Stonegate Golf Club names veteran executive, author Nick Pezzente general manager

Nick Pezzente

 Kissimmee, FL --- Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita has named veteran executive and author Nick Pezzente general manager.

 Scottish PGA Professional Kenny Nairn, co-owner and chief operating officer at Celebration Golf Management, said Pezzente was named class valedictorian in 1996 when he earned his Associates Degree in Professional Golf Management from Professional Golfers Career College.

 A lifelong golfing enthusiast, Pezzente began his career in the 1970s at Irvine Coast Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif.  Still a young man, he served as project coordinator for a golf college and director of the Nike Jr. Golf Camps in Temecula, Calif.

Kenny Nairn

Pezzente interrupted his career in 1977 to relocate his family to Connecticut, where he cared for his ailing grandparents and authored the book, “Honor Thy Parents, Lessons of Faith on the Road to End of Life Care.”

 Pezzente has served as director of Golf Operations at Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee and general manager of Tuscawilla Country Club in Winter Springs and Forest Oaks Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.

 “Nick Pezzente is a seasoned veteran who has devoted his career to premier golf club operations,” Nairn said. “We don’t know of anyone better suited to direct operations at Stonegate and our golfers and guests will appreciate his efforts,” Nairn 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

Amata Office Solutions Launches Amata Realty Group

Ron Bockstahler

CHICAGO, IL – Amata Office Solutions, the largest privately owned office suites provider in Chicago, has announced the formal launch of Amata Realty Group, an office brokerage service that specializes in working with companies requiring as much as 10,000 square feet of office space in the Chicago area.

“Even though there are more than 200,000 small businesses in Chicago, most commercial real estate brokers only deal with companies who need office space larger than 10,000 square feet,” said Ron Bockstahler, co-founder of Amata.

"From our experience working with clients that outgrew the shared office environment, we learned that businesses looking for smaller spaces were incredibly underserved yet rapidly growing in number.

“Offering small office brokerage services is a natural extension of the services we already provide. It also solidifies for our clients that no one understands the office space needs of a small business better than Amata,” added Bockstahler.

To learn more about Amata Realty Group or to inquire about any of Amata’s real estate services, call (877) 262-8204 or go to www.amatacorp.com.

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

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

Abe Tekippe, atekippe@taylorjohnson.com, (312) 267-4528

Maury L. Carter & Associates Closes Seven Land Deals in Florida

Daryl M. Carter

ORLANDO, FL --  Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce the following transactions:

Ronn Allen of Maury L. Carter & Associates Inc., represented the buyer in the $3,857,700 acquisition of 1,169 acres on Sundown Creek Road in Madison County, Florida.

Daryl M. Carter, Trustee of Carter-Flagler Roberts Road Land Trust, purchased approximately 213 acres on the east side of Roberts Rd in Palm Coast, Florida. The 213 acre parcel was acquired from Florida Landmark Communities, LLC for $2,900,000 cash. Daryl M. Carter with Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. represented the buyer, and David Lusby with Palm Coast Holdings represented the seller.

John Evans of Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. represented the seller in the $1,875,000 sale of approximately 654 acres on the north side of County Road 305 at Lake Disston Drive in Flagler County, Florida. 

John Evans

Daryl M. Carter, Trustee of Carter-Orange 45 SR 429 Land Trust, purchased approximately 10 acres on McKinney Road in Winter Garden, Florida. The 10 acre parcel was acquired from 3:16 Horizons West, LLC for $1,071,000 cash. Daryl M. Carter with Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. and Buddy Brown with 828 Realty were the brokers in the transaction.

Daryl M. Carter, Trustee of Carter-Orange 45 SR 429 Land Trust, purchased approximately 19 acres on New Independence Parkway in Winter Garden, Florida. The 19 acre parcel was acquired from Dian S. Phillips Revocable Trust for $2,850,000 cash. Daryl M. Carter with Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. represented the buyer.

