At Berkadia, we’re redefining commercial real estate. As our experts merge their local market expertise with our capital strength and deep industry relationships, we provide unmatched resources, innovative technology, and reliable, actionable data, all in a culture that prioritizes collaboration over competition. Our mortgage bankers and investment sales advisors can focus on what really matters: getting deals done — the right way — because they are Backed by the Best.
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Senior Director Amy Gay of Berkadia FHA/HUD. She serves on the mortgage banking platform and is based out of Richmond. Amy has over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate (CRE) and specializes in the green construction certification options for the HUD 221(d)(4) program.
Before joining Berkadia, Amy worked for a nationwide third-party assessment firm that specialized in HUD, and before that a local civil engineering firm. Her move to Berkadia in 2016 was influenced significantly by her mentor, David Blake, Senior Managing Director of Berkadia FHA/HUD, who she had known for over a decade. While at her old company, Berkadia was a client and she had the unique perspective of seeing how a lot of different MAP Lenders operated, and Berkadia was by far the best. This ultimately led her to pursue an opportunity to work with David at Berkadia.
As a mortgage banker for FHA/HUD, Amy is passionate about all things FHA/HUD.
“Helping a first-time borrower through the HUD 221(d)(4) process has been the most rewarding part of my job. I love solving challenges and new construction deals with HUD. It always presents an opportunity to learn more about the program and development overall.”
Amy believes Berkadia’s construction servicing group is unparalleled in the industry, with the entire team being as committed to excellent customer service as she is. The group is knowledgeable and has great relationships with HUD that ensures any hiccups during construction are addressed and resolved.
Berkadia’s investment in technology is particularly evident in our partnership with Rabbet Software. Rabbet streamlines the project budget, documentation, and compliance reporting needed for a new construction project. It is easy to navigate for all users with each deal having a dashboard so you can quickly see project status and any priority items needed.
“Berkadia’s investment in technology is amazing! I regularly use our proprietary data tools when speaking with clients. They help me learn more about any market or prospective client and refines my pitch to help gather insights to share with clients.”
Amy’s long track record of success is rooted in her exceptional deal management and customer service skills, as seen in a recent Berkadia case study featuring The Babcock. The extended timeline of the HUD 221(d)(4) program allows her ample opportunity to cultivate and maintain strong client relationships. She approaches each deal with the utmost care and attention, nurturing it from the very beginning of the process.
While she has developed key skills that distinguish her in the industry, external factors can impact her business. These include government shutdowns, rising interest rates, and global pandemics that disrupt supply chains—challenges that are unexpected and beyond her control during new construction deals. Despite the difficulty of navigating these issues, she focuses on finding solutions within her control, rather than merely identifying problems everyone is experiencing.
What drew Amy to Berkadia was the culture. Berkadia’s culture is sincere in its pursuit of always being better than the day before. Amy has seen first-hand that the company as a whole really practices what they preach, and she feels that with every interaction she has with her colleagues. Since joining in 2016, Amy has only seen the culture evolve into a more inclusive and caring culture every year.
“Berkadia’s dedication to supporting each individual’s growth by offering continued education on multiple subjects is so nurturing. I am limited only by the time I have rather than by the resources provided to me.”
Amy exemplifies the expertise and dedication that Berkadia prides itself on. Her deep understanding of mortgage banking, and the FHA/HUD processes, combined with her core values and client centric views, underscores Berkadia’s commitment to excellence.