RealtyTrac Announces Addition of Veteran Online Ad Sales Director Lesley Churchill

Lesley Churchill

 IRVINE, CA  — RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), the nation’s leading source for comprehensive housing data, announced today the recent appointment of sales executive Lesley Churchill as Director of Online Ad Sales.

 In this role, Lesley is tasked with expanding the online ad sales revenue and market share for the company.

Most recently she worked at Time Inc. where she exceeded revenue goals by more than 30 percent within the first year.  Previously, she worked with the executive team at Local Corporation, a local search and advertising technology company to help launch the company’s ad network Fusion where she was responsible for national advertising.

Additionally, she worked with the Wall Street Journal Office Network, where she served as Southwest Sales Director and the Business Journals where she grew her territory by 75 percent, The San Jose Business Journal, where she received the company’s highest sales award as top local producer and the San Francisco Business Times, where she received the company’s award for the largest increase in sales year-over-year. 

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Ginny Walker

949.502.8300, ext. 268

Ginny.walker@realtytrac.com

George Smith Partners Grows Leadership Team: Names Three New Principals

Bryan Shaffer

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 4, 2015) – National commercial real estate investment banking firm George Smith Partners has named three new Principals for the firm. 

The three new Principals, Bryan Shaffer, Jonathan Lee and Shahin Yazdi, join the firms existing Principals Steve Bram, Gary E. Mozer, David Rifkind, Gary M. Tenzer and Malcolm Davies.

“Our diverse and innovative structuring expertise, as well as our deep lender knowledge and relationships, enable us to customize financing for property ranging from $3 million to $350 million, including highly leveraged participating debt and joint venture equity,” notes Gary Tenzer, one of the founding Principals.

 “Bryan, Jonathan and Shahin have proven themselves to be an integral part of our success, contributing to the more than $2.15 billion in financing we arranged throughout the United States in the last year.  They also embody the standards of uncompromising diligence and ethics we set for ourselves.”

Jonathan Lee

According to Tenzer, the three new Principals each bring expertise and drive that assists George Smith Partners in the growth of its national platform, as well as in its philanthropic commitment. 

The firm currently supports more than 40 philanthropic organizations, in addition to academic and industry organizations.

Principal Bryan Shaffer

Industry Veteran Bryan Shaffer, who joined George Smith Partners in 2011, brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his new role as Principal at the firm.

Shaffer has closed more than $4 billion in financing throughout his career. During his time at George Smith Partners, Shaffer has arranged structured financing for multifamily and commercial properties, including acquisition, refinance, construction, bridge and permanent loans, mezzanine and participating debt, and joint venture equity.

   

Shahin Yazdi

Principal Jonathan Lee

Lee joined George Smith Partners more than a decade ago in 2005, and has since arranged more than $1 billion in financing. He has a noted expertise in both ground-up development financing, as well as stabilized permanent financing.

Principal Shahin Yazdi

The youngest Principal to ever join George Smith Partners, at age 32 Yazdi brings a decade of experience in commercial real estate, and has served the firm for more than eight years, since joining George Smith Partners in 2007.

During his tenure with the firm, Yazdi has worked locally, regionally and nationally, securing financing across all properties types and classes, as well as working with many types of lenders, including CMBS, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, insurance companies, and portfolio lenders.  

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Corynne Randel/ Jenn Quader

Brower, Miller & Cole

(949) 955-7940

CBRE Closes $29 Million Sale of Laguna Oaks Apartments in Orlando, FL

Shelton Granade

Orlando, FL – June 1, 2015 – CBRE’s Shelton Granade, Luke Wickham, and Justin Basquill

arranged the sale of Laguna Oaks, a 360-unit gated community in Orlando, Florida.

Located at 3211 S. Semoran Blvd., the lakeside property was acquired from Ram Realty Services by Avesta Communities for $29.15 million. CBRE exclusively represented the seller in the

transaction.

“The Laguna Oaks sale was very competitively bid and speaks to the demand for infill, value-add

offerings in Orlando,” said Mr. Granade, Executive Vice President of CBRE Capital

Markets, Multifamily. 

“This asset has tremendous visibility and a unique location on the lake, and new ownership can realize increased returns through comprehensive interior renovations and amenity improvements.”