Daryl M. Carter, Trustee of Carter-Suwannee 137 Highway 795 Land Trust, recently sold approximately 137 acres at I-10 and Highway 795 in Suwannee County, Florida. The 137 acre parcel was sold to Dennis Music, with cell tower, for $723,868 cash. Daryl M. Carter with Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. represented the seller.

David Lusby

Daryl M. Carter, Trustee of Carter-Orange 45 SR 429 Land Trust, purchased approximately 5 acres east of Avalon Rd in Winter Garden, Florida. The 5 acre parcel was acquired from Genesis 1:28 Business Partners, LLC for $425,000 cash. Daryl M. Carter with Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. and Buddy Brown with 828 Realty were the brokers in the transaction.

Daryl M. Carter and John Evans of Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. represented the seller in $320,645 sale of approximately 49 acres on the north side of Jones Avenue in Orange County, Florida. The sellers were Dye Family, Ltd., et al. Buyers were David and Barbara Shelley.

Since January of 2012, Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. has completed over $100,000,000 in transactions on 13,000 acres of land.

Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc. is an Orlando-based full service commercial real estate firm proficient in commercial real estate investments, asset management, brokerage, and development. The firm's officers combine more than 75 years’ experience in real estate investments and brokerage.

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

Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc.

3333 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32806

407-422-3144

www.maurycarter.com

HFF arranges permanent loan for Dallas, TX retail center

  

Travis Anderson

CHARLOTTE, NC  – HFF announced it has arranged a permanent loan for Lakewood Shopping Center, a 65,674-square-foot retail center in Dallas, Texas.

               HFF worked exclusively on behalf of the borrower, Lincoln Property Company, to secure the 15-year, fixed-rate loan through Aegon USA Realty Advisors LLC, a commercial real estate investment and management arm of Aegon Asset Management. 

Lakewood Shopping Center is located at 6400 Gaston Avenue on 4.28 acres in the heart of the affluent Lakewood neighborhood. 

Completed in 1946 and most recently renovated in 2012, the center is adjacent to Whole Foods and the Lakewood Country Club and three miles northeast of downtown Dallas.

 Lakewood Shopping Center is 91.3-percent leased to national and regional tenants, including CVS, Sports Clips, Radio Shack, PETCO Unleashed and Liberty Burger. 

Adam Herrin

The HFF team representing the borrower was led by senior managing director Travis Anderson, director Adam Herrin and senior real estate analyst Cory Fowler.

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

Kristen M. Murphy

Associate Director

HFF | One Post Office Square, Suite 3500 | Boston, MA 02109

Main: 617-338-0990 | Direct: 617-848-1572 | Cell: 617-543-4873 | www.hfflp.com

krmurphy@hfflp.com

HFF hires Phil Mahler as managing director in its national healthcare practice group

Phil Mahler

CHICAGO, IL – HFF announced that Phil Mahler has joined the firm as a managing director in its Chicago office.  Mr. Mahler will be a member of HFF’s national healthcare practice and will focus on healthcare capital markets and investment sale transactions throughout the United States.

               Mr. Mahler has 22 years of commercial real estate experience and most recently worked with Savills LLC as a managing director in its medical office group. 

During his 10 years with Savills, he was involved in more than $6.0 billion of medical office transactions totaling approximately 33.5 million square feet of product. 

Prior to Savills, he was a manager in the Real Estate Advisory and Capital Markets Group of Ernst and Young and has also held positions with UBS Realty Investors LLC, Prologis Trust and Wells Fargo Bank. 

Mr. Mahler is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and is a frequent panelist at BOMA, Interface events and Cap Rate events, among others.

John Pelusi

              “Phil has an extensive background in the commercial real estate industry and a deep understanding of the medical office space, having transacted numerous investment sales, financing assignments, joint ventures, direct hospital monetization strategies and strategic recaps, among others,” said John Pelusi, executive managing director and head of HFF’s national healthcare practice. 

