Friday, July 29, 2011

Wheelock Street Capital Completes Acquisition and Conversion of the Former Renaissance Agoura Hills into the Sheraton Agoura Hills Hotel in Agoura Hills, CA.




GREENWICH, CT.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wheelock Street Capital announced today that an affiliate of Wheelock closed on the previously announced acquisition of the former Renaissance Agoura Hills (middle left photo) in Agoura Hills, CA. The hotel was converted into the Sheraton Agoura Hills Hotel at closing.

The Sheraton Agoura Hills Hotel will undergo a $6.6 million renovation to be completed in the coming months. The renovation will upgrade the hotel’s technology, meeting rooms, lobby, restaurant, fitness center and guest rooms.

The guest rooms will feature the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed designed to meet AAA's Five Diamond Award criteria. The meeting space will be expanded providing more flexibility for large groups to take advantage of the renovated property.

 Renovations will also include the creation of an outdoor California room as an extension to the newly designed lounge taking advantage of the hotel’s mountain setting.

Wheelock Street acquired the property from an institutional investor and obtained acquisition financing from a US-based insurance company. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The property includes 280 guestrooms, including 14 suites, and nearly 17,000 square feet of meeting space.

The hotel is located just south of the Ventura Freeway (Highway 101) in the heart of the Conejo Valley, an area renowned for its excellent demographics and diversified high tech economy.

 The 101 Technology Corridor is home to Amgen’s world headquarters, Farmer’s Insurance / University, Baxter Bioscience, Bank of America, WellPoint, Alcatel-Lucent, Dole Food Company among others. Davidson Hotels & Resorts will continue to manage the hotel.

Commenting on the acquisition, Merrick Kleeman (top right photo), a Managing Partner of Wheelock Street Capital, said, “The Sheraton Agoura Hills represents our second investment in the Conejo Valley and our second property managed by Davidson.

“We are excited to be joining the Sheraton franchise and impressed with the investments Starwood has made in the brand. We expect the renovation to position the asset to take advantage of the ensuing economic cycle.”

Wheelock Street Capital, L.L.C. is a real estate private equity firm founded in 2008 by Merrick R. Kleeman and Jonathan H. Paul.

Additional information on Davidson may be found at www.davidsonhotels.com.

Maxim Hotel Brokerage represented the seller in the sale of the asset.

Contacts
Wheelock Street Capital
James Eberhart, 617-619-3105


WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services Names Michael Allison Associate






ST. PETERSBURG, FL. --- WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services in St. Petersburg has appointed Michael Allison (top right photo) an associate.

Rachel Elias Wein (bottom left photo) AIA, principal of WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services, said Allison earned his B.S. Degree from the University of South Carolina and is a recent graduate of the Master of Science in Real Estate program at the University of Florida.

Allison has more than four years of experience in process improvement, development and financial analysis and worked as a development analyst with Kimley Horn and Associates in Sarasota.  He is a licensed civil engineer and a LEED accredited professional. 

WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services works with real estate owners, developers, lenders and management companies to regenerate income streams; expedite tenant openings; recover lost profits; resolve construction disputes, schedule over runs, change orders, bankruptcies and liens; and improve development and management processes.

For more information, contact
Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, Principal, WeinPlus, 727-386-9346, www.weinplusassociates.com
Larry Vershel, Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com


The Rembrandt Hotel Partnered with the Palace Luzern to Promote Thai Food in Switzerland




Bangkok, Thailand, July 29, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The Rembrandt Hotel & Towers (top left photo) was proud to partner with the Palace Luzern (bottom right photo), one of the best and luxury hotels in Switzerland, to host a Thai food festival.

 Mr. Simon Rindlisbacher, Rembrandt’s Hotel Manager, and Two Red Pepper Chefs Ms. Prapairat Wongdee and Mrs. Nualchan Chodchoi and Red Pepper Manager Ms Pornpimol Baykloy flew to Switzerland to promote Rembrandt’s popular Thai cuisine from the award winning Red Pepper restaurant.



