An Atlanta-based multi-family real estate specialist has purchased a $154 million portfolio of properties in a deal that makes it one of the largest private apartment owners in the metro area.

Cortland Partners announced Tuesday the move to buy properties in Dallas, Houston and Jacksonville, which will increase the firm’s real estate holdings by 20 percent.

The firm’s chief executive, Steven DeFrancis, said the deal marks the firm’s first foray into Florida and will triple its presence in Texas. Cortland Partners now has more than 10,000 units across the region.

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Trains line the tracks during Tracks of Hope, an event hosted by Norfolk Southern in support of Hope Atlanta, in Forest Park, on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. Norfolk Southern has become a prominent corporate citizen in the metro region, donating millions to charitable causes. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

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Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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