Thursday, February 21, 2013

Jones Lang LaSalle Completes $9.8 Million in Phoenix, AZ Multifamily Sales



Indigo Apartments, 16160 S. 50th Street
Phoenix, AZ
 PHOENIX, AZ – The Jones Lang LaSalle Phoenix Capital Markets Team has completed two multifamily investment sales that will move the local Cobalt and Indigo rental properties from a “stalled” and distressed position on to a new track for quick completion and delivery to the Phoenix rental pool.

“The recession stopped many local multifamily and condo construction projects in their tracks, and some of these distressed sites have been sitting, unfinished, for years,” said Jones Lang LaSalle Executive Vice President John Cunningham.

Cobalt Apartments, Phoenix, AZ
“As our market fundamentals improve, we’re seeing properties like Cobalt and Indigo come under new ownership, gaining the capital resources they need to transition from a community eyesore to a completed, active rental complex. It is a very positive trend.”

Seattle-based Goodman Real Estate purchased Cobalt for $5.6 million and Indigo for $4.2 million.

John Cunningham
Cunningham, along with Jones Lang LaSalle Vice President Charles Steele, represented the properties’ seller, Newport Beach, Calif.-based Sabal Financial Group, which specializes in the acquisition of distressed real estate loans and bank credit advisory services.

Located at 32nd Street and Union Hills in Phoenix, Cobalt is a gated Class A multifamily property that includes 24 completed units and land for a 66-unit expansion.

Charles Steele
Indigo is a fractured Class A condominium asset totalling 30 units at 16160 S. 50th Street, near I-10 and Chandler Boulevard in Ahwatukee. Seventeen of Indigo’s units were previously sold as condominiums, however the new owner is pursuing acquisition of these sold units as part of its de-fracturing strategy. Indigo also has infrastructure in place to build an additional 78 units.

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

Stacey Hershauer
focusAZ
Marketing & Public Relations
(480) 600-0195

Southern California Female Construction Executives Begin Professional Organization for Women in Construction Operations



(Pictured Left to Right, Front to Back)
Lia Tatevosian, Michelle Garcia, Shaabini Alford , Lucy Villanueva, Sammi Maya, Elle Navarro,, Kasie Bowden, Amanda Corbet, Holly Cindell, Kathlynn Smith, LaDrena Dansby, Sarah Creighton, Jessica Drake, Nancy Goldman


Newport Beach, CA  (Feb. 21, 2013) – Sarah Creighton and Holly Cindell of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. of Newport Beach are among a group of pioneering women from Southern California construction, architecture and engineering companies to begin WiOPS—a new professional organization geared specifically toward women in construction operations.

Holly Cindell
Creighton and Cindell were named co-chairman for the new organization which aims at mentoring women working in the operations side of construction.

“Women make up less than 10% of the construction workforce with an even smaller number in professional and managerial positions,” said Sarah Creighton, vice president operations, education services for McCarthy Building Companies of Newport Beach. 

“There are other industry organizations out there for women in construction, but none of them are tailored to women in construction operations roles. We started WiOPS to fill that gap.”

This past summer, Creighton and Cindell joined with 13 other women in likeminded careers to set up a board and establish goals and a mission for WiOPS. As a result, the group determined their primary goal will be to facilitate mentorship of up and coming women in the construction, architecture and engineering professions.

Sarah Carr Creighton
The WiOPS founding board members include: Co-chairmen, Holly Cindell and Sarah Creighton, McCarthy; Vice Chairman, Nancy Goldman, Jezowski & Markel; Secretary, Kasie Bowden, Hensel Phelps Construction Co.; Treasurers, Lia Tatevosian, Swinerton Builders and Lucy Villanueva, McCarthy; Membership, Amanda Corbet, McCarthy and Events Coordinator, Shaabini Alford, Murray Company.

Other WiOPS members instrumental to the group’s founding include: Bernadette Reyes, Clark Construction Group; LaDrena Dansby, USC Capital Construction Development; Elle Navarro and Michelle Garcia, Hensel Phelps Construction Co.; Sammi Maya, McCarthy; Jessica Drake, Swinerton Builders and Kathlynn Smith, Hunt Ortman and founder of SmartGirls and SmartGirls’ Guide to Construction Law.

WiOPS membership is open to women and men in construction, architecture and engineering industries serving in operations, managerial, estimating, engineering and design career paths.

