Evan E. Blau, a partner and Chair of the Firm’s Agency Lending and Affordable Housing practices, focuses on representing lenders in the financing of multifamily properties through the Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting & Servicing program and the Freddie Mac Seller-Servicer program, with an emphasis on affordable housing, credit enhanced tax-exempt bond structures, green financing, moderate rehabilitation, student housing, manufactured housing, and conventional loan programs. Mr. Blau specializes in properties financed under the Freddie Mac Targeted Affordable Housing (TAH) and Fannie Mae Multifamily Affordable Housing (MAH) guidelines. He is well-versed in the many facets of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Tax Exempt Bonds, Section 8 and Housing Assistance Payments Contracts, and a variety of federal and state affordable housing and community development programs. In addition, Mr. Blau has experience representing public housing authorities, governmental authorities, and for-profit and non-profit borrowers and developers in commercial real estate transactions.
Prior to joining Cassin & Cassin LLP, Mr. Blau served as in-house counsel for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) where he worked on various affordable housing and economic development initiatives throughout New York City.
Recognized by GlobeSt as a 2023 Influencer in Multifamily Real Estate, Mr. Blau is a member of the Freddie Mac Multifamily Legal Advisory Council, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (2025), CRE Finance Council and its Editorial Board, Mortgage Bankers Association of New York and the New York State Association for Affordable Housing. He also served as a member of the Fannie Mae DUS Legal Advisory Council in 2023 and 2024. Mr. Blau is frequently called upon to present to various lenders, financial institutions and trade associations on current issues in the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily housing markets as well as the affordable housing sector.
Mr. Blau received his Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the George Washington University. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York and Connecticut.
