Friday, September 26, 2008

Tribute Lofts’ Auction Results Lead to Ongoing Success Story: Auction Pricing Continues

Award-winning Tribute Lofts (top right and lower left photos) in the Old Fourth Ward Offers Parkside Urban Living in Industrial Chic Design

ATLANTA, GA – The InVision Group LLC, an Atlanta-based real estate firm specializing in urban, mixed-use and multifamily development and investment, announces that the company’s recent auction at award-winning Tribute Lofts in the Old Fourth Ward was a tremendous success and continues to generate a high volume of sales.

The auction resulted in the sale of 27 of the property’s 147 lofts, all of which have closed. Fourteen additional homes have been sold since the auction.

“Tribute Lofts’ auction was designed to sell homes quickly and to continue our sales momentum post auction by allowing the actual sales prices from the auction to determine the market value of the homes,” explains Principal Greg Wohl of The InVision Group, developer and owner of Tribute Lofts. Greg and his brother Brian Wohl, who also is a principal with the company, are the forces behind the property and auction.

When the auction was held June 22 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Atlanta, nearly half of Tribute Lofts’ total of 147 homes had sold.

Accelerated Marketing Partners conducted the one-hour auction of one- and two-bedroom lofts that sold from $130,000 to $260,000.

Many of Tribute Lofts’ purchasers are first-time buyers and many are single, young professionals.

Media Contact: Elaine McEachern, 404-355-8748
Elaine.McEachern@McEachernCommunications.com

NAIOP Central Florida Chapter Presents $44,500 Check to UCF's College of Business Administration for New Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate


From left: NAIOP chapter president Terry Delahunty, Foley & Lardner LLP; former chapter president and UCF alumna Nan McCormick, CB Richard Ellis, Inc; chapter president-elect and UCF alumnus Jeff McFadden, Taurus Investment Holdings, LLC; Dr. Thomas Keon, Dean of UCF’s College of Business Administration; former chapter president and UCF alumnus Damien Madsen, Broad Street Partners; former chapter president Mike Beale, Highwoods Properties, Inc.; and Dr. Randy I. Anderson, Howard Phillips Eminent Scholar Chair in Real Estate at UCF.

ORLANDO, FL - The Central Florida chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) presented a $44,500 check to Dr. Thomas Keon, Dean of UCF’s College of Business Administration,(top right and bottom left photos) on September 25 in support of its new Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate spearheaded by the local NAIOP chapter.

NAIOP’s check represents the latest installment of a total of $564,500 donated to UCF in payment toward its $600,000 multi-year commitment.

NAIOP’s support is generating big dividends at the school which is now up and running.. The check was presented during the 2nd Biennial NAIOP Central Florida Developers’ Bus Tour.

When completed by July 2009 and combined with the state matching gift, NAIOP’s contributions will create a $1.02 million endowment to support the Jim Heistand-NAIOP Endowed Eminent Scholar Chair in Real Estate, a second faculty position in addition to the fully-funded Howard Phillips Eminent Scholar Chair in Real Estate at UCF held by Randy I. Anderson, Ph.D.

In accepting the check, Dean Keon stated, “NAIOP continues to work hard to make sure the school is a top priority for the Central Florida real estate community.
" UCF’s Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate is off to a great start with nearly 200 students majoring or minoring in the undergraduate real estate program. Those numbers will grow as we add faculty and further develop the curriculum.”

Gifts toward Central Florida NAIOP’s $600,000 commitment include: $300,000 from NAIOP member Jim Heistand, majority owner of Orlando-based Eola Capital; $55,000 from local NAIOP chapter president-elect and UCF alumnus Jeff McFadden, managing partner, Taurus Investment Holdings LLC; $5,000 from former chapter president and UCF alumna Nan McCormick, senior vice president at CB Richard Ellis, Inc.; $5,000 from Highwoods Properties, Inc.; and $5,000 from Duke Construction.

“At this point, we need more folks to follow their lead,” said chapter president Terry Delahunty, partner, Foley & Lardner LLP. “We are currently seeking additional investment in the chair,” Delahunty explained. “We anticipate that more of our members and others will step up with needed contributions now, so we may complete the NAIOP pledge more quickly and achieve an even larger impact benefiting our community.”

Contact: Kenneth H. Cristol, 407-774-2515

Terry's Electric Active on Three Projects

Firm awarded electrical contract for new multimillion-dollar, 48-unit Silver Lake Resort, Building 1400 in Kissimmee, FL

KISSIMMEE, FL – Terry’s Electric, Inc., one of Florida’s leading electrical contractors, was awarded an electrical contract for the new multimillion-dollar, 48-unit Silver Lake Resort, (top left photo) Building 1400 in Kissimmee, FL.

