Est. 2014 · Saint Louis, MO
Converting Problems
Into Solutions.
St. Louis & St. Louis County real estate investment, turning distressed properties into lasting value through strategic acquisition, rehabilitation, and long-term wealth building.
Investment Strategy & Community Impact
What We Do
We don't just acquire properties, we reinvest in St. Louis. Every acquisition is a disciplined capital decision that rebuilds neighborhoods, restores distressed housing, and creates lasting value for residents, partners, and communities alike.
Capital Efficiency
Value-Add Repositioning
Disciplined acquisition of distressed assets at a controlled cost basis, followed by targeted capital improvements that unlock forced appreciation. Every project is underwritten to a defined margin, timeline, and return on invested capital.
Recurring Cash Flow
Income-Producing Assets
Stabilized rental assets engineered for durable net operating income and long-term equity growth. Each property is managed as a cash-flowing business unit with rigorous expense control and portfolio-level performance tracking.
Balance-Sheet Leverage
Capital Recycling
A repeatable engine: acquire, rehabilitate, stabilize, refinance, and redeploy. DSCR refinancing recovers invested equity while retaining the asset, compounding portfolio scale through efficient, disciplined use of capital.
Our Mission
Rebuilding Communities. Creating Lasting Value.
Behind every underwriting model is a neighborhood we help bring back. We transform distressed and neglected properties into safe, quality housing, a strategy that drives measurable value appreciation across St. Louis communities.
By concentrating capital in transitional and undervalued corridors, we catalyze revitalization that lifts surrounding property values, strengthens the local tax base, and expands the supply of quality homes. Value creation and community enhancement aren't competing goals, they are the same strategy.
Neighborhood Revitalization
Restoring distressed, neglected properties into safe, quality housing that anchors and uplifts surrounding blocks.
Value Appreciation
Targeted reinvestment that compounds property values and strengthens the local tax base across transitional corridors.
Long-Term Stewardship
We hold, maintain, and reinvest, building durable value for residents, partners, and investors alike.
St. Louis & St. Louis County
Where Opportunity Meets Value
The Market
Why St. Louis?
St. Louis is one of America's most compelling and overlooked real estate markets, a major metro where affordability, strong rental demand, and a diversified economy converge.
Across the city and its surrounding communities, quality housing can be acquired far below replacement cost and repositioned into homes families are proud to live in. For disciplined investors, that combination (low basis, steady demand, and real community upside) is exactly where lasting wealth is built.
Exceptional Value Basis
Home prices sit well below the national median, letting investors acquire quality assets at a fraction of coastal-market cost, with real room for forced and organic appreciation.
Strong, Stable Rental Demand
Anchored by major employers in healthcare, education, and biotech, the region draws a steady stream of renters who need quality housing, driving reliable occupancy and consistent cash flow.
Revitalizing Neighborhoods
From the city core to surrounding suburbs, transitional corridors are attracting reinvestment, creating a first-mover advantage for disciplined value-add operators.
Diversified Regional Economy
A broad base of Fortune 500 headquarters, healthcare systems, and a growing tech and geospatial hub insulates the market from single-industry shocks.
Landlord-Friendly Fundamentals
Low property taxes relative to value, no state rent control, and efficient processes make Missouri one of the most workable environments for building a rental portfolio.
Resilient, Recession-Tested
Affordable cost of living and steady population demand have kept the metro remarkably stable through national downturns.
Communities We Invest In
The Process
Our Approach
A disciplined, repeatable framework for turning distressed assets into performing investments.
Source Distressed Deals
Off-market acquisition through direct outreach, wholesalers, auctions, and proprietary deal flow.
Analyze & Underwrite
Rigorous financial modeling: ARV, rehab budget, holding costs, and exit strategy analysis.
Rehab & Stabilize
Scope-driven renovations with trusted contractor teams. Quality upgrades that maximize value.
Hold or Sell for Max Return
Strategic exit: flip for profit or refinance into long-term hold for cash flow and appreciation.
How We Execute
Powered by Flip Orchestration
Every deal we take on runs through Flip Orchestration, the deal-management platform we built in-house to run sourcing, underwriting, capital, execution, and exit as one connected system instead of a stack of disconnected tools.
Most software in this space sells a sharper individual instrument: a better lead list, a faster underwriting calculator, a tighter rehab budget tracker. Flip Orchestration is built to be the conductor: one system coordinating everything that happens between those tools, from the first lead to the final exit, so nothing gets lost in the handoff.
It's purpose-built for how we actually operate, currently focused on the St. Louis metro area and surrounding counties, not a one-size-fits-all national product.
Want to see it in action? Request a demo through the contact section below and we'll walk you through it.
See how we underwrite a deal: Try our Deal & DSCR Calculators
One Connected System
From first lead to final exit
Built in-house by STMH Investments, LLC. Not a public signup product.
Proven Execution
Our Track Record
12 years of disciplined, full-cycle investing across St. Louis & St. Louis County, turning distressed properties into quality housing and lasting community value.