The Thai food promotion took place at the Restaurant Les Artistes at the Palace Luzern featuring signature a la carte or set menu dishes from June 27th until July 10th, 2011. Some of the dishes included Thai trademarks such as Som Tam, Yum Som O and Tom Yum Kung which were a hit amongst all the guests.

Contact Information
Rembrandt Hotel & Towers
Sirirat Petpranomporn
+66 02261 7100

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Launches Sweeping New Cloud Initiative for Home Buyers and Sellers




San Francisco, CA, July 29, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the Bay Area’s leading real estate services company, announced today that it has launched the industry’s most far-reaching cloud technology initiative ­– a groundbreaking new program designed to ultimately make the traditional home sale a paperless transaction.

“The real estate industry is arguably the biggest user of paper in corporate America, but also the furthest behind in using advanced technology like cloud computing,” said Rick Turley (top right photo), president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in the Bay Area.

“As the largest company in our industry – and one that has a history of deploying new technological tools – we felt it was important for our company to step up and take the leadership role on this critical issue.”

Turley said the paperwork required for real estate transactions in California is “staggering,” adding up to about 800 pages for a typical sale. When you multiple that by three copies for the brokerage, the agent and the consumer, it translates
into 45 million pages for a company the size of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage last year alone – the equivalent of 5,300 trees and a cost of $4.5 million.”

For more information,  please visit www.CaliforniaMoves.com or call 925.275.3085. DRE # 00313415.

Contact Information
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Stephen Maita
510.739.0620

The Ballen Group of Keller Williams Just Closed an Indy Mac / One West Las Vegas Short Sale in Nevada




Las Vegas, NV, July 29, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The Ballen Group, A local Short Sale team at Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas, have just closed another Short Sale in Nevada saving this homeowner from Nevada Foreclosure.

(Richard Ballen and wife Lori Ballen top right photo)

The Ballen Group uses a comprehensive Short Sale System that enables them to handle a large volume of short sales and accomplish the goal at hand, to close the short sale.

The property, located on Creekside in Las Vegas Nevada was listed with The Ballen Group of Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas. The Creekside home  took a total of only 137 days from the original listing date to the recording it closed date.

The full price offer of $112,500 (about ½ its original purchase price) was received after only having the property on the market for eight days and there was no right to pursue deficiency language in the approval letter. Although the banks are working on their timelines and speeding up the short sale process,

(Las Vegas skyline middle left photo)

"We are finally seeing the day that banks understand it is more beneficial to everyone involved to actually encourage the short sale," says Richard Ballen, Listing Specialist with The Ballen Group.

 "A short sale is a complicated process for all parties involved. There are so many details involved (more than what the average homeowner is aware of). We need sellers to cooperate as much as possible and remain patient and support. Short Sales can close if everyone works together like they did in this transaction,” Richard closes.

“It takes more than an agent to properly work short sales. It takes a Team,” says Lori Ballen, Leader of The Ballen Group. “We have surrounded ourselves with talent from our administrative staff and Listing Managers to our processors and escrow. We want a lot of eyes on the transaction so it keeps moving down the timeline. Our short sale team is skilled, experienced, determined, and driven. We have learned what it takes to move these short sales through the pipe line and tape, and we are getting them done.”

For help with your Las Vegas Real Estate, Equity or Negative Equity - Contact The Ballen Group - They will work Magic with your Las Vegas Short Sale, Henderson Short Sale, or North Las Vegas Short Sale. 702-482-7739

Contact Information
The Ballen Group Short Sale Nevada
Lori Ballen
702-604-7739
Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas
3100 S. Durango #106
Las Vegas, NV 89117

Dave Overholser Joins Keller Williams Rice Realty Market Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia



Martinsburg, WVA, July 29, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Dave Overholser (top right photo), a real estate sales professional in Martinsburg, has joined the Keller Williams Rice Realty Market Center.

