Carolyn Whatley is a 40-year veteran of the industry who has closed over $1 billion in loans across 43 different states. At Berkadia, Whatley specializes in FHA/HUD multifamily lending and has spent over 25 years originating transactions for market-rate, workforce, and affordable housing.

She is particularly proud of her work on three highly complex affordable housing transactions that totaled over $170 million in costs. These deals, which often involved six or more sources of debt within public-private partnerships, will ultimately provide 578 units of housing for families and seniors.

Whatley often begins working with clients early in the development phase to ensure their capital structures fit within rigid HUD requirements. Her deep expertise has made her a recognized leader among her peers, having served as a past president of the Southeast Mortgagee Advisory Council (SMAC).

Through SMAC, Whatley has worked directly with HUD offices and lenders to educate the industry and improve regional lending processes. She is also an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association, NMHC, and multiple CREW chapters in Florida.

Whatley's career-long dedication to the "affordable" sector highlights her commitment to the social impact of real estate, and she finds personal reward in seeing residents move into new homes that her financing efforts helped make a reality.