Top Stories

AIG Global Real Estate Sells Multifamily Property in Flanders, N.J. for $183.3M

by Christina Cannon February 5, 2016

FLANDERS, N.J. — AIG Global Real Estate Corp. (AIG) has sold a 1,224-unit multifamily property in Flanders, approximately 45 miles west of Jersey City, for $183.3 million. The undisclosed buyer acquired the asset, Oakwood Village, clear of existing debt. Oakwood Village, located at 77 Oakwood Village along Route 206, is situated on 167 acres. The property is comprised of 107 two- and three-story buildings. The buildings feature one- and two-bedroom units that average 823 square feet. Amenities at Oakwood Village include a swimming pool, tennis court, multiple playgrounds, two dog parks and garage parking. The property is 95 percent leased. “There is significant upside in Oakwood, and the buyer will be capitalizing on that,” says Jose Cruz, senior managing director for HFF. “The proximity to the highway and easy access to retail shops and restaurants make this asset very valuable.” Jose Cruz, Andrew Scandalios, Kevin O’Hearn, Michael Oliver, Steve Simonelli and Mark Thomson make up the investment sales team for HFF that represented the seller in the transaction. This transaction follows the sale of a 12-property multifamily portfolio that HFF brokered on behalf of AIG in December. The disposition of the 13 properties totals $348.8 million.

February 5, 2016

Hospitality New York Northeast Top Stories

Hersha Hospitality Trust Sells JV Interest in Seven Manhattan Hotels for $571.4M

by John Nelson February 4, 2016

NEW YORK CITY — Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE: HT) has signed definitive agreements to sell ownership interests in seven of its limited-service hotels in Manhattan for a total purchase price of $571.4 million. The Philadelphia-based hotel REIT sold its interests to joint venture partner Cindat Capital Management Ltd. Totaling 1,087 rooms, the hotels include Holiday Inn Express Times Square, Candlewood Suites Times Square, Hampton Inn Times Square, Hampton Inn Chelsea, Hampton Inn Herald Square, Holiday Inn Wall Street and Holiday Inn Express Wall Street. “Manhattan’s preeminence as a financial, cultural and technological hub, combined with the security and scarcity of its real estate, provides significant yield for a strategic, long-term partner such as Cindat,” says Neil Shah, president and chief operating officer of Hersha Hospitality. “We intend to utilize a portion of the sale proceeds to make hotel investments in Washington, D.C., and California, continue our share repurchase program and repay debt.” The proposed joint venture is structured with Cindat as the preferred joint venture partner holding a 70 percent ownership stake, while Hersha retains a 30 percent equity interest. Cushman & Wakefield represented Hersha in the transaction. Hersha will continue to fully own 10 hotels in New York City …

February 4, 2016

Features Loans Multifamily Top Stories

CBRE is Freddie Mac’s Top Multifamily Lender for 2015 with $6.96B in Volume

by Haisten Willis February 4, 2016

ORLANDO, FLA. — CBRE was Freddie Mac’s highest-producing multifamily mortgage seller in 2015, originating $6.96 billion in loans last year. Freddie Mac made the announcement at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s commercial real estate finance and multifamily housing convention in Orlando on Feb. 2. In total, Freddie Mac bought $47.3 billion in new multifamily loans in 2015, comprising 650,000 rental units. “CBRE had another terrific year placing loans with Freddie Mac and earning its top producer award for the seventh consecutive year,” says Mitchell Kiffe, a senior managing director of debt and structured finance at CBRE. “CBRE utilized Freddie Mac’s expanded product offerings, such as its small balance loan program, to achieve the number one ranking. We look forward to another big origination year as multifamily loan demand remains strong.” Freddie Mac securitizes about 90 percent of the multifamily loans it purchases, thus transferring the vast majority of the expected credit risk from taxpayers to private investors. “We have a tremendous partnership with our lender partners, who work tirelessly every day to provide apartment financing,” says John Cannon, senior vice president of Freddie Mac’s multifamily production and sales. “Support for this market is more important than ever, especially with the increased …