 For more information about membership or to sign up to attend their next meeting, please visit www.womeninoperations.com


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

Laura Mickelson
 (LM Communications)                                                                 
(949) 453-0851                            

Post Properties Announces Quarterly Dividends



ATLANTA, GA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Post Properties, Inc. (NYSE: PPS), an Atlanta-based real estate investment trust, today announced quarterly dividends on its common stock of $0.25 per share for the first quarter of 2013. The dividend is payable on April 15, 2013 to all common stockholders of record as of March 29, 2013.
 
Post also announced regular quarterly dividends on its 8.5 percent Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of $1.0625 per share for the first quarter of 2013. The dividend is payable on April 1, 2013 to all Series A preferred stockholders of record as of March 15, 2013.

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

Post Properties, Inc.
Chris Papa, 404-846-5000

Loews Hotels & Resorts Announces Troy Furbay as Chief Investment Officer



Troy Furbay
NEW YORK, NY - (Feb. 21, 2013) - Loews Hotels & Resorts, a wholly owned-subsidiary of Loews Corporation (NYSE: L), today announced the promotion of Troy Furbay to Chief Investment Officer, responsible for leading the company’s property acquisitions, real estate development and capital raising.

 Furbay, who joined Loews Hotels & Resorts in 2010, has played an integral role as the company continues to expand its brand.  Under his leadership, Loews has recently acquired hotels in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Boston as well as hotels under construction in Chicago and Orlando.

Paul Whetsell
“Troy and his team are playing a vital role as we focus on growing and expanding our portfolio,” said Paul Whetsell, President and CEO of Loews Hotels & Resorts.  “He has a proven track record of successfully closing deals including the addition of three key assets to the Loews brand in the past year.”

 Prior to joining Loews, Furbay held the position of Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Development for Kimpton Hotels, where he played an instrumental role in the company’s expansion through acquisitions, management contracts and joint ventures.  Earlier in his career, Furbay spent time with MeriStar Hotels and KPMG in development positions.  He started his hospitality career with Sheraton Hotels in 1990. 

Furbay received his MBA in finance from Fordham University and resides in New York City with his wife and two children.

 Like Loews Hotels & Resorts on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LoewsHotels
Follow Loews Hotels & Resorts on Twitter: www.twitter.com/loews_hotels
Watch Loews Hotels & Resorts on YouTube: www.youtube.com/LoewsHotels

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

Loews Hotels & Resorts
Lark-Marie Anton                                                                  
(212) 521-2779
  
Sarah Murov
(212) 521-2495



Faris Lee Investments Tapped to Market For-Sale 20 Ruby Tuesday Restaurants



IRVINE, CA, Feb. 21, 2013 – After successfully marketing and selling 28 Ruby Tuesday properties totaling approximately $65 million on behalf of Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (NYSE: RT), Faris Lee Investments, the nation’s largest retail-specialized investment advisory firm, has been engaged once again to sell an additional 20 properties valued in excess of $60 million.

                In December 2011, Faris Lee was selected to market a first phase of properties occupied by Ruby Tuesday restaurants. 

Matt Mousavi
Since taking the assets to market, Faris Lee has now completed phase one with all 28 properties sold. This accomplishment marks the largest sale-leaseback offering by a publicly traded restaurant operator to the private marketplace ever.

                “Faris Lee was able to execute on the first 28-property offering at record-breaking cap rates never achieved in many of the markets where these properties were located,” said Matt Mousavi, managing director of Faris Lee Investments who represented Ruby Tuesday, Inc. as well as the majority of the individual buyers on the transactions.

Rick Chichester
“As opposed to selling the properties in a portfolio scenario, Faris Lee employed the strategy to sell the properties individually which insulated value and provided access to the seller to the vast private-market net leased buyer pool, resulting in higher proceeds per unit for the seller, and cap rates 200 basis points below the institutional buyer for the same offering.”

                “This assignment has been incredibly successful,” said Rick Chichester, president and COO of Faris Lee Investments. “Faris Lee has been able to raise a substantial amount of liquid capital for Ruby Tuesday, Inc. This has strengthened the company's balance sheet and provides the company with the capital for opportunistic share repurchases, to expand their store base, re-structure debt and make acquisitions.”

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

Darcie Giacchetto
Spaulding Thompson & Associates
949.278.6224


NorthWest International Healthcare Properties REIT announces monthly distribution




TORONTO, Feb. 21, 2013 /CNW/ - NorthWest International Healthcare Properties REIT (the "REIT") announced today that it has declared a
distribution of $0.013334 per trust unit (TSX-V: MOB.UN) for the month of February 2013.  The distribution will be paid on March 15, 2013 to
unitholders of record as at February 28, 2013.

