Introduction
Alex Rosso represents for-profit and non-profit developers in the financing and preservation of multifamily housing.
My focus
Multifamily Housing Development
I focus on real estate transactions involving all aspects of multifamily housing development, including acquisition, financing, construction, preservation, and disposition. The projects I work on typically involve mixed financing comprised of equity and debt funding sources. These projects often have affordability components and utilize state and federal low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, and a combination of subordinate debt from federal, state, and local programs. I also work on transactions combining low-income housing tax credits with historic rehabilitation tax credits and new markets tax credits.
HUD and GSE Financing
Many of the transactions I work on involve loans insured by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including construction, acquisition, and refinancing loans utilizing multiple financing structures. I have substantial knowledge and understanding of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance programs, including Sections 207, 221(d)(4), and 232. I also frequently work on transactions with government sponsored enterprise (GSE) financing products, including acquisition, rehabilitation, and refinancing loans to be purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
My transactional practice is focused on projects located in Massachusetts, New York, and the Washington, DC, area.
Regulatory Approvals
I also work with clients to obtain regulatory approvals for projects located across the country, which range from local approvals from city and state agencies to federal approvals from HUD, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. These approvals often relate to the sale of multifamily housing projects or the transfer of ownership interests, including HUD’s Transfer of Physical Asset (TPA) requirements and approvals for the assignment of Section 8 contracts. My regulatory work in Massachusetts often involves approvals under Chapter 40T and Chapter 40B, as well as approvals from MassHousing and EOHLC.
Looking ahead
In response to the increasing demand for affordable housing, many federal, state, and local programs are devoting new resources to housing production and preservation. I look forward to working with clients to find creative and efficient ways to access those resources and to guide them through the closing process.
/Insights
- “Development Opportunities Across Mixed-Income, Workforce & 100% Affordable,“ BISNOW - Boston Affordable Housing Conference, Boston, MA, March 13, 2025
- “GRRP Case Study,” NH&RA Summer Institute, Laguna Niguel, CA, July 16, 2024
- “Getting started: Assessing the market, working with your tax credit agency, and understanding the development process,” IPED's Learn the Basics: Housing Tax Credits 101, Boston, MA, March 21, 2024
- “What’s new with HUD Programs and Funding, including combining with LIHTC,“ Texas Housing Conference 2022, July 25, 2022
- “MAP Guide Update and Lesson Learned from Remote Closings,“ 2022 Forum on Affordable Housing Annual Meeting, May 26, 2022
- “Land Security is Food Security,“ 7th Massachusetts Urban Farming Conference, March 5, 2021
In the news
- Commercial Observer
Tighter Fannie, Freddie underwriting unnerves commercial real estate
Sep 3, 2024This article covers the potential impact of tighter underwriting standards proposed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac amid increased regulatory crackdowns on loan fraud. Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Alex Rosso is quoted in the coverage, noting that the tighter standards could slow down the closing process for Fannie- and Freddie-backed loans.
- Affordable Housing Finance
Nation’s first GRRP deal closes in Massachusetts
May 20, 2024This article features NP for closing the nation’s first Green & Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) transaction for client Wollaston Lutheran Church’s Bauer House senior residences in Quincy, Massachusetts. Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Alex Rosso of Boston and Kathie Soroka of New York City are quoted in the coverage, discussing key details of the transaction and its impact. The NP team representing Bauer House also included AHRE senior counsel Jeff Sacks of Boston and senior paralegal Christine Brosonski of Washington, DC.
- Seniors Housing Business
Nixon Peabody arranges green retrofit financing for Bauer House in Quincy, Massachusetts
May 15, 2024The following article highlights NP for closing the nation’s first Green & Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) transaction for client Wollaston Lutheran Church’s Bauer House senior residences in Quincy, Massachusetts. The NP team representing Bauer House in the transaction included Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Alex Rosso of Boston and Kathie Soroka of New York City, Boston senior counsel Jeff Sacks, and Washington, DC senior paralegal Christine Brosonski.
- Bisnow
This week’s Boston deal sheet
May 13, 2024The following article highlights NP for closing the nation’s first Green & Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) transaction for client Wollaston Lutheran Church’s Bauer House senior residences in Quincy, Massachusetts. The NP team representing Bauer House in the transaction included Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Alex Rosso of Boston and Kathie Soroka of New York City, Boston senior counsel Jeff Sacks, and Washington, DC senior paralegal Christine Brosonski.
- Law360
Nixon Peabody closes green retrofit deal for Massachusetts housing
May 8, 2024This article highlights NP for closing the nation’s first Green & Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) transaction for client Wollaston Lutheran Church’s Bauer House senior residences in Quincy, Massachusetts. Affordable Housing & Real Estate partners Alex Rosso of Boston and Kathie Soroka of New York City, Boston senior counsel Jeff Sacks, and Washington, DC senior paralegal Christine Brosonski are mentioned in the article for representing Bauer House in the transaction, and Kathie is also quoted.
- Bisnow
This week’s Boston deal sheet
May 8, 2023This article highlighting recent real estate deals in the Greater Boston region mentions NP for advising The United Company in the sale of Boston’s Church Park Apartments complex to Brookfield Asset Management. The NP team was led by Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Alex Rosso and included Boston Complex Disputes partner Steve LaRose, Los Angeles Corporate partner Shahzad Malik, Washington, DC Community Development Finance partner Elizabeth Young, Boston Corporate senior counsel Bill Kelly, Washington, DC Corporate associate Brian Kenney, and Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate associate Jason Kim.