“Phil, alongside Michael Bennett, Jack Dudick, and the entire HFF healthcare team, will utilize a true team approach to put the ‘best team on the field’ for every transaction. 

"  Phil will be splitting his time between Chicago and New York City, and will focus on medial office transactions nationally.”

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

Kristen M. Murphy

Associate Director

HFF | One Post Office Square, Suite 3500 | Boston, MA 02109

Main: 617-338-0990 | Direct: 617-848-1572 | Cell: 617-543-4873 | www.hfflp.com

krmurphy@hfflp.com

Taylor & Mathis Orlando Brokers Downtown Orlando, FL Building Sale

Buffy Gillette

ORLANDO, FL– Oct. 3, 2014:  Damien Madsen, Principal of Taylor & Mathis Orlando announced today the completion of a building sale in Downtown Orlando.

Damien Madsen and Buffy Gillette recently closed the sale of the downtown Orlando building located off of Lucerne Circle totaling approximately 3,663 square feet.  Representing the Sellers, The Central Florida Sports Commission, the sold the property to Northboro Builders for a value of $470,000.

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

Buffy Gillette

(407) 622.6699

www.TaylorMathis.com.

Hold-Thyssen Completes $2.55 Million Sale of TD Bank Building in Winter Garden, FL

  

Therese Taylor

Winter Park, FL and  Winter Garden, FL--- Hold-Thyssen, Inc., a commercial real estate services firm based in Winter Park, recently negotiated the sale of the TD Bank Building at 12200 W. Colonial Drive in Winter Garden for $2,550,000. 

 R. Anthony Fisher, vice president of Hold-Thyssen, Inc. said the firm’s leasing team led by Leasing Agent Therese Taylor boosted occupancy at the building to more than 85 percent last spring prior to placing it on the market on behalf of the seller Portland, Oregon-based 12200 West Colonial Drive, LLC. 

  The Ocoee-based buyer was represented by Ray Turchi of Marcus & Millichap.

Ray Turchi

 Taylor’s team had leased space in the TD Bank Building to Scholastic Insurance of Florida LLC, Lotus Financial Services Group, and Statewide Permit Service, Inc.   

 Taylor also leased a multi-story office suite with 2,135 square feet in the TD Bank Building to Reinforced Earth Company shortly before the sale.

 Hold-Thyssen provides commercial property and leasing and management services to institutional and private investor clients nationwide.  The 40-year old firm’s current portfolio includes more that 100 commercial properties throughout the United States.

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

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, 

Larry Vershel Communications Inc.

 407-644-4142

  Lvershelco@aol.com

Taylor & Mathis Broward Team Secures 37,528 Square Feet in Leases at MetLife Properties in South Florida

Donna Korn

Sawgrass, FL -   Taylor & Mathis of Florida’s Broward leasing team has executed six office leases totaling 37,528 square feet at three MetLife properties in the third quarter.

 “Summer leasing activity has been unusually brisk this year; a sign of the improving economy,” according to T&M Director of Leasing Donna Korn. 

Donna Korn and Jennifer Gemma of Taylor & Mathis brokered the following office lease transactions in Broward County on behalf of landlord MetLife including 21,831 square feet leased at Huntington Centre and 11,381 square feet at Miramar Centre in Miramar plus 3,866 square feet at Venture Corporate Center, Hollywood.

Huntington Centre, Miramar Florida

·         Office of the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Southern District of Florida | Miami-Dade Division signed a 10,039 square foot renewal and expansion.

·         Nordyne International, Inc., offering industry-leading HVAC brands, products, training and programs, leased 7,644 square feet. The deal was co-brokered by Daniel Cook of Cook Commercial Realty, Inc. representing the tenant.

·         Payroll Experts, LLC leased 3,532 square feet. The deal was co-brokered by Sal Bonsignore of Colliers International representing the tenant.

