assets, and single-family rental homes. It accumulated thousands of single-family residences in several U.S. markets and ultimately exited that rental-home portfolio in 2021. GTIS subsequently directed more attention toward newly built homes designed specifically for rental use, reflecting demand for professionally managed housing with amenities and community features. Residential investing remains connected to GTIS's broader development platform. The firm has maintained a long-running homebuilding joint venture with Hovnanian Enterprises and a separate residential investment relationship with the California State Teachers' Retirement System. These arrangements have supported investments in homebuilding communities, land subdivisions, and master-planned developments in multiple U.S. states. In 2023, GTIS also introduced Tavalo, a dedicated build-to-rent development company and GTIS subsidiary, to organize and expand its rental-community activities. GTIS has also built a substantial industrial and logistics presence. In the United States, it has acquired land and buildings near major air cargo and distribution corridors, including locations around Phoenix Goodyear Airport, Dallas–Fort Worth Airport, Houston, Nashville, and Charlotte. In Brazil, its logistics strategy included the launch of a Brazil-listed real estate investment fund in 2021 and the development of Distribution Center Cajamar, a large warehouse complex in the São Paulo metropolitan area with modular space and rooftop solar generation. The firm's Brazilian portfolio has included major office, hospitality, and logistics assets. GTIS developed São Paulo's Infinity Tower and sold its 62 percent stake in 2022. It acquired and developed the site of Palácio Tangará, a luxury hotel that opened in 2017 in partnership with the Oetker hotel group, and acquired Brazil Hospitality Group in 2015. The company has also participated in large residential developments in Miami with Related Group, including Viceroy Residences and Baccarat Residences in Brickell. Since 2021, GTIS has expanded its use of Qualified Opportunity Zone funds and related tax-incentive structures to invest in underserved U.S. communities. Its opportunity-zone activities have covered residential, commercial, and industrial projects. The firm is headquartered in New York City and has maintained offices or operating teams in several U.S. cities, São Paulo, and Munich. Reference material reported approximately $4.7 billion in gross assets under management as of September 2025, but that figure is time-specific and subject to change.
History
GTIS Partners was established in 2005 by Tom Shapiro after his work at Tishman Speyer. From its New York base, the firm developed a private real estate investment model centered on acquiring, developing, and managing assets through direct investments and institutional partnerships. Its geographic reach came to include the United States and Brazil, with offices and personnel in several U.S. markets, São Paulo, and Munich. The global financial crisis became an important inflection point. After 2008, GTIS emphasized residential opportunities, purchasing condominiums, development land, homebuilding assets, and single-family rental homes. The firm assembled a large rental-home portfolio across U.S. markets and exited those investments in 2021. It then shifted toward purpose-built rental housing, seeking to develop communities designed from inception for long-term rental occupancy rather than converting existing for-sale housing. GTIS's residential strategy was implemented through partnerships as well as wholly controlled initiatives. Its joint venture with Hovnanian Enterprises began in 2010 and expanded into a broad portfolio of homebuilding communities. In 2017, GTIS formed a residential housing partnership with CalSTRS to pursue homebuilding, land subdivision, and master-planned community investments. The relationship received additional capital in 2020. GTIS later created Tavalo in 2023 as a specialized build-to-rent development company, building on communities such as Tavalo Cadence in Mesa, Arizona, and Tavalo Tradition in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The firm diversified beyond housing into logistics and industrial property. Its U.S. investments have included distribution-oriented land and buildings near major airports and logistics corridors. In Brazil, GTIS created a listed real estate investment fund in 2021 backed by São Paulo-area logistics assets. It subsequently delivered Distribution Center Cajamar, a large modular warehouse complex with rooftop solar capacity. Brazil has also been a significant market for office and hospitality projects. GTIS developed Infinity Tower in São Paulo, which began operations in 2012, and sold its controlling stake in 2022. The firm acquired the site for Palácio Tangará in 2013 and developed the luxury hotel, which opened in 2017 within Burle Marx Park and became part of Oetker Hotels. In 2015, GTIS acquired Brazil Hospitality Group, then a major Brazilian hotel operator. From 2021 onward, the firm expanded investment in Qualified Opportunity Zones, using dedicated funds and tax incentives to support projects in underserved communities. The program covered residential, commercial, and industrial developments and became a notable part of GTIS's U.S. investment strategy. The firm also pursued large urban residential projects in Miami with Related Group, including Viceroy Residences and Baccarat Residences in Brickell. By the mid-2020s, GTIS's portfolio therefore spanned residential development, rental housing, logistics, office, hospitality, and community-oriented investment programs. Reference material reported $4.7 billion in gross assets under management as of September 2025; this is a dated figure rather than a permanent company statistic.
- 2026
Campus JK announced
[1]GTIS announced a three-building São Paulo office development planned for Avenida Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek.
- 2024
Baccarat Residences breaks ground
[1]GTIS and Related Group began construction of the 355-unit Baccarat Residences in Miami.
- 2024
Tavalo Queen Creek Commons announced
[1]GTIS announced a new Tavalo build-to-rent project in metropolitan Phoenix.
- 2023
Tavalo launched
[1]GTIS introduced Tavalo as a dedicated build-to-rent community development subsidiary.
- 2023
Viceroy Residences breaks ground
[1]GTIS and Related Group began construction of the 420-unit Viceroy Residences in Miami.
- 2022
Infinity Tower stake sold
[1]GTIS sold its 62 percent stake in São Paulo's Infinity Tower.
- 2022
Opportunity Zone funding round closed
[1]GTIS raised $630 million in the initial funding round for its Qualified Opportunity Zone strategy.
