About Us

Rooney Partners is a real estate development services firm providing development and consulting services to not-for-profit and for-profit real estate organizations. Rooney Partners’ primary focus is multifamily housing with a specialty in the development, acquisition, and financing of affordable housing---specifically LIHTC and workforce housing properties.

Founded in 2021 by brothers Mike and James Rooney, Rooney Partners has worked with the region’s largest and well-known development firms on projects for non-profits and for-profit alike; from simple funding Combined Funder’s Applications to the most complex co-GP buyouts of LIHTC partnerships using impact investment funds.

Rooney Partners Principals Mike and James Rooney, with over 45 years of combined experience in the Puget Sound market have participated as an advisor or principal in over $354,000,000 in multifamily transaction (1500 units) and have sourced and/or closed $334,000,000 in capital for affordable housing development projects totaling 1004 units in affordable housing activity. All combined, Rooney Partners principals have participated in nearly $700MM in real estate development and transaction activity totaling over 2500 apartment units.

Meet the Team

Mike Rooney

Founder, Managing Partner

Mike Rooney is founder and Managing Partner of Rooney Partners, a real estate development firm specializing in the acquisition and development of LIHTC and workforce housing projects in the Puget sound region. Since its formation in 2021, Rooney Partners has closed over $168M in affordable workforce housing projects totaling 592 units and is currently working with two local nonprofits on LIHTC and workforce projects totaling over $200M.

Prior to founding Rooney Partners, Mike served as Executive Director of Mt. Baker Housing (MBH). Over his 13-year tenure at MBH, Mike grew the organization from one employee to a team of sixteen people, nearly tripled the real estate portfolio by completing multiple apartment acquisitions and expanded the development pipeline to 1200 units of LIHTC affordable housing totaling over a half a billion dollars in total development cost.

Mike closed the 156 Unit Mt. Baker Village LIHTC project, The 207 Unit Maddux LIHTC project, and the 221-unit Grand Street Commons LIHTC project and secured financing and entitlements for the 214-unit Via 7 LIHTC project, while also acquiring and planning the 200+ unit Thunderbird LIHTC (potential) project, and the 200+ unit Trenton LIHTC (potential) project. In addition to the projects listed, Mike led the acquisition/rehab efforts in six additional projects totaling 199 units.

Under Mike’s leadership, MBH was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of the area’s top companies to work for in western Washington and received two national awards from Affordable Housing Finance as the best preservation project, as well as a Novogradac as a Project of Distinction.

James Rooney

Partner

James has been in the real estate industry for over 20 years, bringing experience in real estate development, specifically affordable housing, property acquisitions, and both property and asset management.

Prior to Rooney Partners, James spent six years working in real estate trust department for both Columbia Bank and Bank of America. During his tenure, James oversaw a commercial real estate portfolio valued at over $350,000,0000, consisting of office and investment properties, data centers, and distribution facilities.

Prior to Columbia Bank, James spent four years in affordable housing development, most notably as development manager at King County Housing Authority for Greenbridge and Seola Gardens where he disposed of over 20 acres of land to for- profit builders and led the finance and development of 150 market rate lots and 15 affordable for sale homes at Greenbridge. In addition to KCHA, James worked at Brawner & Company, one of the premier affordable housing development consultants for Housing Authorities on the West Coast.