ATLANTA—Slow and steady reaches a billion. Carroll Organization acquired more than $1 billion worth of multifamily properties across the Southeastern United States in 2013. How did they do it?

“We truly had a breakout year in 2013 in terms of acquisitions, and we're truly pleased to announce this milestone,” says M. Patrick Carroll, founder and CEO of Carroll. “In a very short period of time we have been able to build a top-flight multifamily investment platform that is extremely well capitalized and backed by some of the industry's most prominent private investors.”

Carroll now owns more than 11,000 multifamily units in five states. Most of the multifamily assets are in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. The Atlanta-based firm rebrands all of the multifamily acquisitions with the name “ARIUM” and applies hands-on management.

“Through all the activity, we have kept our focus on acquisitions situated in markets with exceptional fundamentals, excellent job and population growth, and the additional opportunity to increase value through capital improvements and hands-on operations and marketing strategies,” Carroll says. “We have also selectively expanded our management team to accommodate our growing portfolio.”

Carroll completed the acquisition of a number of trophy multifamily assets in 2013, including the largest residential deal competed in Florida during the past year. Carroll acquired The Resort at Pembroke Pines, a 190-building, 84.5-acre residential community in Broward County, FL in a deal reportedly valued at $225 million.

Carroll was especially active in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Houston, and Atlanta in 2013. Says Carroll, “In 2014, we'll continue to seek acquisitions in the Southeast, while also expanding our geographic range to include selected Western markets that show strong economic attributes.”

Carroll completed the acquisition of a number of trophy multifamily assets in 2013, including the largest residential deal competed in Florida during the past year. Carroll acquired The Resort at Pembroke Pines, a 190-building, 84.5-acre residential community in Broward County, FL in a deal reportedly valued at $225 million.

Carroll was especially active in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Houston, and Atlanta in 2013. Says Carroll, “In 2014, we'll continue to seek acquisitions in the Southeast, while also expanding our geographic range to include selected Western markets that show strong economic attributes.”