Donald Bernards, partner in the real estate group with Baker Tilly, has been active in many aspects of affordable housing since 1999. He is well versed in structuring affordable housing transactions, including the tax issues. Don is adept at creating a checklist of major issues for each project that can put a deal at risk. Immersed in the affordable housing practice, Don has a wide range of experience with projects, owners and investors and has built a wide network of contacts within the field. His enthusiasm and passion for the industry are infectious. “It’s not just about numbers,” he says, “it’s about the end product and growing capacity.” Don has worked on affordable housing transactions in twenty-six states.

Donald Bernards, partner in the real estate group with Baker Tilly, has been active in many aspects of affordable housing since 1999. He is well versed in structuring affordable housing transactions, including the tax issues. 

Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting
University of Wisconsin – Madison

Manages a portfolio of clients with the affordable housing  industry utilizing various programs including Section 42, Section 8,  Section 236, and Section 515

Provides financial modeling for acquisition/rehabilitation and new construction tax credit deals

Part  of HUD technical assistance team providing Rental Assistance  Demonstration (RAD) technical assistance nationwide to housing  authorities through one-on-one training as well as presenting at  educational conferences and seminars

Consults on various 4 percent and 9 percent deals that have a RAD award and are working toward closing

Assists  in the preparation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)  applications and applications for soft sources of financing, including  HOME, Affordable Housing Program (AHP), and Community Development Block  Grants (CDBG)

Determines optimal historic tax credit transaction  structure, works with attorneys to ensure structure abides by safe  harbor guidelines, and advised on maximizing qualified rehabilitation  expenditures (QREs)

Assists with obtaining debt for various  types of affordable housing, including taxable and various tax-exempt  debt totaling more than $350 million over the past five years

Provides assistance with portfolio acquisition and disposition strategies and implementation

In  the past five years, assisted in raising and closing more than $500  million in equity for LIHTC, historic tax credit, and New Markets Tax  Credit (NMTC) projects

Reviews budgets and performs financial analysis on assisted living projects

Assists with cost segregation studies for affordable housing properties

Involved in many tax aspects of a project, from transaction structuring to planning and preparation

Reviews 10 percent tests and cost certifications

Clients  include developers that are not-for-profit, Public Housing Agencies,  Tribal Housing Entities and for-profits, as well as tax credit investors

Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants (WICPA)

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

American  Bar Association -- Member Forum on Affordable Housing & Community  Development Law; also, Tax Credits and Equity Financing Committee

Tax Credit Advisory Board Member for State Housing Finance Agency

Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition – Member of State Housing Tax Credit Group

Frequent  speaker at regional and national conferences on affordable housing  issues, including Affordable Housing Finance, National Housing &  Rehabilitation Association, National Association of Housing and  Redevelopment Officials, HUD, Iowa Finance Agency, Minnesota Housing  Finance Agency, Illinois Housing Development Authority, Wisconsin  Housing & Economic Development Authority, Michigan State Housing  Development Authority, among others

United Way of Dane County Foundation Board Member

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