Dave Overholser, www.DaveOverholser.com, has an extensive background in distressed and lease option properties and has been in the real estate industry for 3 years.

“We are truly lucky to have Dave Overholser join us here at Keller Williams Rice Realty,” says Team Leader Nancy McBride. “Keller Williams Realty offers its associates unparalleled career growth and lifelong learning opportunities in the real estate industry. We know that Dave will be a great fit and that it is our customers who will truly benefit from Dave joining us.”

The Keller Williams Market Center, is located at 815 W. King St. Martinsburg, WV. To learn more about Keller Williams Realty, call Broker Nancy McBride at 304-264-1400 or visit www.kw.com.


Contact:
Keller Williams Rice Realty
Dave Overholser
304-264-1400
Nancy McBride - Broker

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Agent Sally Andy is Leading Luxury Home Specialist in Lake Forest




ORLANDO, FL. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Associate Sally Andy reports she has sold more than 450 properties in the award-winning Lake Forest community in North Seminole County over the past 15 years for a total dollar volume of more than $145 million.

“Sally Andy was an onsite sales representative at Lake Forest from 1996 to 2004 before she joined Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty,” said Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of the real estate firm.

“No one has sold more property in Lake Forest than Sally Andy and no one knows the community better,” Soderstrom said.

The gated community with a 24-hour guarded entrance offers homes overlooking pristine lakes and canals and along nature preserves.  The community features a two-story clubhouse, fitness center, tennis courts, 55-acre spring-fed lake, and Jr. Olympic swimming pool overlooking the lake.

Lake Forest has almost 800 total homesites throughout its 538 acres of wooded neighborhoods.  Most homes start at around $400,000 and range up to more than $1 million dollars.  To see a video of Lake Forest go to http://youtu.be/SgHCl9r7uxY.

Soderstrom added that the Sally Andy and David Warren Team (lower left photo) at Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is focusing on luxury home sales at Lake Forest, whose numerous accolades include the six-time winner of the Orlando Parade of Homes' Grand Award for the "Best Community in Central Florida" and a Grand Aurora Award for "The Best Community in the Southeastern United States."

For more information, contact: 
Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-581-7890 
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 



Morrison Commercial Real Estate Completes Lease Transactions Totalling 9,142 SF in Orlando, FL

  

ORLANDO, FL (July 29, 2011):  Greg Morrison (top right photo), CCIM, SIOR, Principal of Morrison Commercial Real Estate, announced the completion of a lease transaction totaling 9,142± square feet. 

Damien Madsen of Morrison Commercial Real Estate represented Covelli Family Limited Partnership II in leasing 9,142± square feet at the Keene Building located at 1400 Hope Road.  The Landlord was represented by Jeff Gindi of Results Real Estate Partners, LLC in this transaction. 

Contact: Buffy Gillette, Phone: 407.219.3500, Email:  bgillette@morrisoncre.com

$610,000 Buys 60 Unit Garden Apartment Community in Tampa, FL

   

TAMPA, FL July 29, 2011 – Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has announced the sale of Regency Manor Apartments (top left photo), a 60-unit garden apartment community located in Tampa, Fla., according to Bryn D. Merrey, vice president/regional manager of the firm’s Tampa office.

 The asset sales price of $610,000 equates to $10,167 per unit and $17.06 per square foot.

Casey Babb (middle right photo), CCIM, a senior investment specialist, and Luis Baez (lower left photo), investment specialist both in Marcus & Millichap’s Tampa office had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the Florida-based seller, a private investor.  The listing agents also secured the buyer of the property, a private, Canadian-based investment group.

Regency Manor Apartments is located at 13710 North 19th Street.  This 1960s vintage, garden apartment community is located in the University submarket of Tampa.  Units are 100 percent one bedroom/one bath all housed in six two-story concrete block apartment buildings with flat, built-up roofs. 