2014
Investing Since
St. Louis Metro
Market Focus
Single & Multi-Family
Asset Types
Full-Cycle
Execution
Distressed-to-Quality Rehab
A neglected property acquired below replacement cost, fully rehabilitated into safe, quality housing, restoring the home and strengthening the surrounding block.
Multi-Unit Revitalization
A multi-unit building repositioned through disciplined capital improvements and stabilized as long-term housing that anchors the neighborhood and supports local value appreciation.
Representative examples of our value-add approach. Specific holdings and financial details are shared privately with qualified partners and lenders upon request.
How We Work
Every project follows the same written, step-by-step process, from evaluating a property to completing it.
Want to see how we run our numbers on deals? Try our calculators.
The Founder
Shawn Smith
Managing Member, STMH Investments, LLC
With over two decades of Fortune 500 leadership experience, Shawn brings disciplined operational thinking to real estate investing. Across his corporate career he has managed multi-million-dollar regional and global CapEx projects and delivered innovative solutions and automations that drive efficiency and reduce OpEx friction. Since founding STMH Investments, LLC in 2014, he has applied that same data-driven, results-oriented discipline to identifying and executing on undervalued real estate opportunities across the St. Louis region.
25 years of Fortune 500 IT and operations leadership
Steward of multi-million-dollar regional and global CapEx portfolios
Real estate investor since 2014 via STMH Investments, LLC
Trusted by Leaders & Partners
What Others Say
A selection from 50+ LinkedIn recommendations earned across a Fortune 500 career, from executives, direct reports, clients, and long-standing partners. The same integrity, transparency, and disciplined execution they describe is what STMH brings to every deal and every partnership.
Partnerships are defined by complete transparency, shared objectives, business-driven results, and commitment to mutual success… Shawn seamlessly pairs vision, thought leadership, and execution with approachability, frankness, and accountability. Shawn easily builds trust and trust is key to building relationships… We achieved real success, TOGETHER.
Dean Norton
National Manager, Device Services
Client partner since 2022
Shawn is a strong, knowledgeable, confident, and capable leader who gets things done on time and on budget… As a leader, Shawn consistently delivers top results while collaborating with all stakeholders and ensuring that all voices are heard.
Barry Brimer
Senior Information Technology Professional
Worked alongside Shawn
He consistently maximized value from vendor relationships while maintaining strong, collaborative partnerships that supported long-term business objectives… He was a trusted advisor, my right-hand partner, and someone I could always count on to deliver results.
Kevin Aiken
Global Director, Networks (Ret.)
Shawn's former manager
Where others might have hesitated because an issue fell outside their remit… Shawn consistently stepped up, took ownership, and closed the gaps, always with the company's best interests at heart. A true asset to any organization.
Christian Nseir
Sales Executive, Riverbed
Client
Shawn has consistently guided global technology initiatives through complex changes utilizing clear communication, sound judgment, and decisive problem solving… It is rare to find someone with his blend of talent, presence, and integrity.
Sean Benson
Account Manager, Inzo Technologies
Industry partner
Shawn is highly results-oriented and takes full ownership of his deliverables. He has a strong ability to translate strategic objectives into tangible outcomes, always keeping business impact front of mind… a trusted partner and a positive influence on the teams he works with.
Thiago Prado de Castro
Director, IT Infrastructure
Shawn's former manager
Shawn was someone you would enjoy working with because of his transparency, excellent teamwork, and always kept money savings with low risk at the forefront of his tasks… Over the years Shawn has shown growth, amazing talent, and cross functional money saving results.
Mike Davis
Senior Analyst, Bunge North America
Colleague
I have rarely encountered a leader with his unique combination of reliability, authenticity, and people-first leadership… Shawn brings tremendous value through his business insight, ability to identify cost-saving opportunities, talent for motivating teams, and broad technical and organizational knowledge.
Dawn Higgins
Global Voice Technology Manager, Bunge
Former team member
He leads with integrity, vision, and empathy, creating a culture of accountability, trust, and continuous improvement… I highly recommend Shawn to anyone seeking a leader who inspires, develops, and empowers those around him.
Justin Blackford
Network Engineer, Bunge
Former team member
Shawn is someone who goes the extra mile to ensure outcomes are delivered the right way, thoroughly, thoughtfully, and with strong attention to detail. He is also exceptionally easy to work with, building trust quickly and collaborating effectively across teams.
Luke Bryant
Global Director, Business Intelligence
Peer of 10+ years
Get In Touch
Connect With Us
Bringing a deal, exploring a partnership, or just have a question, choose the option that fits and we will get back to you personally.
Every inquiry gets a response within 24 hours.
Phone
314-527-1720Office
10786 Indian Head Industrial Blvd #1108, Saint Louis, MO 63132
Let's build something together. Whether you're a lender, a real estate professional, or just want to learn more about what we do in St. Louis, we'd love to connect. Call or text 314-527-1720, email [email protected], or use the form below.