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Elizabeth Cross or

 Melinda Sherwood

+1 305 428 6373 +1 305 381 6453

elizabeth.cross@cbre.com

melinda.sherwood@cbre.com

Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort Breaks Ground on Cottages at River Row Neighborhood and West Peninsula Pool in Ottawa, IL

Rendering of Cottages at River Row, Ottawa, IL

 OTTAWA, IL – Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort, a marina resort community on the Illinois River in Ottawa, Ill., within Starved Rock Country, announces it has broken ground on the Cottages at River Row, a new pocket neighborhood of single-family homes and duplex residences surrounding a new community pool on the resort’s West Peninsula.

Located just 90 minutes southwest of Chicago, Heritage Harbor Ottawa is a 142-acre master-planned development of single-family homes, townhomes, vacation cottages, carriage homes and condos, centered on a 32-acre harbor and full-service marina.

With its offering of boating amenities, waterfront living, and nearby recreational opportunities such as Starved Rock State Park and the I&M Canal Trail, the community offers a resort lifestyle for those seeking a vacation, retirement or full-time residence in this region.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Sarah Lyons, slyons@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4520

 Kim Manning, kmanning@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4527

Construction Complete, Model Homes Open at Alexan Auburn Lakes In Houston, TX

Barbara J. Gaffen

CHICAGO, IL – Northbrook, Ill.-based Prime Property Investors (PPI) has announced that construction at Alexan Auburn Lakes, a newly built 346-unit luxury apartment community in Houston, is complete and includes two fully decorated model homes open to tour.

Located along West Rayford and Gosling roads, Alexan Auburn Lakes is nestled in a serene setting among native hardwood trees with its own private lake. 

In the fall of 2013, PPI partnered with Dallas-based Trammell Crow Residential (TCR) to develop the 12.5-acre gated community situated at the edge of The Woodlands.

“Completing construction at Alexan Auburn Lakes and opening model homes to tour is such an exciting milestone for us,” said Barbara J. Gaffen, co-CEO of PPI. “We have enjoyed seeing the community go from being blueprints to being a ‘home.’

“Renters have been drawn to the uniqueness of Alexan Auburn Lakes. The community offers residents more of a resort-like lifestyle that is reflected in the architecture and design of the buildings, clubhouse and surrounding grounds, not to mention the property’s full suite of amenities meant to enhance and complement residents’ daily lives,” added Gaffen.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Kelly Shumaker kshumaker@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4519

Emily Johnson, ejohnson@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4522

Crossman & Co. welcomes Immunotek Bio Centers and Furniture Liquidator USA to Plaza on Main

Rochelle DuBrule

Orlando, F– Plaza on Main welcomes two new tenants, Immunotek Bio Centers and Furniture Liquidator USA to the 93,988 square-foot shopping center.

The shopping center is located at 1700 N. Main Street in Kissimmee, near the historic downtown Kissimmee shopping district. Notable tenants include Save-A-Lot, Family Dollar, Bennett Auto Supply and Rent-A-Center.

Crossman & Company’s Leasing Associate, Rochelle DuBrule co-brokered the Immunotek Bio Centers leasing deal with Donald McLaughlin of Hyland Realty.

“Immunotek Bio Centers and Furniture Liquidator USA are fantastic additions to Plaza on Main,” said Bruce Lyons, one of the owners for Plaza on Main.

For more available leasing opportunities at Plaza on Main, contact Rochelle at (407) 581-6248 or via email at rdubrule@crossmanco.com.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Sydnie Cobb

Crossman & Company

scobb@crossmanco.com

407.581.6261

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Names Angel Prado Global Real Estate Advisor at Lake Nona, FL Marketing Center

Angel Prado

ORLANDO, FL --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has named Angel Prado a Global Real Estate Advisor at its Lake Nona Marketing Center on Narcoossee Rd. in the Lake Nona Plaza.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner at Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Prado has been in real estate more than a year focusing on the Lake Nona, Baldwin Park, Celebration and attractions areas of Orlando. 

Prado who was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in Orlando and witnessed the evolution of one of the largest tourist destinations in the world. 

Prior to starting a real estate career, Prado was an administrator with Aon Hewitt handling risk, reinsurance and administered benefits for Fortune 500 companies.  He currently attends Keiser University and is working on a B.A. in International Business and Trade.

“Angel has a vast knowledge of the Orlando market and we are excited to see how his skills come into play with his role in our expansion in the Lake Nona region,” Soderstrom said.

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142   Lvershelco@aol.com