How Hands-On Operations Built a 35,000-Unit Multifamily Platform - David Moore - CEO at Knightvest Capital

Dec 9, 2025

David Moore, Founder and CEO of Knightvest Capital, shares his compelling journey from an entrepreneurial upbringing to creating a multifamily empire in the Sunbelt. He discusses his hands-on approach to property management, including chaotic early days at auction houses. David reveals how Knightvest transformed from survival mode to institutional partnerships and scaled operations. He dives into the firm's unique renovation strategies, the impact of market pressures, and essential advice for investors on evaluating operators. This engaging dialogue highlights the grit and innovative thinking behind success.

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ANECDOTE

Courthouse Auction Origin Story

David Moore recounts buying two small apartment buildings at a tax auction for about $11–$12k and becoming accidental landlords overnight.
He and his partner ran the properties on-site, collecting rent, evicting dealers, and learning operations firsthand.

ANECDOTE

Hands-On Startup DNA

After the auction buy, David and his partner lived on-site doing leasing, maintenance, and asset management themselves.
The hands-on start became KnightVest's DNA and informed their long-term operating approach.

ANECDOTE

2012 Turning Point To Scale

In 2012 KnightVest decided to pursue institutional capital after making enough deals and paying off debts.
Hiring a professional CFO and securing the first institutional partner marked a turning point for scaling.

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David Moore joins Brandon Sedloff on The Distribution for a candid conversation about his unconventional path into real estate, the early grind of building Knightvest, and how his team has scaled into one of the country’s most active multifamily owner operators. He reflects on growing up in an entrepreneurial household, navigating early career uncertainty, and stumbling into real estate through necessity rather than design.

David walks through the chaotic early days of buying properties at auction, running them by hand, and slowly transforming that experience into a vertically integrated, disciplined, and highly scaled platform. He also shares his perspective on today’s operating environment, how he thinks about acquisitions, and what it takes to sustain performance across cycles.

They discuss: • The influence of David’s upbringing and the entrepreneurial parallels he saw in his father’s work • Knightvest’s origin story, including buying its first apartments at a tax auction and learning the business on-site • How the firm evolved from survival mode to institutional partnerships and large-scale operations • The decision to adopt a fund model and what it means for long-term continuity • Knightvest’s renovation philosophy, vertical integration, and localized acquisition strategy • Current portfolio trends, market pressures, and how the team is preparing for future opportunities

Links:

Knightvest Capital - https://knightvestcapital.com/

David on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-moore-03005a39/

Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/

Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:53) - David’s background and career

(00:05:35) - Transition to real estate and founding Knightvest

(00:09:22) - Early struggles and first investments

(00:18:31) - Scaling the business and institutional partnerships

(00:22:31) - Current state of Knightvest