THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS — The J. Beard Real Estate Co. has brokered the sale of a 74,940-square-foot office building located at 2700 Research Forest Drive in The Woodlands, about 30 miles north of Houston. The property was 100 percent leased at the time of sale to eight tenants. SJBC Commercial XIX LLC purchased the property from Dallas-based Novel Office Systems/Soft-Tech SM for an undisclosed price. Jeff Beard of J. Beard brokered the sale.
IRVING, TEXAS — Greysteel has negotiated the sale of Rock Island, a 154-unit apartment property in Irving. Floor plans at the property, which was built in 1973, include one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Doug Banerjee, Boyan Radic, Andrew Mueller, Andrew Hanson, Scott Simon and Jack Stone of Greysteel represented the seller in the transaction. Other terms of sale were not disclosed.
Capital sources of all types see opportunity in the apartment sectors of core Texas markets, which regularly lead the nation in employment and population gains. With so many investors trying to park money in this space, sales prices have risen, cap rates for multifamily properties in major markets have compressed and lenders are competing among themselves to finance acquisitions. When lenders compete, borrowers win. For multifamily lending in sizable markets, value-add borrowers are seeing tighter spreads on their loans, a factor of both more lenders entering the space and the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise short-term interest rates. But rising land and construction costs have also contributed to skyrocketing prices on newly built multifamily product, which has weeded out some potential investors. Rather than shun the market entirely, however, many of these buyers are targeting Class B and C assets for value-add plays that will attract residents who can afford higher rents. In Texas, these kinds of deals are being executed at record paces. “The transaction velocity for value-add multifamily deals has been at historical highs in this cycle,” says Warren Hitchcock, senior vice president in NorthMarq Capital’s Houston office. “The significant amount of capital flowing into the space, combined …
FRISCO, TEXAS — Kansas City-based VanTrust Real Estate LLC will develop The Offices Two at Frisco Station, a 210,000-square-foot speculative office project in Frisco. Construction of the six-story building, which will be located adjacent to The Star, will begin later this month with completion slated for September 2019. Amenities will include structured parking, a fitness center, conference center and tenant lounge. HKS Inc. is serving as project architect, Manhattan Construction is the design-build contractor and Kimley Horn & Associates is the civil engineer. Cushman & Wakefield will handle marketing and leasing of the property.
CONROE, TEXAS — Multifamily owner/operator American Landmark has acquired Hilltops Apartments, a 208-unit multifamily community in Conroe, located about 40 miles north of Houston. Built in 2017, the property offers one- and two-bedroom units averaging 881 square feet. Amenities include a pool, business center, game room, a fitness center and onsite laundry facilities. American Landmark plans to invest about $800,000 in capital improvements to the property, which was 92 percent occupied at the time of sale. The seller was not disclosed.
MIDLOTHIAN, TEXAS — Methodist Health System has acquired 67 acres in Midlothian, a southwestern suburb of Dallas, for the development of a 190,000-square-foot acute care hospital and a 45,000-square-foot medical office building. The project is expected to employ about 300 healthcare professionals. Kyle Libby and Michael Collins of MedCore Partners represented Methodist in the land sale. Joe Rust of Joe Rust Co. represented the sellers in that deal. Construction of the new medical development is expected to begin later this year and wrap up in 2020.
CIUDAD JUÁREZ, MEXICO — CBRE has negotiated an industrial lease renewal in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, located directly across the border from El Paso. The tenant, CommScope, a North Carolina-based provider of communications infrastructure equipment, occupies 188,000 square feet of warehouse and distribution space. Anthony Mash of CBRE represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. The landlord, HSBC Mexico, was self-represented.
KATY, TEXAS — MARS Properties LLC has broken ground on High Point West, an 89,440-square-foot distribution center in Katy, a western suburb of Houston. Situated on 7.2 acres, the property will feature 32-foot clear heights, as well as access to controlled truck courts and to the Interstate 10 corridor. CBRE will market the property, which is expected to be complete by spring 2019.
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — A partnership between San Antonio-based multifamily management and development firm Lynd and Houston-based T.R. Inscore LLC will develop Ranch at Arrington, a 272-unit multifamily project in College Station. The market-rate property, which will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom units ranging in size from 539 to 1,402 square feet, will be located in close proximity to Texas A&M University. Amenities will include a pool and spa, volleyball court, meeting rooms and a fitness center. Construction is scheduled to begin later this month. Completion is slated for December 2019.
BAYTOWN, TEXAS — Dallas-based Abby Development has begun work on The Lodge at Pine Creek, a 217-unit seniors housing project in Baytown, an eastern suburb of Houston. The community will offer independent living and memory care services. The 17-acre, resort-style property will feature amenities such as a stocked fishing lake, walking trails, movie theaters, a pool, salon, fitness center, a pharmacy and general store. Completion is slated for the second quarter of 2020.
