HOUSTON — New York City-based Ready Capital has closed a $13 million loan for the acquisition, renovation and stabilization of an unnamed, 152-unit apartment complex in Houston’s Medical Center submarket. The nonrecourse, interest-only loan features a 36-month term, floating interest rate, two extension options and a facility to fund future capital improvements. The undisclosed sponsor plans to implement a value-add program.
The need for affordable housing has grown, but factors like municipal slowdowns and delays in financing have helped contribute to a lack of supply. Gregg Gerken, head of U.S. Commercial Real Estate with TD Bank, spoke to REBusiness about why the need for affordable housing is at a critical juncture and why this need is so difficult to fill. Finance Insight: What is the state of affordable housing right now? Gerken: There is a supply/demand imbalance. There continues to be a desperate need for more investment in affordable housing, not less. The arrival of COVID introduced more challenges for affordable housing, but the struggle to find high-quality affordable rental housing existed well before the pandemic. Rent prices affect millions of Americans, especially those with low incomes, and rents have only increased. Furthermore, the pandemic has caused an interruption of the supply chain and much-needed new projects have been delayed. Finance Insight: Can you outline a few big-picture national trends that are most impacting affordable housing right now? Gerken: As I mentioned, the imbalance of supply and demand is negatively affecting affordable housing. Rising rental rates mean fewer people will be able to qualify for affordable housing. Coming out of COVID …
By Taylor Williams The factors that have long enticed Texas retailers and restaurants to locate in mixed-use environments are back in full force, such that these users are once again willing to pay a premium for spaces built-in density and walkability. In some ways, this trend never really disappeared in Texas, one of the first states to reopen during the early months of COVID-19. Through measures passed in 2020 like sanctioning to-go alcohol sales and allowing businesses to stay open, albeit at reduced capacities, Texas has worked to minimize retail and restaurant closures and prevent large volumes of these spaces from being returned to markets. Neither has the state’s job and population growth slowed during the 22-month global health crisis, allowing developers across all asset classes to push forward. In addition, the newfound desire from consumers and businesses to work, shop and dine outdoors as much as possible has kept trains rolling on mixed-use projects, which inherently connect different uses through external features like trails, open streets, pocket parks and plazas. From a design standpoint, those connective features remain critically important, says Barry Hand, principal in the Dallas office of global architecture firm Gensler. “Pocket or linear parks are viewed …
ALLEN, TEXAS — A partnership between JaRyCo, the master developer of the 135-acre Farm at Allen mixed-use development in metro Dallas, and multifamily developer Wood Partners has broken ground on a 325-unit multifamily project in the northeastern Dallas suburb. The property, known as Alta at The Farm, will offer studio, one- and two-bedroom units that will be furnished with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and tile backsplashes. Amenities will include a pool, fitness center, outdoor activity areas, remote workspaces and a rooftop deck. Preleasing is scheduled to begin this winter, and full completion is slated for early 2023.
HOUSTON — Stream Realty Partners will develop Raceway NW Distribution Center, a 156,000-square-foot speculative industrial project that will be located in northwest Houston. Building features will include 36-foot clear heights, 109 car parking spaces and 22 trailer parking stalls. Construction is set to begin in the second quarter, and completion is scheduled for December. Project partners include Randall-Paulson Architects and civil engineer Halff Associates. A general contractor has yet to be selected.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Dallas-based Conti Capital has acquired Pioneer Hill, a 300-unit apartment community located at 1625 Edgeworth Bend in northeast Austin. The property was built in 2021, according to Apartments.com. Units feature one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, and amenities include a pool, movie theater, 24-hour fitness center, business center, outdoor grilling and dining areas, package lockers and a dog park. The seller and sales price were not disclosed.
MANSFIELD, TEXAS — PointOne Holdings, a development and investment firm with offices in Atlanta and South Florida, has completed Main Street Lofts, a 266-unit apartment complex in the southern Fort Worth suburb of Mansfield. Units are available in studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom formats. The amenity package consists of a pool with an adjacent game lawn, fire pit and lounge, as well as a rooftop lounge with shuffleboard, fitness center with yoga and spin studios, dog park, conference rooms, biking trails and resident lounges with TVs. Information on starting rents was not disclosed.
SAN ANTONIO — New York City-based Ready Capital has closed a $24.5 million loan for the acquisition and stabilization of an unnamed, 288-unit apartment complex in San Antonio. The nonrecourse, interest-only loan features a 36-month term, floating interest rate, two extension options and a facility to fund future capital improvements. The undisclosed sponsor plans to implement a value-add program.
SAN ANTONIO — Arlington-based 180 Multifamily Properties has acquired Casa Luna and Casa del Encanto, two properties totaling 679 units that are located across the street from one another on San Antonio’s north side. According to Apartments.com, the properties offer studio, one- and two-bedroom units and amenities such as a pool, soccer field, playgrounds, outdoor grilling and dining stations and onsite laundry facilities. The seller and sales price were not disclosed. The new ownership plans to implement a capital improvement program and combine the properties into a single community that will be known as Palatia Apartment Homes.
SAN ANTONIO — Madison Realty Capital, a private equity real estate firm based in New York City, has provided a $53 million construction loan for The Josephine, a 261-unit multifamily project that will be located just outside of downtown San Antonio. The Josephine will feature studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units that will be furnished with stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops. Amenities will include a pool, fitness center and outdoor activity areas. About half the residences will be designated as affordable housing, although information on specific income restrictions was not disclosed. The borrower is locally based developer LYND Co.