 “Regency Manor was a lender approved short-sale at less than one-third of the previous sale price in March 2006; however, given the circumstances, all parties involved would likely admit that this was a win-win for everyone.

  The buyer will do very well, since they received a deeply discounted price relative to replacement cost.  The seller was released from personal liability and the lender avoided a long, costly foreclosure process and at the same time, achieved a market sale price,” recounts Babb.

Press Contact: Bryn D. Merrey, Vice President/Regional Manager, Tampa
(813) 387-4700

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for PHILand Ranch's Pointe91 Development Project in Chu Lai, Vietnam



 FRANKFURT, Germany, LOS ANGELES and HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PHI Group, Inc. (OTCQB:PHIE; Pinksheets:PHIE; Frankfurt:PR7), an M & A company with diversified holdings in real estate development, energy, natural resources and special situations announced today that its subsidiary PHILand Ranch Ltd., a company engaged in the development of master-planned communities, residential and commercial properties, and hospitality services in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, (WKN A0RPEA, Frankfurt:1P8) successfully conducted the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, July 28, 2011 for the Pointe91 luxury resort and elite residential community at Bien Rang Beach, Chu Lai, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam.

Henry Fahman (top right photo), Chairman of PHILand Ranch, stated:" While we are also working with other local partners on a number of projects in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh and some major cities in Vietnam at the present which have shorter turnaround schedules than that of Pointe91, we are committed to making a difference with this development."


Contact: Henry Fahman, 714-843-5455, info@phiglobal.com

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Selected as Marketing Agents for 10,176- SF Estate with Ultimate Man Cave: A 2,500 Square Foot Air Conditioned Car Collector’s Garage



ORLANDO, FL. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has been selected as sales and marketing agents for a unique estate near Heathrow that features its own car collector’s garage.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said International Luxury Home Specialist Teresa Parker (top right photo) is representing the property, which offers a total over-all building area of more than 10,000 square feet.

The home offers four bedrooms, three baths and three half baths on a 1.2 acre home site with luxury finishes throughout, including Travertine flooring, three ornate fireplaces, eight foot solid doors, a chef’s kitchen with natural gas appliances and custom cabinetry, and a 1,080 square foot screen-enclosed outdoor living area with slate tile flooring, fire pit, two flat screen TVs, bar, and a complete kitchen.

But the focus of the luxury estate is its man-cave, a 2,400 square foot air conditioned garage with bar and movie theater. “The garage was built to house the seller’s car collection,” Soderstrom said.

The property is listed for $899,900. 

To view a video visit http://youtu.be/9yOoKOxNDH4  and for more information about the property’

Media contact information:
Teresa Parker, Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, 407 497 5588 parkertjm@gmail.com

Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-581-7890; mailto:rsoderstrom@stirlingSIR.com

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



Emerson International Starts Development of 200,000-SF Commercial Center at Eagle Creek Golf Club Community in Southeast Orlando



ORLANDO, FL  - Emerson International, the Altamonte Springs based developer of Eagle Creek Golf Club, has started development of the Eagle Creek Commercial Center (top left aerial photo), a 200,000 square foot commercial and retail facility.

Construction is slated to begin at the Eagle Creek commercial center early next year, Eric Emerson, vice president and general manager of Emerson International, reported.

Eagle Creek is located on Narcoossee Rd. just south of the 417 in southeast Orlando.

For more information, contact:
Eric J. Emerson, Vice President and General Manager Emerson International, Inc. 407-834-9560; ejemerson@emerson-us.com;    
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com   



Winston James Business Park on Beville Road Completes New Lease Agreement



SOUTH DAYTONA, FL --- Winston James Development, LLC reports it closed on a new long-term lease agreement at the Beville Road Business Park on Beville Road at SR 5A in South Daytona.

Winston Schwartz (top right photo), president of Winston James Development, the developer and landlord of the property, said Cravings to Go, a local corporate catering company, is the new tenant.