Roger B. Kennedy serves as general contractor for the project which is slated for completion in September 2009 according to Mark Neveu, (top right photo) Commercial Division president of Kissimmee-based Terry’s Electric.

Firm completes Polk County Public Schools' new 263,391-square-foot High School BBB in Auburndale, FL

KISSIMMEE, FL – Terry’s Electric Inc. has completed Polk County Public Schools’ new 263,391-square-foot High School BBB located at 4905 Saddle Creek Road, Auburndale, FL.
M.M. Parrish Construction Company was general contractor for the project, according to Mark Neveu, Commercial Division president of Terry’s Electric. SCMH Architects, Lakeland, FL, served as project architect.

Terry's starts work on School District of Osceola County's new 100,000-square-foot Elementary School "L" in Poinciana, FL

KISSIMMEE, FL – Terry’s Electric Inc., has started work on the School District of Osceola County’s new 100,000-square-foot Elementary School “L” in Poinciana, FL.
W.G. Mills is the general contractor for the project which is slated for completion in February 2009 according to Mark Neveu, Commercial Division president of Terry’s Electric.

Contact: Kenneth H. Cristol 407-774-2515

HFF arranges $4.4M refinancing for northwest Houston office building

HOUSTON, TX – The Houston office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) has secured a $4.4 million refinancing for 13111 Northwest Freeway, (middle left map) a 156,000-square-foot office building in northwest Houston, Texas.

Working exclusively on behalf of Sabine Management Corporation, HFF managing director Tucker Knight (top right photo) and real estate analyst Steven Gautier placed the 10-year, 6.71%, fixed-rate loan with AIG Global Investment Group in order to refinance the existing loan encumbering the property.

“AIG provided excellent service on this transaction, which was highly prized by our client,” said Knight.

13111 Northwest Freeway is a six-story office building that is currently 86% occupied to a variety of tenants such as K. Hovnanian, Luby’s, National Marketing & Administration and Horace Mann Educators Corporation.

The property is located along Northwest Freeway in the Highway 290 northwest corridor of Houston.

HFF (NYSE: HF) operates out of 18 offices nationwide and is a leading provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services to the U.S. commercial real estate industry.
HFF offers clients a fully integrated national capital markets platform including debt placement, investment sales, structured finance, private equity, note sales and note sale advisory services and commercial loan servicing. http://www.hfflp.com/.

CONTACTS:

Tucker S. Knight, HFF Managing Director, 713 852 3500, tknight@hfflp.com

Laurie Fish McDowell, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, lmcdowell@hfflp.com

DSW Shoes Opens Store in Macon, Georgia


COLUMBUS, OH/PRNewswire/ -- DSW (NYSE:DSW), a leading multi-channel branded footwear specialty retailer, is pleased to announce the opening of a new store in Macon, Georgia on October 2nd.

The address of the new DSW store is: DSW Shoes Shoppes at River Crossing 5080 Riverside Drive Macon, GA 31210 The store will be the 1st DSW location in the Macon market.

DSW indulges the passionate shoe enthusiast. The 14,500 square foot store in Macon will provide women and men thousands of shoes, the latest styles and great prices.

Additionally, the store will have a contemporary feel, where shoppers can browse a breathtaking assortment of designer dress, casual and athletic shoes in a relaxed, comfortable setting. A clearance area will also provide customers even more unbelievable prices.

Customers are also invited to join the award-winning DSW Rewards program and receive certificates toward future DSW purchases, while taking advantage of member-only offers and events.As one of the nation's fastest growing retailers, DSW is continuously opening new stores across the country.

In 2007, DSW opened 37 stores in strategic markets. DSW plans to open at least 35 stores in 2008 and, year-to-date, has opened 24 stores.

Additionally, DSW recently launched dsw.com in response to customers' requests to shop 24 hours, 7 days a week.

DSW Inc. (NYSE:DSW) is a leading multi-channel footwear specialty retailer offering a wide selection of brand name and designer dress, casual and athletic footwear for women and men. DSW provides customers a compelling value proposition and a convenient shopping experience.

Founded in 1991 in Columbus, Ohio, today DSW operates 281 stores in 37 states and supplies footwear to 383 leased locations in other retailers nationwide. DSW also serves customers through its e-commerce site, www.dsw.com .

CONTACT: Debi Carpenter, DSW Inc., +1-614-872-1124, Debicarpenter@dswinc.com

RealtyTrac's Rick Sharga Addresses Foreclosure Market Issues at Colorado Mortgage Brokers Conference

IRVINE, CA– Rick Sharga, (top right photo) senior vice president at RealtyTrac™, the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, will be a featured speaker during the Colorado Association of Mortgage Brokers Convention & Expo Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at the Marriott Denver Tech Center.

