Multifamily

The U.S. multifamily sector remains an attractive option for real estate investors looking for a safe haven. Beyond the pool of traditional buyers who are actively acquiring apartment properties, the sector has become a landing spot for companies that aren’t legacy multifamily owners. Steven DeFrancis, CEO of Cortland, cited REITs like Blackstone Real Estate Investment Trust as newly establishing a presence in the multifamily sector. BREIT recently made a $240 million preferred equity investment in Tricon Residential connected with Tricon’s purchase of single-family rental (SFR) homes in Nashville. Nuveen Real Estate is also a recent institutional investor entrant in the emerging SFR sector. “We’re seeing a lot of new capital, whether it’s coming from overseas or from here,” said DeFrancis. “Institutional capital is continuing to move into real estate, and then within real estate there’s a lot of movement from other sectors into multifamily.” Jessica Levin, senior director of acquisitions at Intercontinental Real Estate Corp., said that the influx of capital into the U.S. apartment market the past six months has been “astronomical.” She also said that there’s no slowdown ahead. “Competition is stiffer now than in the past 10 to 15 years, and it’s only going to increase from …

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Princeton-Crossroads

By Taylor Williams The fundamental forces of job and population growth that drive demand for market-rate multifamily properties are hard at work on the affordable housing sector in Texas, and it doesn’t appear that a supply-demand equilibrium is in the cards anytime soon. In addition, a perpetual shortage of low-income housing tax credits (LIHTCs) and other government-issued subsidies that are required to finance new development of affordable housing are working to keep supply growth in check. Throw in a global pandemic that has cost millions of people their jobs and depleted their savings, potentially forcing them to seek less-expensive housing, and you have a supply-demand dynamic that is far from balanced. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that there is some overlap between workers in industries hit hard by the pandemic, such as leisure and hospitality, and the types of renters who need or qualify for affordable housing. Texas is hardly the only state facing these lopsided market conditions. According to a 2020 report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, when it comes to housing that renters whose income levels are at or below 30 percent of their area median income (AMI) can afford, the United States …

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Watson-Apartments-Grand-Prairie

GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS — Locally based investment firm 180 Multifamily Properties has purchased The Watson, a 248-unit apartment community in Grand Prairie, located roughly midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. The Class A property was built in 2018. Units come in one- and two-bedroom floor plans and are furnished with granite countertops, faux wood flooring and individual washers and dryers. Amenities include a pool, playground, fitness center, clubhouse and conference room, two courtyards and a bocce ball court. The seller was an undisclosed, locally based developer. Dan Gillard of Greystone originated a $29.6 million Freddie Mac acquisition loan for the deal on behalf of 180 Multifamily Properties. The nonrecourse financing was structured with a 10-year term, floating interest rate and a 70 percent loan-to-value ratio.

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Heron

TAMPA, FLA. — Strategic Property Partners LLC, the Tampa-based developer behind the $3 billion Water Street Tampa development underway, has opened Heron, a 420-unit apartment community located at 815 Water St. Water Street Tampa’s first residential building is now offering in-person tours for potential residents. Construction on the development started in November 2018. The residential property offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging in size from 555 to 2,206 square feet. Each unit features a private terrace ranging from 122 to 753 square feet, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows, quartz counters, custom cabinetry and kitchen appliances by Fisher & Paykel. Additionally, each residence includes floating bathroom vanities, soaking tubs and rainfall showerheads. Heron includes a parking garage and 40,000 square feet of ground-level retail space, including a GreenWise Market. Orlando-based ZRS Management Co. manages Heron and will oversee its programming, including virtual and in-person events. These will include cooking demonstrations with chefs, fitness and meditation classes and expert discussions on topics like sleep wellness and urban gardening. Heron’s amenities include a rooftop pool with cabanas, outdoor kitchen and barbecue areas, fitness center, bar and lounge spaces on each of its dual towers. The property will be the first residential development …

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Fairfield-Apartments-Stamford

STAMFORD, CONN. — CBRE has negotiated the $84.3 million sale of The Fairfield Apartments, a 263-unit multifamily community in the southern coastal Connecticut city of Stamford. Built in 1996, the property offers amenities such as a clubroom, caterer’s kitchen, three private courtyards, a pool, fitness center and outdoor grilling areas. The CBRE team of Jeffrey Dunne, Gene Pride, Jeremy Neuer, Steve Bardsley, David Gavin and Travis Langer represented the institutional seller in the transaction, while also procuring San Francisco-based FPA Multifamily as the buyer.

