The Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship—publisher of this newsletter—is a driving force behind the success of the Costello College of Business MS in Real Estate Development Program at George Mason University. The center's impact comes from its board of senior professionals who mentor and guide the next generation of real estate leaders in the Washington, D.C., region. As a Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship board member, Saif Rahman exemplifies why the center is such a powerful resource—not just for MS in real estate development students, but for the entire National Capital Region real estate community.
Bi-Cultural Beginnings and Middle Eastern Consultancies
Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Rahman moved with his family to Northern Virginia at a young age. Growing up in a bilingual, bi-cultural household shaped both his global outlook and his local grounding. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, before pursuing a bachelor’s degree in government and politics at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Following graduation, Rahman spent two years in Egypt studying Arabic—an experience that opened the door to high-level international consultancy work.
For several years, he commuted between Northern Virginia and the Middle East as a senior consultant to the Iraqi government, advising on nation-building issues. He contributed to drafting Iraq’s Parliamentary rules and advised on negotiations with the United States over key bilateral agreements. His expertise later led ExxonMobil to retain him as a cultural and political advisor, where he provided guidance on oil and government relations across the region (2009–2014).
Even during this time, Rahman began exploring real estate investment back home in Northern Virginia, purchasing raw land while still balancing his consulting career abroad.
Self-Taught Land Investor
Without formal training, Rahman dove into Northern Virginia’s land markets by reading brokerage research reports and analyzing zoning and comprehensive plans. He candidly acknowledges the risks of this self-taught approach, but the strategy paid off. Encouraged by early success, Rahman pivoted away from Middle East consulting to dedicate himself fully to real estate. He co-founded JR Real Estate, LLC with his current partner, Mohamed Swilam, and today serves as managing partner.
JR Real Estate and Strategic Land Investing
In its early years, JR Real Estate experimented with multiple real estate sectors. Rahman quickly discovered his competitive advantage lay in strategic land acquisition and entitlement. Unlike vertical development—dominated by national firms with deep capital reserves—land investment rewarded nimble, locally connected firms who could navigate complex zoning rules and shifting political landscapes.
Rather than taking on the risks of ground-up development, JR specialized in adding value to land through rezoning, density increases, regulatory changes, and infrastructure cost efficiencies. These improvements positioned parcels for resale to larger developers, creating strong returns with limited risk.
Signature JR projects include:
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Oakton View: Conversion of a former landscaping yard in Fairfax County, Virginia, into residential lots for high-end single-family homes. The project transformed an underutilized property into an attractive community asset.
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Lomond Village: Originally guided by a comprehensive plan for retail strip development, JR Real Estate recognized the market mismatch and successfully pursued a plan amendment and rezoning to residential. This pivot ensured the property’s long-term viability and delivered needed housing rather than obsolete commercial space.
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Thomas Farm at Bristow Station: A milestone 80-acre property in Prince William County, Virginia, that had been planned for agricultural use despite being adjacent to a large residential community. JR partnered with the family that had owned the land for over 100 years, guiding them through a long-range plan amendment and rezoning. The result: Approval for a highly amenitized neighborhood of 320 homes, complete with community facilities and a memorial honoring the family’s century-long stewardship of the property.
In addition to residential land, JR recently branched into investing in and developing industrial assets, recognizing the rising demand for logistics, warehousing, and flex-space across Northern Virginia. This diversification complements JR’s land expertise while positioning the firm to serve the region’s evolving economic base.
Evolving Toward a Legacy Strategy
After more than a decade of opportunistic land transactions, Rahman began shifting JR’s strategy toward building long-term legacy assets. With his children approaching adulthood, succession and generational value became increasingly important.
JR’s first major legacy project is Cabin Branch at Quantico Creek in Dumfries, Virginia. After securing zoning for multifamily use, JR elected to develop and retain ownership of the final product—over 190 rental townhomes. The project will be the first build-to-rent community in Prince William County, constructed by a third-party contractor and professionally managed. Beyond steady income, it represents a long-term covered land play with the flexibility to convert to for-sale housing in the future if market conditions warrant.
A Real Estate Life Beyond ROI
For Rahman, real estate is about more than returns. His projects aim to improve not just the built environment, but also the quality of life in the surrounding community. Two initiatives highlight this philosophy:
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Affordable Housing Commitment: Saif rallied Prince William County’s development community to voluntarily set aside 10 percent of all new housing as affordable units. This groundbreaking pledge was not the result of government mandates but of industry leadership and Rahman's credibility among peers.
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Community Charitable Giving: JR Real Estate dedicates 2.5 percent of every project budget to local charities, ensuring each development leaves a lasting positive impact.
Mentorship and the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship Connection
Rahman’s relationship with the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship and George Mason's MS in Real Estate Development Program reflects his deep belief in mentorship. His conversations with leaders like Jon Peterson and Scott Plein reinforced his commitment to “walk the talk” by:
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Sponsoring a JR Real Estate employee to pursue a MS in Real Estate Development at George Mason.
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Encouraging education and development within his own family, with two of his older daughters currently studying at George Mason University.
For Rahman, supporting the center is about investing in the next generation of real estate leaders—just as mentors once invested in him.
Rahman is the founder of MOVE Chamber, a business chamber built on the pillars of “Inform, Connect, Advocate,” with a vision of fostering growth, inclusivity, and advocacy for the local business community. He also serves as president of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA), where his leadership focuses on re-engaging policymakers, addressing housing policy challenges, and fostering mentorship between veteran industry leaders and the next generation.
Rahman lives in Northern Virginia with his family, and his two older daughters who are currently studying at George Mason University.