Chicago-based Draper and Kramer, Incorporated has named Jeffrey Ross as senior vice president and chief underwriter for Federal Housing Administration/Housing and Urban Development financing in the firm’s commercial finance group. A 30-year veteran of the commercial real estate industry, Ross will be responsible for FHA/HUD loans for third-party clients acquiring multifamily, senior housing and healthcare properties, as well as Draper and Kramer’s own multifamily acquisitions and developments.
“In this unprecedented and complex time for commercial lending, I am thrilled that an executive of Ross’ caliber is joining Draper and Kramer,” said Bill Barry, senior vice president with Draper and Kramer’s commercial finance group. “His knowledge of government-insured lending programs and strategic insights will help us continue our firm’s decades-long tradition of leadership in FHA lending.”
Before joining Draper and Kramer, Ross was senior vice president and chief FHA underwriter for Arbor Realty Trust and director of FHA screening with Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital. Earlier, he was chief operating officer and chief underwriter for Great Lakes Financial Group, a commercial lender that specializes in FHA and Freddie Mac financing. He has also previously served as finance director for the Jacobs Group and as manager for EY.
Draper and Kramer has been an FHA-approved lender since 1937 and, through its multifamily portfolio, is also an FHA borrower. Over the past decade, the firm’s commercial finance group has closed more than $3 billion in loans annually, including FHA/HUD and other financing, for the construction, substantial rehabilitation, acquisition and refinancing of multifamily apartments and senior living communities.
Ross has a bachelor of science in business administration from John Carroll University and received a master of business administration from Baldwin Wallace University.