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The Trails

MIAMI — Centennial Bank has provided a $12.5 million construction loan to Prestige Cos. and Florida Value Partners for Trails, a workforce housing project located on the Ludlam Trail at 1040 SW 70th Ave. in Miami. The project’s first phase will consist of two- to three-story garden-style buildings with 84 residential units ranging from one- to two-bedroom units listed from $1,600 to $1,800 per month. The second phase of the project, which will be initiated within six months, will deliver five three-story buildings and a total of 230 units ranging from one- to two-bedroom units listed from $1,700 to $1,900 per month. The workforce housing property will be developed with no government funding. Community amenities will include an outdoor workout area and a dog park. In addition, the property will have access to the Ludlam Trail, a 6.2-mile linear park. Renovations for the Ludlam Trail will turn the former Florida East Coast railway corridor into a park, as well as a running and cycling trail that will connect to The Underline, a 10-mile linear park under the Metrotrail.

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WILLOW STREET, PA. — Black Bear Capital Partners has arranged an $11 million acquisition loan for The Villas at Willow Run, a 72-unit multifamily asset in Willow Street, located roughly midway between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. The 12-building property was completed in 2019. Emil DePasquale, Brandon Harris and Phil Bowman of Black Bear Capital Partners arranged the loan, which carried a 3.74 percent fixed interest rate and 10 years of interest-only payments, through Morgan Stanley. The borrower was Laub Realty, an owner-operator with more than 2,000 multifamily units and 1 million square feet of commercial space in its portfolio.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ready Capital has closed the financing for the acquisition, renovation and stabilization of a 152-unit, Class C multifamily property in southeast Columbia. Upon acquisition, the sponsor will implement a capital improvement plan to renovate unit interiors and refine curb appeal. The sponsor also plans to address deferred maintenance issues that will help facilitate stabilization. The non-recourse, interest-only, floating-rate loan features a 36-month term, two extension options and flexible prepayment. The financing also includes a facility to provide future funding for capital expenditures.

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CHICAGO — Draper and Kramer Inc. has topped off a 120-unit multifamily project located at 949 W. Dakin St. in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood. The developer has named the project Wrigleyville Lofts, as it is situated 2.5 blocks north of Wrigley Field. Draper and Kramer plans to begin pre-leasing this summer for fall 2021 move-ins. The project includes 108 one-bedroom units and 12 two-bedroom units, as well as 14,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Lakeview Ace Hardware, which occupied the single-story structure previously on the site, will return to anchor the corner commercial space. Lakeview Ace is also a minority partner in the development. Amenities will include a rooftop deck, meeting areas, a coffee shop, clubroom, fitness center and private parking garage. Rents will start at roughly $1,900 per month. The Chicago regional office of HUD financed the project, with Gershman Mortgage acting as the HUD lender. Leopardo Construction is the general contractor and Sullivan, Goulette & Wilson Architects is the architect.

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Overlook-Anaheim-Hills-CA

ANAHEIM HILLS, CALIF. — Avanath Capital Management has purchased Overlook at Anaheim Hills, a seniors housing property located at 145-235 S. Festival Drive in Anaheim Hills. An undisclosed seller sold the property for $87.5 million. Built in 2001, Overlook consists of seven two- and three-story garden-style buildings offering a total of 261 units with an average unit size of 751 square feet. Community amenities include a community center, clubhouse, business center, pool, spa, fitness center and billiard room. At the time of sale, the property was nearly 100 percent occupied. Avanath plans to implement a variety of capital improvements to the property, including renovating the clubhouse and community spaces, adding a dog park and implementing sustainability initiatives to reduce the property’s carbon footprint and generate energy savings.

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