INDEPENDENCE, N.J. — New Jersey-based developer Woodmont Properties has reached 75 percent occupancy at the first phase of Woodmont Liberty at Independence, a 120-unit multifamily project that is located on an 11-acre site about 60 miles west of Manhattan. The property offers one- and two-bedroom units that are furnished with custom-designed kitchens, walk-in closets, keyless entry mechanisms, individual washers and dryers and private balconies/patios. Amenities include a pool, outdoor grilling and dining areas, a fitness center, game room, conference center, walking trails and a dog park. Leasing began in April, at which point rents started at $2,440 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.
Multifamily
CHICAGO — An analysis from Origin Investments (Origin) predicts a tumultuous 2024, with concerns of a recession and elevated interest rates likely to continue. Despite this, the Chicago-based real estate fund manager expects next year to bring unique opportunities for multifamily investors to secure protected positions in the capital structure and enhance investment returns. “The volume of variable-rate bank loans — made when the Secured Overnight Financing Rate was 0 percent and the 10-year Treasury note yield was below two percent — coming due in 2024 will create a generational opportunity in senior debt and preferred equity investments,” explains David Scherer, co-CEO of Origin. “Despite uncertainties, it remains a mistake to stay out of the multifamily investment market in 2024.” Origin predicts that rent growth will stabilize to historic norms in 2024. The analysis theorizes that the negative rent growth some markets — such as Austin, Texas — experienced in 2023 was likely due to oversupply, and will reverse by January 2025. The report also indicates that long-term demand and absorption of apartments and rental homes is likely to remain strong for several years, as the U.S. is facing a shortage of between 5.5 million and 6.8 million housing units. …
BELLWOOD, ILL. — Evergreen Real Estate Group has completed Bellwood Senior Apartments, an 80-unit affordable seniors housing community in Bellwood, a western suburb of Chicago. The $31.5 million project replaces a former Walgreens store that had been vacant for nearly five years. The four-story development offers 76 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments for seniors age 62 or older with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). Evergreen says the building is 40 percent leased and will reach full occupancy in the next few months. Weese Langley Weese Architects designed the project. F.H. Paschen served as general contractor on the development. Financial partners for Bellwood Senior Apartments include the Illinois Housing Development Authority as the tax credit issuer (both Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credits) and subordinate funds provider; the Village of Bellwood, which provided a TIF loan; Bank of America, which is the investor and construction loan lender; Hudson Housing Capital, which syndicated the tax credits; Cook County, which provided HOME funds; and the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program.
CHICAGO — Interra Realty has brokered the $9.6 million sale of a 28-unit apartment building in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Located at 1900-16 N. Lincoln Ave., the property features a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units. The building, constructed in 1906, underwent a capital improvement program for new appliances, countertops, cabinets and floors. Joe Smazal of Interra represented the buyer, Chicago-based ICM Properties. He also represented the local private seller. The property was fully occupied at the time of sale.
By John Bogdasarian, Promanas At a time when the multifamily marketplace is experiencing some turbulence after an extended period of strong growth, some developers, owners and investors are rethinking, repositioning and reworking their approach to a commercial real estate sector that has historically been one of the most reliable investments and dependable asset classes. Current market conditions, however, are not as favorable. A report by The Motley Fool this summer highlighted a 21 percent decline in apartment value. Overbuilding has saturated some markets, contributing to an increase in vacancy rates to around 7 percent and helping push rent growth down to 0.8 percent. In conjunction with persistently high interest rates and increasing delinquency issues with renters, the result is that building a traditional apartment product is a very tricky proposition. Even though the apartment market is somewhat dysfunctional at the moment, there are still plenty of opportunities in multifamily. For thought leaders and forward-thinking commercial real estate investors and professionals, the key is to understand the market, be flexible in your development and investment strategies, and be able to execute an approach that does work in the current marketplace. For those looking to maximize multifamily returns in 2024, there are …
Cornerstone Community Development to Break Ground on $51M Adaptive Reuse Project in Huntington, West Virginia
by John Nelson
HUNTINGTON, W.VA. — Cornerstone Community Development Corp. plans to convert the historic Prichard Hotel in downtown Huntington into an affordable seniors housing property. The $51 million renovation will comprise converting the former hotel rooms into 108 residential living spaces, as well as repositioning the first two floors for healthcare services and additional community resources. Cornerstone Community Development’s partners on the project include Christ Temple Church, Winterwood Development and CVS Health, which is investing more than $17 million in the project. The timeline for construction was not disclosed.
Pinnacle Obtains $41.2M Construction Financing for Affordable Seniors Housing Development in South Florida
by John Nelson
MIRAMAR, FLA. — Pinnacle has obtained $41.2 million in construction financing for Pinnacle at La Cabana, a 110-unit affordable seniors housing development in Miramar, a city in South Florida’s Broward County. The financing included debt or LIHTC equity from Bank of America, Neighborhood Lending Partners, Florida Housing Finance Corp., City of Miramar and United Way of Broward County. Located at 8911 Miramar Parkway, the development is a public-private partnership between Pinnacle and the City of Miramar, which is the landowner. Pinnacle at La Cabana will feature one- and two-bedroom apartments, with 11 units reserved for seniors earning 28 percent of the area median income (AMI) and the remaining affordable to seniors earning 60 percent of AMI. Amenities will include indoor and outdoor multi-purpose facilities. Completion of the project is estimated for mid-2025.
TUPELO, MISS. — Senior Living Investment Brokerage (SLIB) has negotiated the sale of Avonlea Assisted Living, a 68-unit seniors housing property in Tupelo. The community was built in 1999 and renovated in 2005. The seller is a publicly traded REIT. The buyer is a regional owner-operator based in Mississippi that intends to renovate the asset and make significant upgrades to improve occupancy, revenue and overall bottom-line performance. The sales price was not disclosed. Bradley Clousing and Daniel Geraghty of SLIB brokered the transaction.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Richmond Group, a multifamily owner-operator based in Connecticut, has begun leasing The Prescott, a 340-unit apartment community in Austin’s South Congress neighborhood. The Prescott features 16 different floor plans, including studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units that are furnished with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, individual washers and dryers and private balconies/patios. Amenities include a pool, business center, fitness center, pet park, clubroom, package locker system and outdoor grilling and dining stations. South Florida-based V Starr handled the interior design of the project. Rents start at roughly $1,300 per month for a studio apartment.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Newmark has brokered the sale of Water Oak, a 292-unit apartment community in South Austin. Built in 2022, Water Oak offers studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Amenities include a pool, outdoor grilling and dining stations, a dog park and pet spa, clubhouse, entertainment kitchen, movie theater, business center with conference rooms and a fitness center. Austin-based JCI Residential sold the property to Chicago-based Sherman Residential for an undisclosed amount. Patton Jones and Andrew Dickson of Newmark brokered the deal.