February 4, 2016

marriott-springhill-suites-hotel-seattle

Hospitality Top Stories Western

Moody National REIT II to Purchase SpringHill Suites Seattle for $74.1M

by Haisten Willis February 3, 2016

SEATTLE — Moody National REIT II has entered into an agreement to purchase the Marriott SpringHill Suites Hotel in Seattle for $74.1 million, excluding closing costs. The SpringHill Suites Seattle is a select-service hotel consisting of 234 guest rooms. Located on the southeast corner of Stewart Street and Yale Avenue in downtown Seattle, the SpringHill Suites Seattle is situated along one of the city’s major transportation routes with access to the corporate homes of Amazon.com, Microsoft, Nordstrom and REI. The hotel is also located near Puget Sound and is within walking distance of the Seattle Space Needle. “Located downtown in a global gateway city accommodating travelers from around the world, and home to companies including Amazon.com, Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks, this investment presents itself as an attractive addition to our portfolio,” says Brett Moody, CEO and chairman of REIT II. Forbes magazine named Seattle the “No. 1 Best City for Jobs in 2015” based on 16 metrics including job opportunities, employment growth, monthly median starting salary, median annual income, time spent working and commuting, and housing affordability. Due to its geographic location, Seattle is a national hub for manufacturing, technology industries, international business, trade and tourism. Moody National REIT II …

February 3, 2016

Multifamily New Jersey Northeast Top Stories

AvalonBay Buys 217-Unit Apartment Community in New Jersey for $129.7M

by Katie Sloan February 2, 2016

HOBOKEN, N.J. — AvalonBay Communities Inc. has acquired Halstead 800 Madison, a 217-unit, transit-oriented, Class A apartment community located in Hoboken, for $129.7 million. The property is located at the intersection of Madison and 8th streets. The location is one block from the 9th Street Light Rail Station, which provides access to the Hoboken PATH Station, as well as Jersey City, Bayonne and Weehawken. The PATH station, accessible by way of the property’s complimentary shuttle service, provides access to the World Trade Center and Lower Manhattan. Completed in 2008, the five-story property offers one-, two- and three-bedroom units averaging 998 square feet. The community features an expansive courtyard with a resort-style swimming pool and hot tub, sundeck, barbecue dining area, bocce court and fire pit. Other amenities include a fitness center, yoga studio, children’s playroom, pet spa, bike repair shop, 24/7 concierge service, two rooftop decks and a media room with a full kitchen and lounge seating. Jose Cruz, Andrew Scandalios, Kevin O’Hearn, Michael Oliver and Stephen Simonelli of HFF brokered the transaction on behalf of the seller, The DSF Group. HFF previously assisted The DSF Group in the acquisition of the property in late 2013. As of September 2015, …

February 2, 2016

Features Top Stories

Despite Volatility on Wall Street, Commercial Real Estate’s Performance Continues to Shine

by Christina Cannon February 2, 2016

ORLANDO, FLA. — The U.S. economy and the stock market are sending opposite messages to the commercial real estate community, causing many industry professionals to scratch their heads. On the one hand, the leading economic indicators are solid. Monthly gains in nonfarm payroll employment averaged 280,000 during the fourth quarter of 2015, and the national unemployment rate ended the year at 5 percent. Average hourly earnings rose 2.5 percent in 2015, a sign that wage growth is accelerating. The Federal Reserve’s decision in December to raise short-term rates by a quarter percentage point — the first such move in nearly 10 years — was an acknowledgment that the recovery has legs. Real gross domestic product grew a modest 2.4 percent in 2015. But the Dow has fallen about 2,000 points in the last couple of weeks, and the 10-year Treasury yield has dropped approximately 40 basis points during the same period. Meanwhile, several of Europe’s central banks have cut key interest rates below zero. The Bank of Japan did the same in late January to stimulate its economy. Add to the mix the concerns about China’s economic growth and conflict in the Middle East, and it’s easy to see why …

February 2, 2016

Hospitality Kentucky Southeast Top Stories

Omni Breaks Ground on $289M Omni Louisville Hotel in Kentucky

by Jeff Shaw February 1, 2016

LOUISVILLE, KY. — Omni Hotels & Resorts has broken ground on the 612-room Omni Louisville Hotel, the brand’s first property in Kentucky. The hotel will be located at Liberty and 2nd Street in downtown Louisville, one block from Kentucky International Convention Center. Development costs for the public-private project are estimated at $289 million. The 30-story hotel is set to open in early 2018. “Today was much more than just breaking ground on the Omni Louisville Hotel,” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Today’s groundbreaking is symbolic of the future transformation of our city and the prosperity yet to come. This hotel will not only help bolster our reputation as a leading meetings and leisure destination, but will serve as a cornerstone where our downtown community can connect.” Amenities at the hotel will include an all-day dining venue, lobby lounge, and rooftop pool bar and grill, in addition to Bob’s Steak & Chop House. The top floors will also feature 225 luxury apartments. The property will provide approximately 70,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, a fitness center, spa and speakeasy with a bowling alley. A grocery store is set to open adjacent to the hotel, …