- Boston Business Journal
One of Boston’s largest apartment buildings sells for $439 million
May 2, 2023This article mentions NP for advising United Companies in the sale of Boston’s Church Park Apartments complex to Brookfield Asset Management. The NP team was led by Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Alex Rosso and included Boston Complex Disputes partner Steve LaRose, Los Angeles Corporate partner Shahzad Malik, Washington, DC Community Development Finance partner Elizabeth Young, Boston Corporate senior counsel Bill Kelly, Washington, DC Corporate associate Brian Kenney, and Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate associate Jason Kim.
- Affordable Housing Finance
People on the move
This column on notable moves within the affordable housing space spotlights the practices and promotions of Affordable Housing and Real Estate partners Lori Bowman and Matt Carrigg in Rochester, and Alex Rosso and Julie Hancock Stande in Boston as part of the firm’s 2022 new partner class.Feb 17, 2022 - McKnight’s Senior Living
People in the news
This roundup of industry moves and promotions features the elevation of Rochester partners Lori Bowman and Matt Carrigg and Boston partners Alex Rosso and Julie Hancock Stande, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice, as part of NP’s new partner class.Feb 8, 2022 - New York YIMBY
$30 million acquisition of the Johanna Apartments preserves affordable housing Harlem, Manhattan
This article covers Camber Property Group&rsquos latest acquisition of an affordable housing apartment in the New York City neighborhood of Harlem. The deal will extend affordability protections for the maximum 40-year term through a new U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development contract and an agreement with the City of New York. NP is mentioned for the work by New York City partner Aaron Yowell, strategic policy advisor Deborah VanAmerongen, and associate James Allen, and Boston counsel Alexander Rosso, all in the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group, for advising Camber Property.Aug 4, 2021 - Commercial Observer
Silver Street, LIHC spearheading NY affordable housing rehab after $55M buy
New York City Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Joe Lynch is mentioned in this article for representing Silver Street Development in its joint venture partnership with LIHC Investment Group to rehabilitate the Marble Hall Apartments low-income housing development. The deal team also included Washington, D.C. partner Steve Wallace, Boston counsel Alex Rosso, and New York City associate Alex Hohauser, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group.May 10, 2021 - Bloomberg Law
Wake Up Call
This roundup of notable legal industry news and people moves includes Nixon Peabody’s promotion of 12 attorneys to counsel.Feb 17, 2021 - Seniors Housing Business
Nixon Peabody Arranges $48.8M in Financing to Upgrade Two Wollaston Affordable Communities Near Boston
The following article cover NP’s role in securing financing deals for client Wollaston Lutheran Housing, allowing the affordable-housing provider to substantially upgrade two properties in Quincy, MA. Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks led the deal team, which also included Boston associates Ali Walendziak and Alexander Rosso, and Washington, DC counsel Anthony Ruvolo, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group.Oct 6, 2020 - REBusinessOnline
MassHousing Provides $28.9M Loan for Refinancing of Multifamily Asset in Metro Boston
The following article cover NP’s role in securing financing deals for client Wollaston Lutheran Housing, allowing the affordable-housing provider to substantially upgrade two properties in Quincy, MA. Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks led the deal team, which also included Boston associates Ali Walendziak and Alexander Rosso, and Washington, DC counsel Anthony Ruvolo, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group.Oct 5, 2020 - Connect Media CRE
Nixon Peabody Secures $29M Refinancing for Affordable Housing Development in Quincy
The following article cover NP’s role in securing financing deals for client Wollaston Lutheran Housing, allowing the affordable-housing provider to substantially upgrade two properties in Quincy, MA. Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks led the deal team, which also included Boston associates Ali Walendziak and Alexander Rosso, and Washington, DC counsel Anthony Ruvolo, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group.Oct 5, 2020 - Senior Housing News
Transactions & Financings
Nixon Peabody client Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL) was included in this roundup of notable deals for closing on the financing of two Boston-area properties that will help the organization with its post-pandemic future. Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks, and associates Ali Walendziak and Alexander Rosso were mentioned for representing HSL in the Randolph financing. Jeff Sacks and Affordable Housing & Real Estate associate Julie Hancock Stande were noted for representing HSL in the Brookline transaction. All the attorneys are based in Boston.July 22, 2020 - Bisnow
D.C. Opportunity Zone Developer Closes Financing, To Break Ground Soon On 191 Apartments
This article, which mentions NP for representing the developer in the transaction, covers a $50 million financing deal that enables construction of a new 191-unit residential building in Northeast Washington, D.C. The deal team included Washington, D.C. partner Susanna Mitchell, New York City partner Meghan Altidor, and Boston associate Alexander Rosso, all of the Affordable Housing and Real Estate group.April 24, 2020 - Law360
3 Firms Steer $1B Real Estate Portfolio Deals Through Feb.
Boston M&A and corporate transactions partners Linda Ji and Jack Fainberg were noted as representing Chinese companies Cindat Capital Management Ltd. and Union Life Insurance Co. in a joint venture to invest $930 million in a real estate portfolio held by U.S. health care company Welltower Inc. The full deal team included partners Allen Lynch, Colette Dafoe, and Sean Clancy, and associates Dustin Hawks, Julia Walcott, and Alexander Rosso.March 9, 2017
Admitted to practice
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Maryland
Massachusetts
Education
George Washington University Law School, J.D.
Hobart College, B.A.
Professional activities
- Lawyers Clearinghouse, Board Member
- Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association, Production and Preservation Committee
- Urban Farming Institute, Pro bono counsel
- Boston Food Forest Coalition, Pro bono counsel
Recognition
- Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2023 in the field of Real Estate Law.
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllAaron J. Yowell
Partner / Chief Innovation Officer- New York
- Office:+1 212.940.3161
- ayowell@nixonpeabody.com
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