Craving to Go leased 1,050 square feet of industrial space, Schwartz said.

For more information,  contact:
Winston Schwartz, President, Winston-James Development, Inc.  933 Beville Rd., South Daytona, Fla. 32119; 386-760-2555;
Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com.

Loja Real Estate Acquires The Shops at Pacific Station in California



 WALNUT CREEK, CA – Tom Engberg, CEO of Loja Real Estate, LLC,  announced the acquisition of The Shops at Pacific Station (top left photo) for one of the Firm’s separate accounts.  Loja Real Estate, LLC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Loja Group LLC, a real estate investment management firm.

 Loja Real Estate purchased The Shops at Pacific Station from Pacific Station Property, LLC for $19.5 million. The transaction closed on July 25, 2011.  This is Loja Real Estate’s fourth acquisition.

 The Shops at Pacific Station, a 38, 828 square foot grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping center, is the retail portion of a 98,403 square foot vertical mixed-use center containing second and third-story office space totaling 9,733 square feet, and 47 residential condominium units.

The Shops at Pacific Station is located in Encinitas, a coastal community in San Diego County, CA.  In addition to a 25,000 square foot Whole Foods, which just opened in June.

The Shops at Pacific Station has a strong tenant mix, including an Urban Solace (upscale restaurant), Bliss 101 (craft/furniture gallery), Icons (high-end clothing boutique), and a Bombshell Boutique Salon (to open in August).  The Shops at Pacific Station is currently 96% leased. 

The development is LEED Silver Certified to achieve maximum energy efficiency with the least possible impact on the environment. 

Loja Group was represented by Richard Lebert, Senior Vice President, Colliers International.

 Pacific Station Property, LLC was represented by Ryan Gallagher (lower left photo), Senior Managing Director, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, LP.  Loja Group has retained Capital Growth Properties, Inc. of La Jolla, CA, to manage the property.

 Additional information about Loja may be found at www.lojagroup.com.

 Contact
Robin Schoen, Robin Schoen Public Relations, 215.504.2122o, 215.595.7542 m

$17.6 Million Credit-Rated, Single-Tenant Asset Hits the Market in Detroit




DETROIT, MI July 28, 2011 –Marc Strauss (middle right photo)  and David Wells of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, have secured the exclusive listing for a 139,056-square foot single-tenant net-leased Home Depot in Detroit (top left photo).

The listing price is $17.6 million, which equates to a 7.5 percent cap rate.

Marc Strauss, a first vice president investments in Marcus & Millichap’s Fort Lauderdale office, and David Wells, a senior associate in the firm’s Miami office are exclusively representing the seller, a private entity.

Strauss and Wells have worked together to successfully execute several retail transactions in the $10 million and above price range in the past few years, which has generated outstanding results for a wide range of investors nationwide.

“Single-tenant net-leased assets in core primary and secondary locations remain the strongest retail property type,” says Strauss. “And since this is the only Home Depot in Detroit, it should garner significant demand from both local and out-of-state buyers,” explains Strauss.

“This property is expected to deliver strong returns over the long term and is secured by the investment-grade, BBB+ rating of Home Depot U.S.A Inc. Further strengthening the property’s position in the marketplace, there are 12 years remaining on Home Depot’s triple net lease, which has 10 five-year options,” he adds.

“Opportunistic investments like this will receive greater interest in the coming months,” adds Strauss.

“Home Depot has occupied this property since 2004 with strong store sales,” says Wells. “As the economy continues to improve, sales are expected to remain healthy and investors are looking for credit backed assets with significant lease term.  An asset of this size with Home Depots investment grade credit rating doesn’t come to market very often.”

Located at 18700 Meyers Rd., the 12.22-acre site was formerly occupied by Kmart until Home Depot assumed its existing lease in 2004. The facility was originally constructed in 1997.


   Contact: Stacey Corso, Public Relations Manager, (925) 953-1716