What’s the largest residential properties investor from Illinois?

The experienced thousandinvestors research team has identified that Nuveen Real Estate is the largest residential real estate investor from Illinois, with more than $140B in assets under management.

What is the investment focus of Nuveen Real Estate?

Nuveen Real Estate, a TIAA company, is a top-five global real estate manager with over $140 billion in assets under management. With over 85 years of experience in real estate investing and a team of more than 360 investment professionals in over 30 cities worldwide, Nuveen focuses on delivering diversified income and long-term capital growth. Its multifamily platform targets high-quality residential assets in major U.S. markets, capitalizing on demographic trends and urbanization. Nuveen employs resilient and enhanced strategies to generate robust risk-adjusted returns, integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations to create sustainable value for investors.

Alternative candidates for the AUM-based ranking of residential real estate investors in Illinois

Harrison Street Real Estate Capital is the largest alternative candidate for our ranking. It specializes in alternative real estate sectors driven by strong demographic trends, such as aging populations, increased college enrollments, and a more mobile society. Its multifamily investments focus primarily on student and senior housing (including independent living, assisted living, and memory care) and build-to-rent units. These properties feature short-term leases, providing inflation resilience. Since launching its U.S. Closed-End Fund Strategy in 2006, Harrison Street has invested over $35 billion in nearly 1,000 properties, including over 119,000 student beds, more than 31,000 senior housing units, and approximately 7,400 build-to-rent homes. Their Core Strategy, which began in 2011, manages a $12.3 billion portfolio of stabilized, income-generating properties that emphasize student and senior housing, as well as healthcare-related real estate.

Another major residential real estate investor is Waterton, a real estate investment and property management company that specializes in U.S. multifamily and hospitality properties. Since its founding in 1995, Waterton has employed a value-add investment strategy, managing a diversified portfolio valued at approximately $10 billion across more than 25 markets nationwide. Waterton’s senior management team has over 25 years of experience and serves institutional investors, family offices, and financial institutions. Waterton is committed to sustainable community engagement, operational excellence, and creating great living environments while delivering strong risk-adjusted returns in residential real estate.

Both investors are part of the thousandinvestors database of the largest residential real estate investors from the US.

Image source: Tamara Demir via Unsplash (June 23, 2025)