Founder & CEO
Michael Cournoyer
Michael Cournoyer founded Rampart Capital in 2023 as a private investment firm based in Washington DC. He loves helping busy professionals step into multifamily ownership as a means to generate passive income and tax benefits that allow them to supplement their monthly budget, keep more of their income, and preserve wealth.
Michael is a partner at Vulcan Group Multifamily Brokerage, where he has analyzed hundreds of deals to learn how to minimize risk. He has worked closely with both successful and unsuccessful operators to learn what it takes to succeed in multifamily investing.
He is also a Navy veteran and licensed Professional Engineer. During his time in the military, he designed systems to disassemble nuclear reactors on submarines.
Target Market
We target properties in growing areas of The Midwest for a few key reasons:
Population Growth - The Midwest is experiencing significant population growth as people seek lower cost of living, more job opportunities, and better quality of life.
Rent Growth - Cities in the Midwest are experiencing some of the highest YoY rent growth (6% in St. Louis) in the country due to increased demand and lack of new supply.
Rent vs Buy Ratio - The monthly cost to own a home is significantly higher than the cost to rent (64% in St. Louis), creating long term renters. Nationally, it is 38% more expensive to own.
Target Assets
We target performing assets that meet the following criteria:
32-100 units - At least 32 units is essential to support a professional property manager who will take care of the day-to-day operations. Below 100 units avoids competition from institutions that drive up purchase prices.
Stabilized Operations - A demonstrated history of >90% occupancy. This indicates that the property is well taken care of and retains tenants. It is also a requirement for the best financing, which we always take advantage of.
Safe Neighborhood - There is nothing worse than crime at a property resulting in expensive repairs or tenants feeling unsafe. Understanding submarkets and spending time on site during due diligence is essential.
What Sets Us Apart
Experience
Having worked as a multifamily broker, I understand how to underwrite conservatively, what makes a deal risky, and the proper way to manage a property.
Commitment
I invest heavily in every deal alongside my clients. After closing, I continuously oversee the property manager to ensure our business plan is enacted, including spending time on site.
Performance
I have maintained 90%+ occupancy and exceeded projected investment returns on every asset we have acquired.
Long Term Mindset
"Our favorite holding period is forever."
- Warren Buffet
I envision holding every asset for generations, ensuring that the property is well maintained and funded with long term, fixed rate debt. This way we are recession proof and never forced to take a loss.
Where Did The Name Come From?
The name Rampart Capital was discovered on a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. There, I saw the Edinburgh Castle and its sweeping ramparts, which have been standing elegantly for over 1000 years. This beautiful, historic fortress is a symbol of strength, durability, and preservation, much like the assets that we acquire and manage for our investors. Our properties are curated as generational investments with long-term, low-risk debt in place to ensure stable returns.
