Lara Schwager

Lara Schwager is the founding principal of LJS Consulting and Development, a boutique real estate advisory firm and a certified woman-owned business enterprise (WBE). Established in December, 2023, LJS Consulting and Development deploys an integrated-platform approach for assisting organizations in the effective and efficient management of corporate growth, succession planning, business alignment and overall organizational performance throughout every facet of residential real estate. A specialist in the development of affordable and mixed-income housing, Ms. Schwager is also actively involved in the development and delivery of accessible and inclusionary housing for all as a springboard for sustainable community regeneration across New Jersey’s suburban and urban markets.

Prior to creating LJS Consulting and Development, Ms. Schwager served as Executive Vice President of Development and Acquisitions for a nationally recognized real estate development, ownership and property management firm specializing in affordable and workforce housing across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. In this role, she spearheaded the company’s full scope of development activities and was involved with corporate strategy and operations. In addition, she was a member of the executive leadership team tasked with formulating the corporate strategic vision and implementing a five-year plan while overseeing new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation ventures within the company’s existing footprint as well as targeted geographic-growth submarkets along the East Coast.

During the past 15 years, Ms. Schwager has overseen the development pipeline of over $2.5B in new-construction activities focused on creating opportunities for families and seniors on fixed incomes to live in high quality, environmentally conscious and sustainable affordable housing. Her record of accomplishment involves the integration of real estate development, construction, finance, asset management, and marketing disciplines to enhance the corporate working environment while striving for enhanced company engagement, collaboration and performance.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina – Charlotte with a B.A. in Architecture, Ms. Schwager earned her M.B.A. from Rider University. In addition to being on the executive board for the Women’s Affordable Housing Network, she is a current member of the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) where she created and is a past chair of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Council, a past executive committee member and serves as a member of the Legislative Committee. Ms. Schwager is also a board member for the association’s South Jersey Chapter. A sought after guest speaker, she is regularly featured at the NJBA’s Annual Conference and other industry events such as the New York State Association for Affordable Housing.