Roper is a REIT specialist at Capital Square, where he focuses on the strategic growth of the firm’s REIT platform through Section 721 exchanges, commonly known as UPREIT transactions. His work sits at the intersection of structure, relationships, and long-term planning. That focus did not appear overnight. It was built through experience, observation, and a willingness to start where the work was most visible.

Early Exposure to How Real Estate Shapes Communities

Roper grew up in Richmond, Virginia, surrounded by real estate conversations. His family history includes local business ownership, civic leadership, and apartment development. But what stood out to him was not just the scale of projects. It was the ripple effect they created.

“Real estate touches everything,” Roper says. “Jobs, neighborhoods, families. You see how one decision can have long-term consequences.”

That awareness influenced how he thought about work from an early age. Success, to him, was never just about numbers.

“It’s not about what you make,” he says. “It’s about what you keep. Financial freedom and personal happiness have to exist together.”

Learning the Business From the Inside Out

Roper’s professional path began on-site. At RangeWater Real Estate, then known as Matrix Residential, he worked in apartment leasing at American Tobacco Center in Richmond. It was a role that demanded constant interaction and quick problem-solving.

“You’re dealing with real people every day,” he says. “You learn fast what motivates them and what doesn’t.”

That experience laid the foundation for his next steps. He moved into a special projects role for the Richmond market, where he gained exposure to broader operational and strategic challenges. When the pandemic disrupted the industry, Roper was deeply involved in efforts to maintain occupancy and stability.

“That period forced everyone to be practical,” he says. “You couldn’t rely on theory. You had to execute.”

Innovation, Growth, and Organizational Friction

Following that period, Roper joined RangeWater’s innovation department and relocated to Atlanta to help lead initiatives during a time of rapid expansion. The company grew quickly, and Roper gained a firsthand view of what scaling looks like from the inside.

“Growth is exciting,” he says. “But it also tests systems and leadership.”

The experience sharpened his understanding of how structure, talent, and decision-making impact outcomes. It also helped clarify where he wanted to focus next.

“I knew I wanted to be closer to the deal side,” he says. “Closer to the decisions owners were making.”

Specializing in Complex Deal Structures

That shift led Roper to Bonaventure, where he moved into business development. There, he focused on sourcing apartment transactions and working with owners exploring alternatives to traditional sales.

Much of that work involved UPREIT transactions and other structured solutions. Roper spent time explaining how these approaches worked and when they made sense.

“For many owners, it’s about optionality,” he says. “They’re not looking for a one-size-fits-all outcome.”

The role required patience and credibility. Conversations often stretched over months, not weeks.

“You have to listen first,” Roper says. “People don’t care how much you know until they trust why you’re there.”

Strategic Growth at Capital Square

Roper eventually joined Capital Square, where he now focuses on strategic growth initiatives for the firm’s REIT. His work centers on engaging developers and owners interested in contributing property through Section 721 exchanges.

“These structures aren’t always familiar,” he says. “Education is a big part of the process.”

That work comes at a moment of major expansion for the firm. Capital Square recently announced that 2025 was the most active year in its history, surpassing $1 billion in dispositions and completing a record number of UPREIT transactions alongside significant opportunity zone development deliveries.

During the year, Capital Square Housing Trust nearly doubled its gross asset value and executed five UPREIT acquisitions — including both DST-to-UPREIT and unaffiliated whole-property contributions.

For Roper, the scale is important, but so is what it represents.

“It shows that these aren’t theoretical strategies,” he says. “They’re real solutions owners are using to transition thoughtfully, defer taxes, and stay invested for the long term.”

Roper approaches that responsibility methodically. He prioritizes clarity, alignment, and realistic expectations. His background across operations, innovation, and business development gives him a broad lens.

“You have to understand how people think,” he says. “And how decisions feel from their side of the table.”

Applying Big Ideas Without the Hype

Ben Roper describes himself as someone who values ideas that can be implemented, not just discussed.

“I like concepts that hold up in practice,” he says. “If it doesn’t work in the real world, it doesn’t help anyone.”

That mindset has shaped his career choices and his reputation. He is known for being direct, prepared, and focused on outcomes that make sense over time.

Outside of work, Roper enjoys waterskiing and boating. He is also an Eagle Scout, an experience he credits with reinforcing discipline and long-term thinking.

A Career Built One Step at a Time

Looking back, Roper sees his career less as a series of leaps and more as a sequence of deliberate steps.

“Each role taught me something different,” he says. “And each one prepared me for the next.”

For Ben Roper, progress has come from understanding structure, respecting relationships, and keeping the long view firmly in focus.