Jennifer Gemma

·         Green Cross Home Care Services, Inc. signed a renewal of 616 square feet

Miramar Centre, Miramar Florida

·         Humana Medical Plan, Inc. signed a renewal of 11,381 square feet. MetLife owns two buildings at Miramar Center with this deal keeping the 3401 building at 100% occupancy. The deal was co-brokered by Leigh Anne Johnson of DTZ representing the tenant.

Venture Corporate Center, Hollywood Florida

·         Enclos Corp. leased 3,866 square feet.  The deal was co-brokered by Zachary Talbot and Rick Miller of DTZ representing the tenant. Enclos, a facade engineering and curtain wall design company, is one of the largest specialty design-build contractors in the United States.

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

Donna Korn dkorn@taylormathis.com  or

Jennifer Gemma jgemma@taylormathis.com

(954)845-8840

www.taylormathisflorida.com

www.TaylorMathis.com

Cousins Properties Closes Northpark Town Center Acquisition in Atlanta, GA

Northpark Town Center, Atlanta, GA

ATLANTA, GA --Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE: CUZ) has completed its previously announced acquisition of Northpark Town Center, a 1.5 million square-foot office complex in Atlanta, GA, for a gross price of approximately $348 million.

Cousins Properties Incorporated is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT).

The Company, based in Atlanta, GA, primarily invests in Class-A office assets located in high growth Sunbelt markets, with a focus on Georgia, Texas and North Carolina.

The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets and opportunistic investments.

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

Cousins Properties Incorporated

Marli Quesinberry, 404-407-1898

Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

marliquesinberry@cousinsproperties.com

R3 Funding Arranges $11.5 Million Loan for Orion Lakes Manufactured Home Community in Orion, MI

Orion Lakes Manufactured Home Community
Orion Lakes, MI

ORION, MI --  R3 Funding, a national lender correspondent providing origination and workout services, announced today that it has arranged an $11.5 million fixed rate CMBS loan for Orion Lakes, a manufactured home community located in Orion, Michigan. 

The announcement was made by Ray Potter, managing partner of R3 Funding.

Orion Lakes is 416 pads and is located at 47 Bluebird Hill. It has a 74 percent occupancy rate and its amenities include on-site laundry facilities, a playground and clubhouse, and a basketball court.

The community sits adjacent to the Orion Assembly GM plant, which received a $545 million investment in 2010 in order to retool for the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano programs.

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

Carl Gaines

Account Director

Great Ink Communications

27 Union Square West, Suite 205

New York, NY 10003

w: (212) 741-2977

c: (917) 202-0771

FrontDoor Communities’ Andalucia in Naples, FL Named Product Design of the Year

Mike Taylor

NAPLES, FL– For the second year in a row, Andalucia, a FrontDoor Communities property in the heart of Naples, Florida, has been awarded Product Design of the Year at the 2014 Sand Dollar Awards.

The Collier Building Industry Association presents the awards each year to deserving real estate projects in the Collier County area.

The Sand Dollar Awards recognize achievement by builders, developers, architects and others in real estate that have demonstrated building, design and marketing excellence.

FrontDoor Communities received the award for Product Design of the Year in Single Family Homes at an awards ceremony Sept. 27 at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples.

“FrontDoor Communities is honored to be recognized by the Collier Building Industry Association for the second year in a row alongside some of the top names in real estate,” said Mike Taylor, vice president at FrontDoor Communities. “Winning Product Design of the Year reflects our commitment to deliver better homes through quality design.”

Andalucia is a 167-home community located on 78 acres at the heart of Naples.

 The homes feature Mediterranean design elements that enhance and complement Florida’s history and climate including tiled roofs, arched windows and doorways and ornamental details.

 Bordered by natural preserves and wetlands, the community is convenient to top beaches, schools and shopping.

 For more information on Andalucia, visit www.andalucianaples.com.

