When Don Sterhan, CR Builders’ CEO, created the company more than a decade ago, he did so knowing that targeting communities in need of affordable housing would be paramount as the region’s population grew.

His dedication to making housing affordable has helped to build a team that knows and understands every aspect of what it takes to ideate and build affordable housing by utilizing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.

What Are Low-Income Housing Tax Credits? Learn all about the LIHTC program and its history on Novogradac.

CR Builders is focused on what we do best: navigating the often-intricate process of not just applying for federal housing credits, but also designing, building, completing, and occupying these development projects.

Through it all, we maintain MPEG's original mission and developing affordable housing units has become our sole focus. We are dedicated to supporting and improving local communities' quality of life through affordable housing financing and development.

In 2003, the state housing finance agencies for Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming came together to develop a plan to better utilize the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program in their respective states. The directors of these agencies tapped Don Sterhan to head what would become known as Mountain Plains Equity Group (MPEG).

MPEG is a tax credit syndicator concerned with helping developers turn their LIHTCs into equity and helping investors acquire those tax credits. In 2011, Don saw the need across Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming to further target communities in need of affordable housing. To do so, he created CR Builders, LLC, the development arm of the MPEG team. Having syndicated or developed over 60 LIHTC deals, MPEG firmly cemented itself as a champion of affordable housing in our region.

After twenty years of syndicating tax credit projects, Mountain Plains Equity Group was purchased by National Equity Fund in October of 2023. 

While the name has been retired, the staff and management of the company will continue forward under the CR Builders, LLC moniker. The team is now dedicating 100% of its time and resources to developing quality, affordable housing units. With a proven track record and experienced staff, CR Builders will continue its work to enhance our communities' quality of life and sustainable growth.