Sharga’s educational breakout session titled “Foreclosures in Colorado” will focus on the past, present and future of the foreclosure phenomenon that has a stranglehold on the national economy.

He will also discuss recent federal legislation and the impact such actions are likely have on foreclosure activity in the foreseeable future.

“The nation’s economy is dependent on the real estate market to bottom out and turn the corner before any true healing from the mortgage crisis can begin in earnest,” said Sharga.

“The federal government is attempting to legislate the economy back to health. However, with the labor market continuing to shed jobs, more citizens filing for bankruptcy protection, and the foreclosure floodgates wide open, legislation alone is not enough.

" Investors and ordinary citizens need to feel confident of their own financial stability. Until that confidence returns to the marketplace, foreclosures will continue to delay any real economic recovery.”

According to the RealtyTrac U.S. Foreclosure Market Report for August 2008 (middle left map), the nation’s foreclosure activity rose almost 12 percent from the previous month and 27 percent from the same month in 2007.

One in every 416 U.S. households received a foreclosure filing during August. With one in every 452 households receiving a foreclosure filing in August, Colorado’s foreclosure rate was slightly below the national average but continued to rank among the 10 highest state foreclosure rates.

Colorado foreclosure activity in August was down nearly 14 percent from the previous month and nearly 30 percent from August 2007.

“Colorado was on the front edge of the national surge in foreclosure activity that we’ve seen over the past two years, and it also appears to be one of the first states to show a consistent downward trend in foreclosure activity,” Sharga said. “Our numbers show a peak in Colorado foreclosure activity in January with a fairly steady downward trend since then — some of which could be attributable to an extension of the state’s foreclosure process.

Contact: Tammy Chan, Atomic PR, 415-402-0230, tammy@atomicpr.com

HFF secures financing and joint venture equity totaling $55.2M for 240 West 35th Street in Manhattan’s Garment Center



NEW YORK, NY – The New York office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) has secured financing and joint venture equity totaling $55.2 million for 240 West 35th Street, an 18-story office building in Manhattan’s Garment Center. (Above centered photo)

HFF director Steven Klein (top right photo) and senior managing director Mike Tepedino (top left photo) worked on behalf of Hidrock Realty, Inc. to arrange the $41.2 million, senior secured financing through HSH Nordbank.

Affiliates of Meritage Properties provided $14 million in joint venture equity. Proceeds are being used to acquire, renovate and reposition the property.

Originally built in 1924, 240 West 35th Street has 162,044 square feet that is fully leased to 37 tenants. The property is located on 35th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in the Garment Center of Manhattan. Ten subway lines, a PATH station, Penn Station and the Port Authority are within blocks of the property.

“The venture between Hidrock Realty and Meritage Properties brings new ownership to this asset with significant experience in operating, renovating and managing Class B buildings in the Garment Center,” said Klein. “We would expect this strategic partnership to successfully reposition 240 West 35th Street while simultaneously enjoying the overall redevelopment of the surrounding sub-market.”

HFF (NYSE: HF) operates out of 18 offices nationwide and is a leading provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services to the U.S. commercial real estate industry.

HFF offers clients a fully integrated national capital markets platform including debt placement, investment sales, structured finance, private equity, note sales and note sale advisory services and commercial loan servicing. http://www.hfflp.com/.

CONTACTS:
Steven J. Klein, HFF Director, 212 245 2425, sklein@hfflp.com
Laurie Fish McDowell, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, 617 338 0990, lmcdowell@hfflp.com

National Retail Properties, Inc. Announces Pricing of Common Stock Offering

ORLANDO, FL, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE: NNN) today announced the pricing of its follow-on public offering of 3,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $23.05 per share.

National Retail Properties, Inc. has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 450,000 additional shares to cover over-allotments, if any.

The offering is expected to close on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, subject to customary closing conditions.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc of America Securities LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott & Stringfellow, Inc., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and Morgan Keegan & Company Inc. are acting as co-managers.

The offering is being made pursuant to a prospectus supplement to the prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the company's shelf registration statement.

National Retail Properties, Inc. Announces Public Offering of Common Stock

ORLANDO, FL /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE: NNN) (the "Company") has announced plans to sell 1,750,000 shares of its common stock in a follow-on public offering.
As part of the offering, the Company also plans to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 262,500 additional shares of common stock to cover over-allotments.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc of America Securities LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

The offering is being made pursuant to a prospectus supplement to the prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the company's shelf registration statement.