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

Paul Dalla Lana, CEO,
 (416) 366-8300 x1001

Brian Wilson, CFO,
(416) 366-8300 x1111

Wyndham Brand Grows in Latin America with Nicaragua Hotel


Wyndham Milagro del Mar Resort rendering
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Feb. 21, 2013) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with over 7,340 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today officially announced the planned expansion of its upscale Wyndham® Hotels and Resorts brand in Latin America with the addition of the 212-key Wyndham Milagro del Mar Resort on Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast.

San Diego Beach, Nicaragua
 The beachfront hotel, currently under construction on Villa El Carmen’s Playa San Diego (San Diego Beach), will become Wyndham Hotel Group’s first property in Nicaragua. Owned and developed by HB International, the property is scheduled to open in 2014.

 The agreement is another integral step in a focused strategy to increase Wyndham Hotel Group’s presence in Latin America. The company announced its 100th hotel in the region late last year and, as of Dec. 31, 2012, has 73 properties in the pipeline in Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

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

Kathryn Zambito
Public Relations Manager
Wyndham Hotel Group
22 Sylvan Way
Parsippany, NJ  07054
(973) 753-6590

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

HFF arranges $19.8 million financing for a student housing community located in Greenville, NC


North Campus Crossing pool, Greenville, NC

SAN DIEGO, CA – HFF announced today that it has arranged $19.8 million in financing for North Campus Crossing – Phase II, a 276-unit, 816-bed, purpose-built student housing community serving East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

Tim Wright
HFF worked exclusively on behalf of a joint venture between Pierce Education Properties, LP and Core Properties LLC to secure the fixed-rate loan through Freddie Mac’s (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation) CME Program.  

The securitized loan will be serviced by HFF through its Freddie Mac Program Plus® Seller/Servicer program.  Loan proceeds were used to acquire the property.

 Completed in two phases during 2005 and 2006, North Campus Crossing features best-in-class amenities including a resort-style zero-entry pool, full-size gymnasium, indoor volleyball court, double sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, weight and cardio room, aerobics classes, tanning beds, computer lab and theatre room.

The HFF team representing the borrower was led by senior managing director Tim Wright and associate director Zack Holderman.

East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Pierce Education Properties, LP is a San Diego-based owner, manager and developer of Class A, purpose-built student housing and education-based real estate.  

Pierce is recognized as one of the top owners/managers of student oriented assets with a national portfolio of approximately 4,500 beds.  

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

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 | www.hfflp.com

HFF arranges $14 million refinancing for Class A office building in Santa Monica, CA



2700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Santa Monica, CA
LOS ANGELES, CA – HFF announced today that it has arranged a $14 million refinancing for 2700 Pennsylvania Avenue, a 62,000-square-foot, Class A office building in Santa Monica, California.

Working on behalf of The Luzzatto Company, Inc. and Welk Real Estate, Inc., HFF secured the seven-year, fixed-rate loan though Principal Real Estate Investors.

Chris Vittetoe
2700 Pennsylvania Avenue is located a few blocks from the intersection of Cloverfield Boulevard and Interstate 10 in Santa Monica and one block from the new Bergamot Station of the Expo Light Rail line that will open in 2015.  The creative office space is 100 percent leased to two tenants: Yahoo! and Jakks Pacific.

The HFF debt placement team representing the borrower was led by director Chris Vittetoe and real estate analyst Steven Paskhover.

Marc L. Luzzatto
“The HFF team was highly effective in helping us evaluate the many attractive options for financing this irreplaceable asset,” said Marc L. Luzzatto, chief executive officer of The Luzzatto Company. 

The Luzzatto Company, Inc. and its affiliates (“TLC”) invest in real estate and real estate-related debt, with existing investments in California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Hawaii, Texas, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia and Missouri.

 TLC acquires properties through its equity fund, The Luzzatto Real Estate Value Fund I, L.P., as well as through existing ventures and partnerships with high net-worth individuals and institutions.  TLC also manages the assets and properties of Welk Real Estate, Inc., the real estate affiliate of the Lawrence Welk family holding company.  

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

Kristen M. Murphy
Associate Director
HFF | 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 700 | Houston, TX 77046
tel 713.852.3500 | cel 617.543.4873 | fax 713.527.8725 | www.hfflp.com

University Station Announces Final Component Near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International


  
University Station rendering, Clayton County, GA
  
ATLANTA, GA (Feb. 20, 2013) – The Development Authority of Clayton County and the Clayton County Office of Economic Development said today they will move forward with plans to develop University Station Town Center, a new, live-work-play community four miles south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International.

Jeff Turner
University Station has become a regional destination centered on the existing National and State Archives and Clayton State University. 

