Housing finance · Development · Education
Making housing pencil out.
Principal of Acosta Development, a consulting practice focused on financial feasibility, gap financing, subsidy programs and project finance for housing, economic development and construction clients. Based in Midland, Michigan; working statewide and nationally.
Core expertise
Experience
Developer, consultant, teacher.
2015 – Present
Acosta Development · Midland, MI
Principal
- Operating partner on real estate development projects and owner's representative for property owners and institutions.
- Consult on neighborhood housing and financial feasibility for municipalities, nonprofits, developers and financial institutions across Michigan and nationally.
- Secured financing, permits and delivery for $45M+ in downtown redevelopment.
2023 – Present
Midland Business Alliance · Midland, MI
Lead Consultant, Housing Forward
- Direct a five-pillar attainable housing initiative for Midland County with the Midland Economic Development Team.
- Lead the Region G Housing Partnership under contract with MSHDA.
- Briefed congressional staff on housing policy in Washington, DC alongside Smart Growth America.
- Convene lenders, foundations and CDFIs to expand financing pathways for workforce housing.
2026 – Present
deallab.jeniferacosta.com
Founder & Creator, Deal Lab
- Built and launched a web-based housing finance app for modeling deals, testing capital stacks and understanding funding gaps.
2018 – Present
Incremental Development Alliance
Senior Faculty & Board Member
- Lead trainings on small-scale investment, neighborhood-scale housing and commercial buildings across the US and Canada.
- Created trainings for elected officials and urban planners; coach emerging developers from first deal through delivery.
2024 – 2025
Renovare Development · Ypsilanti, MI
Vice President of Real Estate Development
- Financed housing projects statewide, securing $20M in project grant funding.
- Led incentive applications including HOME, Missing Middle Housing, Community Revitalization Program and New Markets Tax Credits.
Development portfolio
Buildings with a past, built for what comes next.
Water Street Lofts
$20MWorkforce housing with one commercial space. Project finance and creation of the Housing TIF plan.
The Legacy (Crapo Building)
$12MMixed-use adaptive reuse: 26 apartments, 2 offices and a restaurant. Governor's Award for Historic Preservation.
The Times Lofts
$7.9MA vacant 115-year-old newspaper building turned into 31 lofts. Economic development and historic tax credit awards.
Wenonah Park Pavilion
$1.8MArts and entertainment venue for the State Theatre of Bay City.
The Davidson
$1.3MRehabilitation of a 40-unit commercial building.
Westwood Village
10 condosFor-sale condos rehabilitated after the 2020 flood, the first condos in Midland. Managed design, construction, financing and sales.
Drift
Tactical urbanismShoreside beer garden and food truck park.
New in 2026 · Deal Lab
Model the deal before you make the deal.
A web-based housing finance tool for civic leaders and emerging developers. Model deals, test capital stacks and see exactly where the funding gaps are.
Try Deal LabCredentials
Education, service and recognition.
Education & certifications
- Graduate Certificate, Real Estate Development, New York University
- M.A., International Administration & Sustainable Development, University of Miami
- B.A., Sociology, Southern Illinois University
- Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP), Grow America
- CNU-A, Congress for the New Urbanism
- Graduate, ULI Larson Leadership Institute
- Real Estate Sales License, State of Michigan
Board service & affiliations
- Midland Center for the Arts, Board Chair (FY24–26)
- Incremental Development Alliance, Board Member
- Michigan Municipal League Foundation, Board Member
- Midland County Land Bank, Board Member
- ULI Michigan Local Product Council, Housing & Community Development Program Chair
- Member, Urban Land Institute and Congress for the New Urbanism
Awards & recognition
- Governor's Award for Historic Preservation, The Legacy (2022)
- MHPN Building Award, The Legacy (2020)
- Good Samaritan Award, Midland Board of Realtors (2023)
- Michigan Downtown Association Economic Development Award, The Times Lofts (2017)
- MHPN Tax Credit Project Award, The Times Lofts (2017)
- Crain's Detroit Michigan Change Makers: Ones to Watch (2017)
- RUBY Award, Great Lakes Bay Region (2017)
Work with me
Have a project that needs to pencil out?
Feasibility studies, gap financing strategy, owner's representation, housing policy work, or training for your community or team. Start with a consultation.
Email jen@jeniferacosta.com
Midland, Michigan
Ways we can work together
- Feasibility & project finance consulting
- Owner's representation
- Housing policy & program design
- Speaking & training
- Developer coaching