Walker & Dunlop Bolsters Texas Multifamily Lending with Veteran Leader Mike Bryant

Walker & Dunlop, a leading commercial real estate finance firm, has made a strategic move to deepen its foothold in Texas by hiring Mike Bryant, a 40-year industry veteran with deep expertise in multifamily finance. The appointment underscores the firm’s confidence in the Lone Star State’s growth trajectory, particularly in North Texas, where multifamily demand is surging. Bryant’s arrival positions Walker & Dunlop to capitalize on one of the nation’s most dynamic markets, leveraging his relationships, technical prowess, and decades of experience.

The Mike Bryant Factor
Bryant arrives at Walker & Dunlop as a Senior Managing Director, tasked with expanding the firm’s multifamily lending operations in Dallas. His résumé includes 13 years as Vice Chairman of CBRE’s Dallas Debt and Structured Finance division, where he originated over $10 billion in loans across asset classes. His command of GSE platforms (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac), life insurance company financing, CMBS, and alternative capital sources makes him uniquely suited to navigate Texas’s competitive lending landscape.

Bryant’s tenure on Freddie Mac’s Independent Advisory Council and roles at Berkadia and Capmark further signal his credibility in institutional capital channels—a critical edge for Walker & Dunlop as it competes for share in a market where multifamily properties absorbed 26,000 units in 2024 alone.

Why Texas, Why Now?
Dallas-Fort Worth is a poster child for U.S. economic momentum. Since 2020, the region has added 64,000 jobs—a 9.24% population growth rate that far exceeds the national average of 2.6%. With 49 Fortune 1000 company headquarters and a pro-business environment, Texas’s multifamily sector is primed for sustained growth. Capital markets activity has already followed: Dallas ranked first nationally in multifamily transaction volume in 2024, driven by strong rent growth and low vacancy rates.

For Walker & Dunlop, this is a natural play. The firm already originated $30 billion in debt financing in 2024, including $25 billion for multifamily properties. Yet Texas represents untapped upside. Bryant’s hiring signals an ambition to dominate the state’s affordable housing and HUD financing sectors, areas where his expertise is unmatched.

Strategic Implications
The move aligns with Walker & Dunlop’s broader growth strategy. By pairing Bryant’s local knowledge with its national scale, the firm can offer borrowers a seamless blend of institutional capital access and hyperlocal insight. This could prove decisive in a market where lenders must navigate tight credit conditions and shifting investor preferences.

Bryant’s arrival also strengthens the firm’s go-to-market capabilities in affordable housing—a sector gaining policy tailwinds. Texas’s housing affordability crisis, exacerbated by population growth, creates demand for projects that qualify for HUD financing, a niche Bryant has mastered.

Conclusion
Walker & Dunlop’s bet on Mike Bryant is a masterstroke in a market that’s both critical and competitive. With Dallas-Fort Worth’s population and job growth outpacing the nation, and multifamily demand at record highs, Bryant’s experience in unlocking diverse capital sources positions the firm to capture a larger slice of the $100+ billion Texas multifamily market.

The data backs this move: in 2024, Walker & Dunlop’s multifamily originations grew by 18% year-over-year, outpacing industry averages. With Bryant’s expertise and Texas’s fundamentals, this trend could accelerate. For investors, the stock’s performance—up 22% since Q1 2023—suggests markets already price in this upside. Yet as Dallas’s capital volume climbs and affordable housing needs grow, Walker & Dunlop’s Texas play could deliver outsized returns. In a sector where local know-how meets national scale, Bryant’s hire is more than a hire—it’s a blueprint for dominance.