Willy Ayyad

William Ayyad’s proactive involvement has kept him at the forefront of the real estate industry for more than four decades. His expertise and primary focus are on multifamily apartment communities and his current portfolio includes communities in cities throughout California, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Willy continually analyzes market trends, collaborates with market leaders, listens to presentations and studies market analysis. He has impressive foresight when it comes to identifying changes in the market and early-stage investment opportunities. This has been the hallmark of Willy’s success since his first investment. Always an entrepreneur, Willy searches out abundant opportunities. He currently owns a marina in San Diego, single-family homes throughout the U.S., venture capital investments in many companies, and speculative land investments in Tennessee, Florida, Hawaii and Costa Rica.

Willy began his career in real estate at the young age of 18, when he purchased his first apartment building with funds he earned working as a maintenance employee at his mother’s apartment buildings. He has owned investment real estate ever since. After graduating from UCLA, he made his mark on the San Diego real estate market by acquiring undervalued, poorly maintained apartment buildings and renovating them to provide safe, clean, and affordable quality workforce housing.

In 1984, Willy formed A.C.D.W. Properties, Inc. and expanded his operations to include property management. By empowering his construction teams and management personnel, he completed cost-effective renovations quickly while maintaining quality communities with integrity that have become his trademark. Willy further leveraged his construction operation by building ground up, high end spec homes in La Jolla and other parts of San Diego. He also renovated and sold condominiums from 1998 through 2007, retaining some as rental properties.

In 2002, Willy formed United Development Group, Inc. (UDGI). UDGI’s purpose was to enrich lives by exceeding expectations and its focus was to pursue solutions that benefited all constituents, including residents, vendors, employees, shareholders, the community and the environment. Using a business model designed to maximize profits through the cyclical real estate climate, he assembled a team of strong, creative, and dedicated leaders to support his vision and ensure consistent growth and development well into the future. Willy changed direction in 2023 by outsourcing the property management function and dissolved UDGI. He created a new asset management company, Innovative Advisory Group (IAG), to provide leadership and direction for his real estate assets.

Willy has diversified his holdings and has become an active participant in capital markets. In 2006 Willy created Investment Funding, Inc. to manage his public and private equity investments. This operation has grown over the years and has focused on technology, artificial intelligence and cyber-security.

Giving back to the community is a big part of the culture Willy has nurtured. He formed and is the sole benefactor of The Del Corazon Foundation in 2006. Del Corazon supports underprivileged families, education programs and scholarships, youth community programs, cancer research and many other worthy causes.

Willy resides in Rancho Santa Fe with his wife Alchera.