                                         

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

M.C. Rhodes •The Wilbert Group

1720 Peachtree St., Suite 350 • Atlanta, Ga. 30309

O: 404-343-0274  • M: 678-983-5867

www.thewilbertgroup.com             

Little Rock Marriott Hosts Grand Opening Festivities; Hotel Promotes Community with Easter Seals Charitable Partnership Announcement

  

Gretchen Hall

 LITTLE ROCK, AR, Oct. 2, 2014—Hotel officials celebrated the grand opening of the 418-room Little Rock Marriott in downtown Little Rock, Ark., with a spectacular gala highlighting the hotel’s prominent place in the community.

 Headlined by the Arkansas Symphony with performances by local school bands, the Razorbacks tailgate themed event was hosted by Davidson Hotels & Resorts, which operates the hotel, and officials from Fairwood Capital, the hotel's owner.

The hotel also announced a charitable partnership with the Easter Seals.  With funds provided by the Marriott Little Rock and Fairwood Capital, Easter Seals will facilitate an in-state college scholarship program. 

On July 4, 2015, the hotel will host the first of a series of events with the 2nd Annual 4th of July Extravaganza with a portion of those additional proceeds donated to the charity.

Patrick Lupsha

General admission guests will be provided a “festival-style” experience that includes dinner, private access to Riverfront Park, the Riverview Room and Riverview Terrace. 

Casual seating is available in the Riverview Room and Terrace while dining. Admission includes dinner, live entertainment and fireworks overlooking the river.

“Today marks a new chapter in Arkansas’ lodging history as we welcome our state’s first and only full-service Marriott hotel to downtown Little Rock,” said Pat Lupsha, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Davidson. 

  “With the completion of our multi-million renovation, the hotel is perfectly positioned to meet the growing needs of the area’s business and leisure travelers.  

"The Marriott name is synonymous with hospitality, making it the perfect choice to usher in a new high-water mark for hospitality in our community.”

Attendees included Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe; Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola; Jim Kauffman, Marriott’s president of North America full-service hotels; Bob Solmson, CEO Fairwood Capital, John Belden, Davidson’s president and CEO; and Gretchen Hall, president and CEO of the Little Rock Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola

To entertain gala guests, the Arkansas Symphony and Mabelvale School all gave moving musical performances.  

The evening concluded with an old fashioned “’Backs Tailgate” party, complete with  trucks, photo booths, the Central High School Band and Cheerleaders and a replay of the “Game of the Century” 1969 Arkansas Razorbacks vs Texas Longhorns.  

Mayor Mark Stodula spoke about the revitalization efforts of downtown.  With the renovation of the Little Rock Marriott, it is expected that the hotel will increase traffic to downtown businesses and spur economic activity. 

  The hotel provides a world class conference facility and hospitality destination making downtown a place for residents of Arkansas and others to visit and enjoy.

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

Chris Daly

Daly Gray Public Relations

 (703) 435-6293

chris@dalygray.com

 (703) 435-6293

Cyndi Norwood                                                                                

(678) 349-0909  

cnorwood@davidsonhotels.com

Davidson Hotels & Resorts                                                             

Bankunited Provides $2.16 Million Refinance Loan to Leasa Industries, Inc., Liberty City’s Largest Employer in Metro Miami, FL

MIAMI LAKES, FL  – BankUnited announced it has provided a $2.16 million loan to Leasa Industries, Inc. to refinance its Liberty City facility at 2450 Northwest 76th Street.

As the largest employer in Liberty City, with more than 70 employees, Leasa is known for its socially responsible practices, including hiring its employees from within the Liberty City community, and locating its facility within a designated Empowerment Zone/Community Redevelopment Area.

One of the largest growers, manufacturers, processors and packers of healthy food products across the Southeastern United States, Leasa brand products are distributed to various retail locations throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, the Caribbean and Alaska.

