Reducing property tax assessments can be challenging under the best of circumstances, and distinctions between state tax systems make minimizing that burden across an office or industrial portfolio especially daunting. But a recent Delaware Supreme Court decision provides taxpayers with a new, yet surprisingly familiar, opportunity to ease the tax burden on properties in The First State. Delaware’s Tax Assessment System Shows its Age Under Delaware law, property must be valued at its “true value in money,” a term interpreted to mean the property’s “present actual market value.” However, in order to implement the Delaware Constitution’s mandate of tax uniformity, the state applies a base-year method of assessing property. That means that all property in a jurisdiction is assessed in terms of its value as of a certain date, and that value remains on the books indefinitely until the jurisdiction performs a general reassessment. For Delaware’s northernmost county, New Castle County, the last reassessment occurred in 1983, so all property therein is valued as of July 1, 1983. A major challenge to contesting assessments in Delaware is that a taxpayer must determine the property’s 1983 market value. Determining what a property is worth today is not always easy, but proving …
NEWARK, DEL. — Greystone has provided a $26.6 million Fannie Mae DUS loan in combination with $5.3 million in preferred equity from New York Mortgage Trust for the acquisition of Autumn Park, a multifamily property in Newark. The Fannie Mae DUS loan includes a 7/6 adjustable rate at three years of interest-only and a 30-year amortization schedule. The community features 358 apartments in a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Keith Hires of Greystone originated the transaction, while Ryan Ade and Neil Campbell of HFF assisted in the deal.
WILMINGTON, DEL. — Merion Realty Partners has completed the sale of 1303 Delaware Apartment Homes, a multifamily property located in the Trolley Square neighborhood of Wilmington. Capano Residential purchased the property free and clear of debt for an undisclosed price. Mark Thomson, Carl Fiebeg and Francis Coyne of HFF represented the seller in the deal. The property consists of 231 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments averaging 928 square feet. Additionally, James Conley of HFF arranged a fixed-rate Fannie Mae acquisition loan for the buyer.
NEWARK, DEL. — Concordia Properties has acquired Autumn Park, a multifamily property located in Newark, from Metropolitan Management Group for $35.5 million. Located on 16.9 acres, the property consists of 26 three- and four-story buildings featuring a total of 358 units in studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. At the time of sale, the property was 97 percent leased. On-site amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, 24-hour fitness center and playground. Mark Thomson, Carl Fiebig and Fran Coyne of HFF represented the seller in the deal. Additionally, Ryan Ade and Neil Campbell of HFF secured the floating-rate Fannie Mae acquisition loan for the buyer.
REHOBOTH BEACH, DEL. — Newmark Knight Frank (NKF) has brokered the sale of a 10.3-acre development parcel located at the southeast corner of Coastal Highway and Holland Glade Road in Rehoboth Beach. The Corrado Family LLC sold the 448,668-square-foot site to Coastal Station Development Co. for $13.5 million. The buyer plans to redevelop the site, with the first phase featuring a Royal Farms convenience store and Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant. Mike Margolis, Dave Dolan and Neal Dangello of NKF represented the seller in the transaction.
WILMINGTON, DEL. — Grandbridge Real Estate Capital has arranged a $44.5 million first mortgage loan secured by an eight-property, 4,400-unit self-storage portfolio in Wilmington. Michael Balan of Grandbridge originated the refinancing transaction for Storage Rentals of America. The fixed-rate loan was funded through BB&T Real Estate Funding and features a 10-year term and 25-year amortization schedule.
DOVER, DEL. – The Kane Co. has brokered the sale of an 80,000-square-foot industrial facility at 44 Industrial Park Drive in Dover. The property is the former warehouse of Kessler Sales and Distribution, a wholesale distributor of pipe, valves, fittings and water heaters. Peter Billipp of The Kane Co. represented the seller and procured the buyer.
NEWARK, DEL. — HALL Structured Finance has closed a first lien construction loan totaling $14.7 million for the development of a SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Newark. Danneman Hospitality is developing the hotel, which will be the first SpringHill Suites in the state. The property will have 118 one-room suites and seven two-room suites. Amenities at the five-story property will include a breakfast dining area, lobby, bar, three meeting rooms, an indoor pool, fitness center, laundry room, marketplace and on-site restaurant.
WILMINGTON, DEL. — HFF has secured $12.6 million in refinancing for an office building located at 1011 Centre Road in Wilmington. Ryan Ade of HFF arranged the long-term, fixed-rate loan with a regional bank for the borrower, Delle Donne & Associates. Built in 1986, the 90,000-square-foot property is fully leased.
BEAR, DEL. — Delle Donne & Associates has received a $35 million loan for the refinancing of Governor’s Square Shopping Center, a fully leased retail property located at 401 Governor’s Place in Bear, a suburb of Wilmington, Del. Loan proceeds will be used to retire existing debt. The 294,213-square-foot, two-building property is occupied by ShopRite, Kmart, American Signature Furniture, Rite Aid, Sneaker Villa H&R Block, Karate for Kids, RadioShack, Bear Chiropractic, Subway and GameStop. The center also includes three pad sites leased to Wells Fargo, Taco Bell and McDonald’s. Ryan Ade of HFF secured the financing for the borrower.