Valiance Capital Acquires Two-Property Student Housing Portfolio at UC Berkeley

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 15, 2026 – Valiance Capital announced today the acquisition of The Berks, a two-property, purpose-built student housing portfolio located directly across the street from the University of California, Berkeley. The portfolio was acquired from a national student operator by Valiance Capital in partnership with Urbanite Capital and Five Star Bank. 

The Berks mixed-use portfolio consists of two student housing properties totaling 128 projected beds and includes the historic Free House restaurant, encompassing approximately 41,600 gross square feet. The properties are located at 2315 College Avenue and 2311 Le Conte Avenue, representing two of the most highly coveted near-campus locations at UC Berkeley. Both properties were acquired in a single transaction that closed in late December 2025. 

Both properties are situated immediately across the street from UC Berkeley, offering unmatched proximity to campus, academic buildings, dining, and transit options. The assets are located within Berkeley’s core student housing corridor, a submarket characterized by long-standing supply constraints and sustained demand for premium pedestrian locations. 

UC Berkeley, consistently ranked among the top public universities globally by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes, continues to attract strong student demand supported by its academic reputation, competitive programs, and proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area job market. Steady long-term population and enrollment growth projections reinforce the strategic importance of well-located student housing assets such as The Berks. 

Valiance Capital intends to execute a value-add investment strategy focused on targeted capital improvements, operational optimization, and long-term ownership. The firm cited the portfolio’s irreplaceable location and durable demand fundamentals as key drivers of the acquisition. 

“The acquisition of The Berks aligns with our value-add strategy of investing in best-in-class locations with durable demand drivers,” said Nhan Nguyen Le, CEO of Valiance Capital. “We see meaningful opportunity to enhance the resident experience through targeted improvements while preserving the long-term character of these iconic Berkeley assets.” 

Urbanite Capital highlighted the strength of the institutional partnership and its confidence in the Berkeley student housing market as central to the investment thesis. 

“The Berk exemplifies the type of opportunity we seek—irreplaceable, walk-to-campus assets in exceptional locations with clear operational and physical upside,” said Derrik Hirschfeld, Cofounder of Urbanite Capital. “Valiance Capital’s deep Berkeley market expertise makes them an excellent partner and reinforces our belief that hands-on, local sponsorship is critical to maximizing value. We’re excited to partner with Valiance to execute the business plan.”