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

Mary Harris,

(305) 817-8117                                           

MHarris@BankUnited.com

Savannah Whaley,

 (954) 776-1999, ext. 225

swhaley@piersongrant.com

Amy Hoffman

Pierson Grant Public Relations

6301 Northwest 5th Way  Suite 2600

Fort Lauderdale, FL  33309

v. (954) 776-1999  ext. 228

f. (954) 776-0290

ahoffman@piersongrant.com

www.highimpactdigital.com

RealtyTrac Ranks Best U.S. Markets for Buying Residential Rental Properties

Daren Blomquist

IRVINE, CA,  Oct. 2, 2014 — RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), the nation’s leading source for comprehensive housing data, today released its Q3 2014 Residential Property Rental Report, which ranks the best markets for buying residential rental properties.

For the report, RealtyTrac analyzed median sales prices for residential properties and average fair market rents for three bedroom properties in 586 U.S. counties with a combined population of 218 million people — 71 percent of the total U.S. population.

Rental returns were calculated using annual gross rental yields:  the average fair market rent of three-bedroom homes in each county, annualized, and divided by the median sales price of residential properties in the third quarter.

The 586-county analysis found that investors buying U.S. residential rental property in the third quarter of 2014 are getting an average annual return of 9.06 percent, down from an average annual return of 9.65 percent for the third quarter of 2013.

Median home prices in the 586 counties analyzed in the report increased more than 7 percent on average in the third quarter of 2014 compared to a year ago, while average fair market rents for three-bedroom homes increased an average of less than 1 percent.

In these counties on average 33 percent of the housing units were renter-occupied and 67 percent were owner-occupied. 

The average rental vacancy rates in these counties were 7.4 percent compared to a national average of 8.7 percent as of the end of 2012.

“The single family rental market is still strong, with returns averaging 9 percent in the 586 counties analyzed,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “Even so, the market is softening, with those same 586 counties averaging a nearly 10 percent return a year ago.

“In the high-risk, high-yield markets, where unemployment and vacancy rates are higher than national averages, the average return was a whopping 19 percent, actually up from a year ago thanks to a strong increase in rental rates,” Blomquist continued.

 “Home prices, meanwhile, were more volatile in the high-risk, high-yield markets, with three out of the 16 posting double-digit percentage decreases in median home prices from a year ago.”

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

Jennifer von Pohlmann

PR Manager

Office: 949.502.8300 ext 139

jennifer.vonpohlmann@realtytrac.com

McCraney Property Co. Inks Lease with FedEx in Its John Young Business Park Project in Orlando, FL

Steven McCraney

ORLANDO, FL – McCraney Property Company (MPC) has signed a lease with FedEx Ground to occupy 60 percent of its John Young Business Park’s Building 3, which consists of 142,638 square feet. The tenant, FedEx Ground, a leader in cost-effective, small-package ground shipping, will be using the space as a package distribution center.

“We’re encouraged about the demand for Class A industrial in our Central Florida projects,” said Steven McCraney, SIOR, CCIM, president and CEO of McCraney Property Company. “FedEx has a great business platform, and we’re excited that they chose John Young Business Park.”

 McCraney’s 25-acre John Young Business Park consists of a three-building portfolio, totaling 393,000 square feet of modern industrial buildings. A joint venture was formed between MPC and international real estate investment manager Clarion Partners, LLC, to develop the project.

Dade Paper, a 150,000-square-foot state-of-the-art distribution center and offices, was the first of the three buildings in John Young Business Park to be completed. Construction has just been completed on its two spec industrial buildings, Buildings 2 and 3, totaling 243,000 square feet.

Jerry Benson

Jones Lang LaSalle was the tenant representative for FedEx Ground. David Murphy of CBRE was the exclusive leasing agent for John Young Business Park.

MPC’s team consisted of Steven McCraney, Jerry Benson, asset manager and Ben Kraljev, director of growth and development.

MPC currently has approximately 244,000 square feet under negotiations in Central Florida.

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

Don Silver (donsil@boardroompr.com) or

Ashley Fierman (afierman@boardroompr.com)

BoardroomPR,

954-370-8999

954-629-7523.