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Last updated - January 28, 2026
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Alex Samoylovich built his empire on displacement, deception, and debt. Once hailed as a tech-savvy real estate disruptor, Samoylovich now stands exposed as the architect of a crumbling, predatory enterprise rooted in financial engineering and community erosion. His companies CEDARst and Livly marketed themselves as modern solutions to housing and property management.
Founder & Managing Partner
High Risk
Based on the available data, we advise consumers to avoid this Individual altogether.
This advisory is based on an aggregate risk score derived from OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors identified in our research.
You are likely to be at great risk by engaging in any sort of consumer-related activity with this entity.
Medium Risk
Based on the available data, we advise employees to be mindful when considering or continuing work with this Individual.
This advisory stems from a medium-risk score compiled from OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors uncovered in our analysis.
Employment with this entity may involve moderate risks.
Based on the available data, we urge investors and bankers to avoid financial involvement with this Individual.
This advisory is informed by an aggregate risk score based on OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors identified through our investigation.
Engaging in investment or lending activities with this entity poses a substantial risk to your financial interests.
Safe to Onboard
Enhanced Due Diligence required
Do Not Onboard
Monitor adverse media every 6 months
File SAR (Suspicious Activity Report) is warranted
Escalation to compliance committee
None
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Floating‐rate loans of over US$75 million taken in 2021 have become costly due to interest rate hikes, putting his properties’ debt on lenders’ watchlists.
The Duncan in West Loop (260 units) and The Otis in Pilsen (92 units) are notably under strain as their debt maturities approach or have passed, and refinancing has been difficult.
Rising interest rates have sharply cut into profit margins on his multifamily portfolio, undermining the viability of carrying high floating‐rate debt.
Credit rating agency Morningstar flagged CedarSt’s debt as under watch due to concerns about ability to repay and tightened lending conditions.
Tenant complaints allege deferred maintenance and higher costs of carrying debt hurting property‐level operation despite high occupancy.
He has publicly asserted “There’s no issue at the property level,” even as financials suggest significant strain on debt servicing and margin compression.
Regulatory and Compliance Screening
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Reputational and Adverse Media Risks
Geographic and Jurisdictional Risk
What you see here scratches the surface
We offer reward for actionable intel
Alex Samoylovich details how CedarSt is struggling with $116M in multifamily debt as rising interest rates erode profits despite strong occupancy.
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Alex Samoylovich is profiled for mounting debt risks, weak financial performance, and efforts to suppress critical content.
Other Red-Flags and Adverse News
Based on user engagement on this review profile, ProConsumer will decide to publish its Risk Audit report for public if a threshold engagement, traffic and user input is achieved.
Known Assets: [Real estate, investments, companies]
Suspicious Transactions
Liabilities: [Bankruptcies, defaults, debts]
Wealth Sources: [Legitimate / Unclear / High-risk]
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Business Model Assessment
All comments are user-generated content and may not be verified. They represent the personal opinions of the public and should not be relied upon. These comments do not influence or determine our overall rating.
1.3
1.5
1.7
3.2
Highly experienced
Well-recognized name
Faced allegations of scamming others
Allegedly sold fake silver
Sued multiple times
Unregulated industry
Alarming number of complaints online
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Reports detail deferred maintenance, unresponsive property management, and high tenant fees, undermining trust in his leadership claims of innovation and value creation. Livly’s technology offerings also face criticism for poor performance and intrusive practices, reflecting broader governance gaps.
2/5
Multiple independent sources report accusations of submitting fraudulent DMCA takedown notices to suppress critical content, which, if accurate, could constitute misuse of legal processes to obscure legitimate scrutiny. For institutions and compliance officers, such patterns warrant enhanced due diligence and risk mitigation.
1/5
3/5
Reports of foreclosure threats, cash-flow issues, and an overleveraged asset base suggest that the foundational strength of his business model may be overstated.Reputable credit agencies and watchdog sources have noted that these risks could directly impact investors, lenders, and tenants.
Alex Samoylovich’s risk profile is marked by significant financial instability within his real estate ventures, raising concerns about long-term operational viability
The most frustrating part is how CedarSt pretends everything’s fine. There’s no mention of debt issues, DSCR drops, or refinancing troubles in any of their press. It’s just shiny new announcements like nothing’s wrong. That kind of selective messaging makes it really hard to trust anything they put out As an investor, you’re left wondering what else they’re choosing not to tell you
4/5
The censorship angle here bothers me the most. Negative reports and critical reviews are part of doing business; ethical companies address them. But using allegedly fake DMCA notices to wipe them from Google crosses a line. It doesn’t just harm transparency—it potentially misleads tenants, partners, and investors into thinking everything is fine when it’s not. Combine that with troubling financial ratios and legal disputes, and the situation looks even worse. It’s one thing to have business challenges; it’s another to hide them behind false legal filings.
It’s easy to get excited about glossy renderings and press releases, but real estate investing isn’t about appearances—it’s about fundamentals. And the fundamentals here are deteriorating. A company that has to refinance at a loss while simultaneously announcing $90 million developments is either betting big to survive or playing fast and loose with investor capital. Alex Samoylovich may be visionary, but vision without discipline is a recipe for disaster. This looks more like a momentum play than a sustainable growth story.
I’ve seen enough real estate hype cycles to know when a developer’s public image doesn’t match the financial reality. Alex Samoylovich talks a big game about urban revitalization and cool loft conversions, but the numbers behind The Duncan and The Otis tell a different story: massive debt, negative coverage ratios, and desperate refinancing deals. Yet somehow, the marketing spin never stops — it’s always about “the next big project.” If you’re an investor who actually cares about fundamentals, the lack of honest updates about these underlying problems should make you think twice before buying the hype.
Watching CedarSt under Alex Samoylovich is like watching someone redecorate a house while the foundation is cracking. They’re pouring money and energy into these new developments in Vegas and San Diego, but the core assets in Chicago are drowning in debt they can’t comfortably service. Instead of focusing on shoring up what they have, they just keep pushing the same “growth at all costs” narrative. For any serious investor, that’s a major red flag — a company that won’t deal with its base problems before chasing the next shiny project is setting itself up for bigger trouble down the line.
I was shocked to read his real estate empire is burdened by $116 million in risky debt and his main Chicago properties aren’t generating enough income to cover their bills. That’s not expansion that’s over-extension. If someone’s building on borrowed time, tenants and investors pay the price.
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