How Nate Fisher Transformed Troubled Properties Into Thriving Affordable Housing Communities

Why this episode matters

Affordable housing is often framed as an impossible challenge: endless waitlists, crumbling properties, and regulations that discourage landlords. But in this powerful conversation on the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast with Kent Fai He, developer Nate Fisher, founder of Peak Ten Group and Protective Thermal Solutions, shares exactly how his family built, operated, and transformed over 900 affordable housing units in Ohio.

Nate’s story spans three generations. His parents were buying doubles near Ohio State University in the 1960s. By the late 1980s, the family was taking on 200-unit complexes with only 10% occupancy, drug activity on site, and broken windows everywhere. Today, his companies continue that legacy by stabilizing neighborhoods and proving affordable housing can be both sustainable and impactful.

This episode is essential listening for affordable housing investors, developers, and community advocates who want to learn how to navigate Section 8, build trust with inspectors and lenders, and truly uplift entire neighborhoods.

What lessons can affordable housing investors learn from Nate Fisher’s family legacy?

Nate Fisher grew up inside affordable housing. From riding in his father’s maintenance truck to eventually managing 900 units across Columbus, Ohio, he saw firsthand the daily grind, the risks, and the rewards of keeping families stably housed.

• His family treated real estate as both a business and a calling.
  
  

• They turned properties others wanted to demolish into stable, safe communities.
  
  

• Their investments didn’t just house tenants — they raised property values and created ripple effects across neighborhoods.
  
  

As Nate says, “If you can be the most stable force in someone’s life, you’ve just given them the foundation to succeed.”

How do landlords use Section 8 and vouchers to stabilize communities?

When Nate’s family bought properties with single-digit occupancy, Section 8 vouchers were the lifeline. They guaranteed rent at a time when banks and investors had lost confidence.

Yet, as he points out, working with vouchers isn’t simple:

• Units can fail inspection over something as small as a loose exterior cable.
  
  

• Inspectors often treat new landlords with suspicion until trust is built.
  
  

• Success requires constant communication, transparency, and follow-through.
  
  

Nate’s strategy: educate inspectors and invite them to see the improvements being made, rather than hiding from oversight. Over time, his properties developed reputations for quality that made inspections smoother.

How do creative financing and partnerships make the impossible possible?

One of Nate’s most striking stories is the 200-unit complex with a sign out front that literally read “Stop Crack Sold Here.”

Nate Fisher »»» How to improve …

No bank wanted it back. No city official wanted the liability. His family negotiated a deal where the seller and bank provided $600,000 in rehab funding just to get the property off their books. They also partnered with local health agencies that needed housing for women recovering from addiction.

This creative blend of seller financing, rehab money, and nonprofit partnerships allowed them to:

• Eliminate drug activity.
  
  

• Restore safety for families.
  
  

• Save the city from bulldozing yet another affordable complex.
  
  

What mistakes did Nate Fisher’s family make along the way?

Even successful operators face setbacks. Nate is candid about the lessons learned:

• Weak screening processes led to 15 evictions a month across the portfolio. By tightening qualifications, they reduced it to 1 eviction across 900 units.
  
  

• Letting staff over-advocate for tenants sometimes created cycles of unpaid rent and constant turnover.
  
  

• Scaling without discipline can tempt landlords to cut corners — but stability comes from keeping standards high even in rough markets.
  
  

These lessons underscore that affordable housing is not passive income — it’s active, disciplined management.

How can affordable housing truly improve entire neighborhoods?

Nate emphasizes curb appeal as the first step to neighborhood transformation. His family often spent heavily on landscaping, parking lots, and exteriors — even before interiors were fully modernized.

The result:

• Residents took pride in their homes.
  
  

• Neighboring landlords started upgrading their properties.
  
  

• Police activity dropped dramatically as stability returned.
  
  

These ripple effects turned once-blighted blocks into desirable communities where families thrived and homeownership demand returned.

Key Insights from Nate Fisher

• Relationships drive everything: With inspectors, lenders, nonprofits, and tenants.
  
  

• Affordable housing is a long grind: Success looks like a hockey stick curve — slow, painful growth until momentum kicks in.
  
  

• Set the standard, don’t follow it: Lead with higher-quality improvements, and neighborhoods will rise around you.
  
  

• Vouchers are powerful, but messy: Success requires patience, transparency, and a commitment to delivering on promises.
  
  

Best Quotes from Nate Fisher

“We were turnaround artists. We stabilized entire neighborhoods building by building.”

“If you can give someone a safe, affordable place to live, you’ve just taken the biggest worry out of their life.”

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t need to know it all — find mentors who’ve already made the mistakes.”

“It’s not easy navigating the voucher system. But if you stick with it, you can change lives and communities.”

Common Questions This Episode Answers

Why is affordable housing so hard to solve?
Because it’s a supply and demand issue. There aren’t enough units, and bureaucracy makes it harder for landlords to provide housing quickly.

How do landlords work with inspectors on Section 8 units?
By building trust, showing real improvements, and treating inspectors as partners rather than adversaries.

What financing options exist for distressed affordable housing properties?
Creative deals with banks, seller financing, and rehab loans — often tied to partnerships with local nonprofits — can unlock opportunities.

What’s the biggest mistake affordable housing investors make?
Failing to screen tenants properly. Evictions are costly for landlords and destabilizing for communities.

Can affordable housing improve entire neighborhoods?
Yes. Strong curb appeal, consistent standards, and stable operations create ripple effects that lift property values and reduce crime.

Kent Fai He is an affordable housing developer and the host of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, recognized as the best podcast on affordable housing investments. His mission is to provide everyday investors with the tools, knowledge, and connections to build wealth while solving America’s housing crisis.

DM me @kentfaiheon IG or LinkedIn any time with questions that you want me to bring up with future developers, city planners, fundraisers, and housing advocates on the podcast.