February 1, 2016

Features Loans Southeast Top Stories Uncategorized

MBA Convention Kicks Off With Wells Fargo Named Top Mortgage Servicer for 2015

by Christina Cannon February 1, 2016

ORLANDO, FLA. — Wells Fargo Bank N.A. was the top commercial and multifamily mortgage servicer by volume for all of 2015, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The annual ranking was released Sunday during the opening day of the MBA’s 2016 Commercial Real Estate Finance and Multifamily Housing Convention & Expo at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. The conference, which runs through Wednesday, Feb. 3, is expected to attract 3,000 commercial real estate finance professionals from across the industry. Under the big tent are mortgage bankers, life company and bank lenders, agency lenders, investment bankers, service providers and many others. The MBA rankings also show Wells Fargo, PNC/Midland, KeyBank, and Berkadia were the largest master and primary servicers of commercial/multifamily loans in U.S. commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS), collateralized debt obligations (CDO) and other asset-backed securities (ABS) during 2015. A primary servicer is generally responsible for collecting loan payments from borrowers, performing property inspections and other property-related activities. A master servicer is typically responsible for collecting cash and data from primary servicers and then providing that cash and data, through trustees, to investors. To view a copy of the report, click here. Capital Spigot Remains Open Kathy Marquardt, vice president of commercial …

February 1, 2016

Decron Properties Acquires Two Apartment Communities in Los Angeles Suburb for $126.5M

by Christina Cannon January 29, 2016

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Decron Properties Corp. has acquired the 249-unit Los Robles Apartments and the 142-unit Marlowe Apartments for $126.5 million. The two properties are located a mile from one another in Thousand Oaks, a northwestern suburb of Los Angeles. Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap, represented the seller, in the transaction. Although the seller’s name wasn’t disclosed in the news release, local media have identified the seller as Prometheus Real Estate Group. The two-property portfolio consists of 391 units, and the sales price equates to $324,000 per unit. “These two complexes provide the new owner with a significant value-add opportunity and a sizeable footprint in Ventura County’s most sought-after locale,” says Greg Harris, executive director at IPA. Built in 1972, Los Robles Apartments is a 220,778-net-rentable-square-foot, two-story apartment community that consists of 32 buildings situated on 11.6 acres. Community amenities include a clubhouse, a children’s play area, a heated swimming pool, spa and covered parking. Los Robles Apartments features one- and two-bedroom floor plans, and units include granite or cultured marble countertops, plank flooring and ductless air conditioning and heating. Marlowe Apartments was built in 1966 and includes 28 buildings totaling 181,100 net rentable square feet situated …

January 29, 2016

Trinity Place Holdings Unveils Plans for 50-Story Mixed-Use Tower in Lower Manhattan

by John Nelson January 28, 2016

NEW YORK CITY — Trinity Place Holdings Inc. (NYSE MKT: TPHS), a real estate investment and management firm, has unveiled plans for a 50-story mixed-use project located at 77 Greenwich St. in New York City’s Financial District in Lower Manhattan. The plan calls for the 285,000-square-foot project to feature 85 luxury residential condominiums and 7,000 square feet of retail space on Greenwich Street, as well as a 476-seat elementary school serving District 2. Trinity Place, owner and developer of the project, declined to disclose the project’s development costs. Slated for completion in 2019, the development site includes the former Syms clothing store and the Dickey House, a Federal-style townhouse constructed in the early 1800s. Trinity Place plans to restore the exterior of the Dickey House and the interior will be adaptively reused. “We are happy to share that we anticipate construction of the project starting this year,” says Matthew Messinger, president and CEO of Trinity Place Holdings. “We are also proud to be working with the New York City School Construction Authority in connection with their efforts to bring a much needed new public school to Lower Manhattan. As Downtown Manhattan continues to see more than $30 billion of public …

January 28, 2016

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