As part of the county's vision to have the project spur economic development, the authority is moving forward with the final component, University Station Town Center, which will serve as a focal point for this growing community.


Grant Wainscott
“We are all very excited about University Station and the live-work-play environment, which has become a centerpiece of our Economic Development program here in Clayton County,” said Chairman Jeff Turner of the Clayton County Board of Commissioners.

“Not only will University Station create jobs and offer investment opportunities, the extensive impact in our community will include visitor attraction from many areas, including Archives researchers, Clayton State students and recurring visits by parents of those students.” 

Yulonda Beauford
“The film stage is expected to be a huge economic driver for Clayton County. The film industry has already created more than 100 permanent jobs in the area, and the annual economic impact could exceed $10 million a year,” said Grant Wainscott, Economic Development and Film Office Director for Clayton County.

“Several projects are looking to use the stage in the coming months, and we are actively recruiting other types of entertainment industry users like catering companies and casting agencies.”

Sonna Singleton
 “University Station will create a unique sense of place unlike any other,” said Yulonda Beauford, president of the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. “The modern, sustainable office building is an ideal fit for tenants including incubator companies, targeting those with innovation, civic service and genealogy or education at the core of their missions. Additionally, University Station is targeting restaurant, coffee shop, bookstore, genealogical retail and other support retail tenants.”


“This new addition is great for our district,” said Clayton County Commissioner Sonna Singleton, who represents the area surrounding the project. “The economic impact created by University Station will help Clayton County attract the jobs we need and visitors we desire.”

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

Tony Wilbert
The Wilbert Group
404-405-3656

Beech Street Once Again Captures Top-Producing Multifamily Lender Spots for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac



Grace Huebscher
BETHESDA, MD, Feb. 20, 2013 – For the second year running, Beech Street Capital, LLC, placed third on Fannie Mae’s annual list of top multifamily loan originators.

 Beech Street’s volume with the agency grew 45% in 2012.  This growth outpaced the jump in Fannie Mae’s multifamily loans, from $24.4 billion in 2011 to $33.8 billion in 2012.  

 At the same time, Beech Street raised its profile in the Freddie Mac rankings.  

It was the top seller in the Northeast Region, the top structured finance lender and for the second year in a row earned Freddie Mac’s Partnership Award for outstanding collaboration, increased loan volume, and commitment to working with the agency. 

  Beech Street was Freddie Mac’s seventh top seller nationwide.

 “The depth of experience that Beech Street brings to our partnership with the agencies has been a decisive factor in our growing leadership in the market, and we are grateful for the relationship,”  says Beech Street president and chief executive officer Grace Huebscher. 

“It has enabled us to execute on deals in ways that far exceed the expectations of our borrowers and helped us attract and retain a steady stream of new customers.”

Huebscher points to a number of other factors that contributed to Beech Street’s performance in 2012—and that bode well for 2013.

 The company has steadily expanded its geographic footprint and now has 13 offices nationwide.  From Huebscher’s point of view, having the right people in those locations is the critical difference.

“We don’t open an office unless we’ve secured a top producer to lead it,” she says.

  Huebscher also underscores Beech Street’s record of attracting new customers and quickly converting them to repeat customers.  “We’re in a relationship business,” she says.  “That’s why Beech Street’s laser-like focus on service and execution is so critical.”

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

Courtney Lewis 
240-507-1948

Jenifer Bernardi
 240-507-1946.

National Association of Real Estate Editors Holds 47th Annual Conference in Atlanta



                
                                                                     Matt Valley 
                                              Conference chairman and NAREE board member 
  
BOCA RATON, FL(Feb. 20, 2013)—Hundreds of real estate journalists, freelance writers and communicators will gather in Atlanta June 5-8 at the National Association of Real Estate Editors  (NAREE) 47th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference.

Mary Doyle-Kimball
Each year, the conference highlights important topics and emerging trends in the real estate industry – both residential and commercial. Urban planners, economists, architects, builders and developers will discuss current issues affecting real estate finance, development and sales.

NAREE University, one of the conference’s main elements, will offer journalism workshops and discussion groups focusing on the new age of journalism from social media sources and outlets  to multimedia blogging.

“The amount of information this conference offers is incredible,” says Kris Hudson, 2013 NAREE president and Wall Street Journal reporter. “When writing about real estate, one has to cover several facets of the industry, and the NAREE Journalism Conference touches on them all.”

Conference chairman and NAREE board member, Matt Valley, says the annual conference is a great resource for real estate journalists. “Reporters and editors who attend will leave Atlanta with several stories and many story ideas on national trends,” says Valley, editorial director of France Media's regional commercial real estate magazines and a journalist who has been covering the industry for 18 years.

