Farren Mason founded Generation Realty with a determination to give back to the Pittsburgh communities. With guidance from his father, he founded his business in 2016 which renovates run-down houses and turning them into quality housing for low-income families and Section 8 housing.
When Farren first started, other investors he spoke were skeptical of his plan, warning against Section 8 housing due to bad tenant experiences. Farren, however, was steadfast in his desire to help others and self-funded the purchase and renovation of an initial property.
Using a detailed tenant selection process, Farren has had few issues with tenants thus far and stands above his competitors by offering additional services such as free lawn care, free salt for sidewalks and driveways in the winter, and a 24-hour customer service line accessible to all tenants.
Having experienced such success in his initial properties, Farren reached out to the University of Pittsburgh’s Small Business Development Center in 2021. Working with Pitt SBDC consultant Jonny Gamble, Farren updated his business plan and received funding to purchase an additional property in Pittsburgh’s Northside neighborhood. Farren is in the process of renovating this space with hopes to open it to housing soon after completion.