- 2021
Single-family rental strategy exited
[1]GTIS completed its exit from the large single-family rental portfolio it had assembled in U.S. markets.
- 2021
Brazil logistics fund launched
[1]GTIS launched its first Brazil-listed real estate investment fund focused on logistics assets.
- 2017
CalSTRS residential partnership formed
[1]GTIS and CalSTRS began a U.S. residential housing investment partnership.
Products and positioning
A private, opportunistic real estate investment and development platform combining institutional capital, direct property ownership, development expertise, and operating partnerships across residential, industrial, logistics, hospitality, and commercial real estate.
Build-to-rent development platform · 2023
Tavalo
Tavalo is GTIS Partners' dedicated build-to-rent development company, launched in 2023. It develops newly constructed rental communities intended for long-term occupancy, generally using townhome-style or neighborhood-based formats. The platform builds on earlier GTIS communities, including Tavalo Cadence in Mesa, Arizona, and Tavalo Tradition in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Its Phoenix-area portfolio includes more than 1,100 reported units across multiple investments.
Luxury hotel · 2017
Palácio Tangará
Palácio Tangará is a luxury hotel developed by GTIS in São Paulo on a site overlooking Burle Marx Park. GTIS acquired the site in 2013, developed the hotel, and opened it in 2017. The property became part of Oetker Hotels and is positioned as a high-end hospitality destination integrated with a large landscaped and rainforest environment.
Logistics and industrial real estate · 2022
Distribution Center Cajamar
Distribution Center Cajamar is a GTIS-developed logistics facility in Cajamar, in the São Paulo metropolitan area. Delivered in 2022, the complex provides approximately 1.5 million square feet of leasable modular warehouse space and includes a rooftop solar installation with reported generating capacity of 2.5 megawatts.
Office real estate · 2012
Infinity Tower
Infinity Tower is a São Paulo office development in the Faria Lima area. The building began operations in 2012. GTIS later sold its 62 percent stake in 2022, making the asset an example of the firm's development-and-realization model in Brazil.
Residential development · 2023
Viceroy Residences
Viceroy Residences is a 420-unit Miami residential development created through a GTIS Partners and Related Group collaboration on a four-acre Brickell site. Construction began in 2023. The project forms part of a larger paired residential development with reported combined sellout exceeding $1.6 billion.
Residential development · 2024
Baccarat Residences
Baccarat Residences is a 355-unit Miami residential development developed by GTIS Partners with Related Group. Construction began in 2024, supported by project financing from Bank OZK. It shares a Brickell site and broader development context with Viceroy Residences.
Real estate investment fund · 2021
GTIS Brazil Logistics Real Estate Investment Fund
This Brazil-listed real estate investment fund was launched by GTIS in 2021 to hold logistics assets in the São Paulo metropolitan area. The initial acquisition was reported at $248 million, financed through a combination of equity and Brazilian real estate receivables certificates.
Office development · 2026
Campus JK
Campus JK is a planned São Paulo commercial development announced in 2026. The scheme comprises three office buildings totaling more than 100,000 square meters on Avenida Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek. Santander Brazil was reported as the expected future occupant of the entire development, with a projected move in the second half of 2028.
Brand decisions
2023
Tavalo build-to-rent platform launchedProduct launchBackground
GTIS had already completed an initial build-to-rent community and wanted a dedicated platform for purpose-built rental housing.
Action taken
The firm launched Tavalo as a GTIS subsidiary focused on developing build-to-rent communities.
Aftermath
Tavalo expanded its project pipeline in Arizona and Florida, including Queen Creek Commons in the Phoenix area.
2022
Sale of Infinity Tower stakeOtherBackground
After developing and operating the São Paulo office asset, GTIS pursued a realization of its investment.
Action taken
GTIS sold its 62 percent stake in Infinity Tower.
Aftermath
The transaction was described as the largest single-asset property sale in Brazil at the time of the reference material.
Reported sale value for sold portion. $172 million (May 2022)
2021
Expansion of Qualified Opportunity Zone investingStrategyBackground
GTIS sought to use Qualified Opportunity Zone structures and associated tax incentives to invest in underserved communities.
Action taken
The firm established and raised capital for opportunity-zone funds covering residential, commercial, and industrial development.
Aftermath
Reference material reported more than $1.5 billion of cumulative opportunity-zone investment and described a subsequent framework intended to take effect in 2027.
2021
Launch of Brazil logistics real estate fundOtherBackground
GTIS sought a listed Brazilian structure for investing in logistics properties around São Paulo.
Action taken
The firm launched the GTIS Brazil Logistics Real Estate Investment Fund and acquired reported logistics assets valued at $248 million.
Aftermath
The fund became part of GTIS's Brazilian industrial and logistics platform.
Initial logistics asset acquisition value. $248 million (2021)
2008
Shift toward residential and opportunistic assets after the financial crisisStrategyBackground
Following the 2008 financial crisis, GTIS identified residential assets, land, condominiums, homebuilding opportunities, and single-family rentals as important investment areas.
Action taken
The firm acquired residential and rental-home assets across U.S. markets and later used that experience to build a purpose-built rental housing strategy.
Aftermath
GTIS ultimately exited its single-family rental portfolio in 2021 and increasingly focused on newly constructed build-to-rent communities.
Recent events
Reported
GTIS Brazil Real Estate Fund I ranked South America's most sustainable private equity real estate fund[2]
GTIS announced that the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark recognized GTIS Brazil Real Estate Fund I as 2021's most sustainable private equity real estate investment fund in South America. GTIS Brazil Real Estate Funds III and II placed second and third, respectively.
Sources2 sources
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