Mary Doyle-Kimball, executive director of NAREE, said Atlanta’s active development scene and lively atmosphere make the city an ideal host. “I’m thrilled experts in the field will be able to exchange ideas in such a vibrant city,” says Doyle-Kimball. “The conference offers a networking experience for journalists and communications professionals that is unmatched in the industry. NAREE is a network beyond its name, and that can truly be seen in this event.”

 NAREE is open to all journalists, authors, editors and communicators covering the broad field of real estate. Register for the conference online at http://www.NAREE.org.

The NAREE Conference will be headquartered at the Hilton Atlanta in downtown, 255 Courtland St NE Atlanta, GA 30303. For hotel reservations call 800-HILTONS and ask for the low "NAREE  Rate" of $149. The conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. June 5 and end by noon June 8.

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

 Mary Doyle-Kimball,
561-391-3599,

Tony Wilbert,
404-965-5022,

Leigh Taylor
The Wilbert Group
770-630-7961

Chatham Lodging Trust Announces Fourth Quarter Results




 PALM BEACH, Fla., February 19, 2013—Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns wholly or through its joint venture approximately $1.5 billion of premium-branded, upscale, extended-stay and select-service hotels, today announced results for the quarter ended December 31, 2012.

In addition, the company also provided its initial earnings guidance for 2013.

 Fourth Quarter 2012 Highlights


·         Hotel RevPAR – Rose 7.6 percent to $102. Excluding Hurricane Sandy effects, RevPAR grew 5.6 percent. 

·         Adjusted EBITDA – Increased 10.3 percent to $8.4 million.
  
·         Adjusted FFO – Improved 12.6 percent.  Adjusted FFO per diluted share rose to $0.21.

·         Comparable GOP Margins – Advanced 150 basis points to 42.4 percent.

·         Joint Venture Investment –Received distributions of $0.3 million in the fourth quarter, bringing total distributions to $21.2 million or 57.3 percent of Chatham’s initial investment in the joint venture.

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

Dennis Craven
(Company)      
Chief Financial Officer                                                           
(561) 227-1386                                                                       

 Jerry Daly
(Media)
 Daly Gray, Inc.
(703) 435-6293


Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. Arranges $6 Million Retail Strip Finance in Westminster, CA


                                    
WESTMINSTER, CA– Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation (MMCC) has arranged a $6 million bridge loan to refinance a retail strip in Westminster, Calif.

            Dillon Renn, an associate in MMCC’s Newport Beach office, arranged the loan.

            “From a lender’s perspective, this loan was extraordinarily challenging,” says Renn. “The borrower’s credit was below conventional lending standards, as he had recently been the victim of identity theft. The legal process of dismissing the borrower’s previous bankruptcy created several delays throughout the process as well.”

Dillon Renn
 “In spite of the challenges,” Renn concludes, “MMCC, with its specialized market knowledge and broad lender network, delivered terms—both rate and cost—superior to those the borrower had been able to attract independently.”

            The five-year loan amortizes over 25 years at 6 percent. The loan-to-value is 65 percent.


Press Contact:

Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp/
(925) 953-1716

Marcus & Millichap Announces Sale of Hickory Crest Apartments, in Brooksville, FL


  
Hickory Crest Apartments, Brooksville, FL
 BROOKSVILLE, FLA., February 19, 2013 – Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has announced the sale of Hickory Crest, an 18-unit apartment community located in Brooksville, Florida, according to Richard D. Matricaria, Regional Manager of the firm’s Tampa office. 

The asset commanded a sales price of $385,000.

Michael Donaldson, a senior associate and multifamily specialist in Marcus & Millichap’s Tampa office, had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the local seller, a limited liability company, and also represented the buyer, a private investor.

Michael Donaldson
Hickory Crest was built in 1983 and is located at 173 Hickory Street.  The property consists of two eight-plex buildings and a duplex, all constructed of wood frame on a concrete slab resting on 1.36 acres of land.  The unit mix consists of 18 two-bedroom and one-bath units ranging from 783 to 800 rentable square feet.  Each unit contains full size washer and dryer connections, as well as central air-conditioning. 

“Even though this property was almost 100 percent occupied at the time of sale, we were receiving a large amount of pushback due to the low cap rate,” says Donaldson. “However, we ended up closing with a local apartment owner who saw an opportunity to achieve greater income levels by adding aggressive advertising and management.  We eventually closed at an excellent price per unit for the submarket.”

Press Contact:

Richard D. Matricaria
Regional Manager,
Tampa
(813) 387-4700