How long will the scorching hot multifamily market hold up? The transactional markets continue to be bolstered by low interest rates, as well as an insatiable appetite from both private and institutional equity. I don’t believe the multifamily market will cool off in 2015. Our HFF multifamily team in Philadelphia will soon be shattering price per unit records in both the suburbs and in Center City Philadelphia. Interestingly enough, half of our transactions will be purchased by new buyers, meaning buyers new to our market, new start-up companies, or established funds that are new to the multifamily arena. As is typically the case, attractive debt and abundant equity are fueling the fire. With respect to multifamily debt, it has been encouraging to see some true competition back in the market. We enter 2015 with an extremely robust debt environment wherein the agencies are being forced to compete with regional banks, life companies and CMBS options. Back in October, HFF brokered the sale of Yardley Crossing in Bucks County. This 196-unit, Class B asset, built in the early 1970s, was priced slightly below a 6 percent cap rate and roughly $170,000 per unit, but still commanded 25 tours and 15 offers. …
PHILADELPHIA — Procida Funding’s 100 Mile Fund has provided $16.2 million in construction financing for Mural Arts Lofts, formerly the Thaddeus Stevens School, in Philadelphia’s North Broad corridor. Developer Eric Blumenfeld will use the funds to renovate the historic property into 56 loft-style apartments. The apartments will feature many of the original architecture elements, including chalkboards, window details and historic wood cabinetry. Domus Inc. is serving as contractor, while Richard Sauder and David Chou are providing architectural and engineer services. Construction is slated to begin immediately, with occupancy expected in early 2016.
GLEN MILLS, PA. — KarMar Realty Group has brokered the sale of an office building located at 1788 Wilmington Pike in Glen Mills. GHS Summit LLC purchased the two-story, 14,500-square-foot office building from Crawford Leasing LLC for $1.45 million. Justin Soss and Donald Grimes of KarMar Realty represented the seller in the transaction.
PITTSBURGH — Village Green has broken ground for the development of Southside Works City Apartments, a residential property located in Pittsburgh’s Southside Works corridor. The project will feature 264 luxury apartments, 12,000 square feet of retail space and a 562-space parking garage. Slated to open in early 2016, property will offer nano, studio, convertible, and one- and two-bedroom units, as well as penthouse apartments. On-site amenities include a restaurant/café/specialty market, concierge services, indoor/outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, business center and conference room, Zen garden and courtyard park, and a club room with a bar, televisions, fireplace and gourmet kitchen. Pittsburgh-based Rycon Construction is building the project.
ERIE, PA. — UMH Properties has acquired Holly Acres, a manufactured home community in Erie, for $3.8 million. Situated on 40 acres, the community consists of 141 developed home sites. The average occupancy for the community is 96 percent. With this acquisition, UMH own 89 communities totaling approximately 15,200 developed home sites. Additional terms of the deal were not released.
LANCASTER, PA. — Lancaster-based LMS Commercial Real Estate has arranged the sale of more than 30 assets, totaling two million square feet, to affiliates of Lakewood, N.J.-based Paramount Realty. With this transaction, Paramount Realty will have assets in excess of $1 billion, ownership of approximately 7.5 million square feet and leasing assignments in excess of 13 million square feet throughout Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Brandon Famous of CBRE|Fameco provided consulting services for the deal.
PHILADELPHIA — Integra Real Estate Capital has arranged a $1.83 million bridge loan for the acquisition of an office building located on Sandmeyer Lane in Philadelphia. The newly constructed property offers 48,750 square feet of flex office space. Integra was able to close the loan within 16 days to meet the constraint of the buyer’s 1031 exchange deadline. The non-recourse loan features a competitive interest rate and a flexible repayment structure. Igor Goldenberg of Integra negotiated the transaction on behalf of the New York-based ownership group.
BETHLEHEM, PA. — Lancaster, Pa.-based High Associates has arranged the sale of a multifamily property located at 532 Second Ave. in Bethlehem. The 18-unit property sold for $2.48 million, or $137,500 per unit, in a 1031 exchange. The property features 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom apartments with upgraded amenities, including hardwood floors, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. Additional amenities include off-street parking and a fitness center. Matthew Wolf of High Associates represented both the buyer and seller in the transaction.
CAMP HILL, PA. — Evergreen Property Trust LLC has purchased a two-building industrial property in Camp Hill from IndCor Properties in an off-market transaction for an undisclosed price. The transaction includes the 24,000-square-foot property at 2400 Gettysburg Road and the 124,000-square-foot facility at 2404 Gettysburg Road. Both properties are currently occupied and plans have been submitted for a 43,000-square-foot expansion at 2404 Gettysburg Road. Pat McBride, Adam Campbell and Gerry Blinebury of Cushman & Wakefield’s Harrisburg office, along with Leah Balerno and Marie Connell of the firm’s Philadelphia office, represented IndCor in the deal. Jason Grace of Landmark Commercial Realty represented the buyer in the transaction.
BUTLER, PA. — Cambridge Healthcare Solutions PA LP, a joint venture between Halle Enterprises and Cambridge Healthcare Solutions, has received a contract to design, build and manage a VA Health Care Center in Butler. Situated on 46 acres off North Duffy Road, the two-story, 218,000-square-foot center will provide outpatient services to veterans and their families, including primary care, specialty care, dental, lab, pathology, radiology, mental healthcare, ancillary and diagnostic services. Cambridge Development Group, a subsidiary of Cambridge Holdings, will act as the developer for the project. The center is expected to open in 2018.