Austin remains a popular destination for institutional and private multifamily investors. In the first half of 2010, there was a scarcity premium as buyer demand far exceeded the number of properties offered for sale. It was common to give 50-plus property tours and receive roughly 40 offers for a fully marketed Class A apartment community. The enormous amount of investment capital raised in 2008 and 2009 struggled to find a home in early 2010. As apartment fundamentals improved, interest rates decreased and cap rates compressed, more product came to market in the third quarter of 2010. Subsequently, the number of investor tours and offers has been cut in half. Offers today are coming from well-capitalized low leverage private investors, pension fund advisors, private funds and public REITs. Urban Class A cap rates have dropped from 6.5 percent in late 2009 to an average of 4.75 percent today. Suburban Class A cap rates are trading around 5.25 percent. The 1980s to 1990s vintage, B class product, is trading in a range from 5.75 to 6.75 percent based on quality and location. The highest conventional apartment sales prices have occurred in and around the Central Business District (CBD) where mid-rise Class A …
HOUSTON — Granite Properties has sold two of its Port of Houston industrial properties, the 356,000-square-foot Barbour's Cut Business Park and the 226,240-square-foot Bayport Container Terminal, to Duke Realty. The properties are part of a larger 15-property industrial portfolio Holliday Fenoglio Fowler (HFF) is marketing on behalf of Granite as it divests its industrial holdings to focus on office acquisitions. Barbour's Cut Business Park and Bayport Container Terminal are fully leased to Gulf Winds International with more than 10 years remaining on the lease. Rusty Tamlyn and Trent Agnew of HFF represented Granite in the sale.
SAN ANTONIO — Paseo Pointe, a 252-unit multifamily property located at 3787 Perrin Central Blvd. in San Antonio, has changed hands. Built in 2003, it consists of 144 one-bedroom, 84 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom units. Amenities include carports, garages, a pool and a fitness center. San Antonio-based Perrin Oaks I, Ltd. sold the property to Austin-based Sendera SA Investments, L.P. Mike Miller and Will Caruth of Hendricks & Partners' San Antonio office represented both parties.
AUSTIN — Four Corners Shopping Center, a 31,556-square-foot retail property located at 111 W. William Cannon Dr. in Austin, has sold. James Bell of Marcus & Millichap's Houston office represented both the buyer and seller, both undisclosed partnerships, in the transaction. Four Corners Shopping Center is 100 percent occupied.
AUSTIN — Whit Hanks Properties' 500 Lamar, a multi-tenant Class A retail property that sits on one acre of land directly across Lamar Boulevard from Whole Foods Market headquarters at the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and West Fifth Street in Austin, has sold to a Houston-based institutional investor. CB Richard Ellis' Walter Saad and Cathy Nabours represented the seller. The property is 100 percent leased.
ABILENE — The Ensign Group has acquired Wisteria Place, a continuing care retirement community, and its sister facility, Wisteria Independent Living, both in Abilene. The facilities will be operated by a subsidiary of Keystone Care, Ensign's Texas-based portfolio subsidiary. Wisteria Place is a full-service care campus located at 3202 S. Willis St. in Abilene that operates 123 skilled nursing beds, 77 assisted living units and 20 independent living cottages. Wisteria Independent Living is located at 3917 Wisteria Way in Abilene and operates 72 independent living units.
HOUSTON — Florida Chemical, a citrus industry company, has purchased a 39,086-square-foot warehouse and distribution building located at 19914 GH Cir. in northwest Houston. Bill Rudolf and Gray Gilbert of CB Richard Ellis represented Florida Chemical, while John Nicholson and Doug Nicholson of Grubb & Ellis represented the seller, PPG Architectural Finishes.
WYLIE – Kansas City Southern (KCS) Railway Co. has purchased 28.3 acres of land in the northeast quadrant of Spring Creek Parkway and Centennial Drive in Wylie. It is the last remaining tract of land zoned for heavy industrial around KCS Railway’s existing rail yard, in which it will be incorporated. Pooran, L.P., sold the property and was represented by Tom Grunnah of Henry S. Miller Brokerage. Andrew Ward and Terry Darrow of Jones Lang LaSalle represented KCS Railway.
PLANO – Atlanta-based Centennial Holding Co. has received a $28 million acquisition loan for Century Legacy Village, a 328-unit Class A multifamily property offering one-, two- and three-bedroom units in Plano. Amenities include a clubhouse, a business center, a fitness center, a resort-style pool and controlled access gates. Walker & Dunlop provided the loan, which is structured with a 10-year term with 2 years interest only and a 30-year amortization, by utilizing Fannie Mae’s DUS product. Century Legacy Village is 98 percent occupied.
RICHARDSON – Arapaho Gardens, a 38,218-square-foot office property located at 1121-1149 Rockingham Ln. in Richardson has changed hands. An Iowa-based private investor sold the property to a Dallas-based owner/user and limited liability company. The institutionally owned property is approximately 69 percent occupied. It consists of four one- and two-story buildings on the corner of Arapaho Road and Rockingham Lane, approximately three-fourths of a mile west of North Central Expressway. Ron Hebert of Marcus & Millichap’s Dallas office represented the seller.