Mark Gould, national production manager of M&T Realty Capital Corporation, believes the seniors housing continuum of care may hold vast opportunities for those with the know-how and discipline to weather any short-term storms. Where do lending opportunities – and challenges – lie in 2019? Gould: We have been active in the seniors housing sector for a very long time. We see this asset class continuing to grow in 2019 as the U.S. aging population will drive growth. Challenges will lie with inexperienced parties trying to capitalize on the favorable demographic trends who do not fully understand the complexity of operating in the healthcare space. Wage pressures and nurse staffing shortages will further heighten the operating challenges in this space. I also think dollar volumes will stay steady. Rising rates have placed some DSC [debt service coverage] limitations and have required more equity into deals. There didn’t seem to be as many large portfolio deals in fiscal year 2018, which we believe resulted in a heightened number of transactions. This is an indication of a healthy market. Does the seniors housing market have room to grow beyond its 2018 activity? Gould: We are seeing some very innovative solutions from our customers that …
Southeast
Hilary Provinse, executive vice president and head of mortgage banking at Berkadia, highlights the trends, strategies and activity attendees should have on their radar ahead of MBA CREF 2019 in February. Coming off a strong and surprisingly consistent year in 2018, we’re feeling good about 2019. The year is off to an interesting start to say the least, and we’re keeping our eye on several factors. These include Treasury rates, the regulatory environment, tariffs and development costs that will impact our business. Even keeping these in mind, however, there are positive factors that point to the potential for continued economic strength and activity in the multifamily market. Fundamentals of the Economy Remain Very Strong Unemployment continues to fall, and jobless claims remain extraordinarily low. Despite the recent decrease in consumer confidence — volatile in its own right — it remains near the highest levels since 9/11. GDP growth also remains strong with consumption, investment and government outlays all supportive. Multifamily Demand-Supply Dynamics Remain Solid The percent of population living in multifamily units has experienced a slow, but consistent, increase since the 2008 financial crisis. Loan maturities are expected to increase in 2019 versus 2018 across several sources. Maturities are inevitable events that …
RICHMOND, VA. — RMR Office Property Fund, a real estate investment fund managed by a subsidiary of The RMR Group Inc., has purchased a 355,449-square-foot, Class A office building located at 9954 Mayland Drive in Richmond for $56 million. The asset was 98 percent leased at the time of the sale. The building is situated about 12 miles northwest of downtown Richmond and recently underwent $16 million in renovations to add a new four-story parking garage, new roof, new fitness center and a cafeteria, as well as updated lobbies, elevators and building mechanical systems. The seller was not disclosed.
North Signal Capital, Westport Capital Break Ground on 450,000 SF Industrial Park in Savannah
by Alex Tostado
SAVANNAH, GA. — North Signal Capital and Westport Capital have broken ground on Dean Forest Commerce, a 450,000-square-foot industrial park in Savannah. The development will consist of two sites: Site I will span 355,000 square feet when complete, and Site II will span 88,000 square feet when complete. Anticipated completion for both sites is slated for December, and both sites are being built to accommodate multiple tenants. The development will be situated about seven miles from Port of Savannah. The development team includes North Signal, Evans General Contractors, Thomas & Hutton and LS3P.
Hall Structured Finance Provides $37.5M Construction Loan for New Hotel in Downtown Atlanta
by Alex Tostado
ATLANTA — Hall Structured Finance has provided a $37.5 million construction loan for a new Reverb Hotel in downtown Atlanta. Amenities will include a five-story parking garage; meeting space, a restaurant and a business center on the ground floor; and a rooftop bar with observation deck on the 11th floor. The 195-room hotel is expected to be delivered in February 2020 and will become part of Castleberry Park, a mixed-use development adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. Reverb Hotel is a Hardrock Hotels product. Will James of NorthMarq Capital arranged the loan on behalf of the borrower, Bolton Atlanta LP, a hotel owner and developer based in Atlanta.
PEACHTREE CITY, GA. — Logistics firm SMC3 has broken ground on its future 80,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in Peachtree City. The new headquarters is situated about 36 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta and is expected to deliver in March 2020. SMC3 is a shipping logistics company that specializes in LTL (less than truckload) shipping. Jefferson Browne Gresham Architects designed the building and South-Tree Enterprises will build it. The site will feature a three-story atrium, smart glass, acoustical metal decks to improve sound absorption and extensive natural lighting.
RICHMOND, VA. — Big V Property Group has acquired Pocono Crossing, a 180,845-square-foot shopping center located at 10400 Midlothian Turnpike in Richmond for $12.3 million. Situated about 11 miles west of downtown Richmond, Pocono Crossing was 84 percent leased at the time of sale to tenants including Burlington, Tuesday Morning, Chuck E. Cheese’s, Catherines, Hong Kong Buffet and Boost Mobile. Catharine Spangler of Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. AND RALEIGH, N.C. — Carroll Organization has acquired three apartment properties totaling 1,012 units in Jacksonville and Raleigh for $145 million. All three communities will be part of Carroll Multifamily Real Estate Fund V LP, managed by Carroll Management Group and rebranded under the Arium name. Sellers were not disclosed. The 288-unit Autumn Cove and the 272-unit Vista Grande are adjacent communities in Jacksonville. The properties will be renamed Arium Retreat at Orange Park and Arium Reserve at Orange Park. Both feature pools, fitness centers and dog parks. Stonehenge Apartments is a 452-unit property in Raleigh. Amenities include a multi-level fitness center, pools, cabanas, playground and sports club with racquetball, basketball and tennis courts. The location provides convenient access to the Research Triangle and downtown Raleigh. “All three assets are consistent with a strategy of acquiring high-quality workforce housing within supply-constrained submarkets near employment centers in high-growth metro areas,” says M. Patrick Carroll, CEO of Carroll Organization. Atlanta-based Carroll has now purchased 29 properties totaling more than $1.5 billion over the past 12 months. The privately held real estate company manages approximately 35,000 multifamily units across eight states. — Kristin Hiller
ATLANTA — Cushman & Wakefield has arranged the $106.7 million sale of an 18-property apartment portfolio across the Southeast and Texas. The portfolio comprises 1,858 units. There are seven properties in Alabama; five in Pensacola, Fla.; three in Tennessee; a 200-unit property in Pascagoula, Miss.; a 203-unit property in Winston-Salem, N.C.; and a 223-unit property in Houston. Tyler Averitt and Craig Hey of Cushman & Wakefield’s Atlanta office represented the seller, Varden Capital Properties, in the transaction. The Walden Group acquired the properties.
SILVER SPRING, MD. — A joint venture between The Donaldson Group, Declaration Capital and DRA Advisors has acquired Montgomery White Oak Apartments, a 592-unit, garden-style apartment community in Silver Spring, for $86.8 million. The partnership plans to renovate the property, with the main focus of the renovation being the heating and cooling systems in each unit. Montgomery White Oak Apartments is situated on 28 acres adjacent to White Oak Federal Research Campus, home to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) headquarters and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Bill Roohan, Mike Muldowney, Brian Margerum and Martha Hastings of CBRE represented the seller, Joncon Venture LLP, in the sale. Maxi Thiels Leachman and David Webb of CBRE arranged acquisition financing through Freddie Mac on behalf of the buyers.