Financings

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully closed a loan at 60% loan-to-value for an 84% occupied, newly built, and stabilized retail center in Bakersfield, CA. GSP located a lender that was able to lock the rate of 4.125% at application to avoid the rate volatility in the market. Many lenders were not comfortable quoting the deal because of the lack of operating history. GSP was able to locate a lender that was comfortable with the lack of history, with a 6-month debt service reserve held back at closing, to ensure that the tenants continue to pay rent. The reserve is released after 6 months of full rent collection.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured permanent financing for two newly renovated/repositioned Class C apartment communities in San Diego. Two separate loans were originated for the same Sponsor for the 14-unit and 5-unit multifamily communities.

The Properties were in the process of being completed and leased when the Borrower went under application with a bank. Despite the longer than normal application process and rising interest rate environment, GSP was able to get the bank to extend the rate lock and obtain a favorable coupon.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged bridge-to-perm financing for the acquisition of a multifamily property located in the Beverly Grove area of Los Angeles, California. The Property was 50% vacant and in need of renovation at the time of close. GSP matched the Sponsor with a lender who could provide the flexibility of a bridge-to-perm loan with a 5-year term, of which the first 24 months would be interest-only to account for the renovation and lease-up period.

Despite today’s high-interest rate market, GSP was able to secure a floating rate at PRIME + 0.25% (4.25% as of today). The market usually caps this kind of structure with a below-market rate at 65%-70% LTV, but GSP was able to leverage its relationships to secure 75% of the purchase price for the Sponsor. The loan has no prepayment penalty, allowing for additional flexibility for the Sponsor. The Borrower was in a 1031 exchange and only had 45 days to close from the time the deal was brought to GSP. GSP quickly identified a bank lender, entered into application, and closed the transaction in just 35 days.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured permanent financing for an unflagged, 90-key, boutique art hotel in Tucson, AZ. The Sponsor acquired the Property in 2017, and completed a full renovation and rebrand in 2018, primarily with cash. The Hotel performed extremely well prior to the pandemic. While revenue and NOI declined, along with most hospitality assets during that time, the Property has since recovered to and exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Despite the Property being unflagged and located outside downtown Tucson, GSP was able to leverage its strong lender relationships to source CMBS and Life Insurance Company quotes. The Sponsor ultimately chose a LifeCo lender who offered a combination of low rate, longer amortization, prepayment flexibility, and potential to increase proceeds during the loan term.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured permanent financing for a 15-unit multifamily property located in Houston, Texas. The financing is fixed at 3.54% for 5 years. The deal went into application right before the Federal Reserve increased rates and before we experienced a run-up in treasuries. GSP’s good standing with the Lender ensured the original terms were honored until closing, notwithstanding the loan extension that took place and the rapid increase in the interest rate environment. The financing does not require any deposit relationship with the bank or any funds to be held back for reserves. The Lender’s processing/application fee was $2,000 and they had no origination fee.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured an acquisition bridge loan for the repositioning of a Class-C apartment community in San Diego. The financing includes a holdback that will be used to renovate both the interior and exterior of the Property over a 12-month period including the addition of a single ADU (garage conversion).

Given the Sponsors’ track record and their successful ability to substantially increase rents in this niche market, GSP was able to secure a Lender that could close quickly (within 25 days), without an appraisal, and allow a $1,000,000 2nd TD up to 98% of the total cost of the Project to accommodate an additional private party investment in the Property.

Transaction Description

George Smith Partners arranged $3,600,000 in acquisition financing for a 16-unit multifamily property in West Hollywood, CA. The Property came with five vacant units that were previously leased at well below market rents. The Sponsor, a repeat client, planned to renovate the vacant unit interiors and increase rents accordingly. GSP leveraged its network of relationships to source short-term, non-recourse, fixed rate financing with interest only payments with an early rate lock. However, the delayed appraisal report uncovered two units that were not legally permitted, which the lender excluded in its underwriting. GSP worked with the Lender, Appraiser and Sponsor on creative solutions to get as close to the original loan terms as possible. These negotiations required several extensions on the closing. Also, the rate lock eventually expired. Ultimately, GSP was able to get a $3,600,000 loan amount thanks in part to additional analysis and data provided to the Lender. GSP also leveraged its relationship with the Lender to secure a 4.25% fixed rate. While this was higher than the original locked rate, it was well below the current market rate.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged a $3,200,000 loan for the refinance of a stabilized 18-unit live/work property in Oxnard, California. The Property is a former warehouse that has been converted to apartments. They have been converted to allow tenants to run small businesses from their units. Although the Property is permitted as multifamily, some lenders declined the deal due to this unique use. GSP was able to find a lender that provided a 3.0% fixed rate, which is well below current market interest rates. Compared to the previous loan, the new interest rate is more than 1% less. The Lender was also able to provide non-recourse financing and 3 years of Interest-Only payments.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured a $2,083,000 agency loan for the cash-out refinance of a stabilized 44-unit multifamily property located in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. GSP used its relationship with a capital provider whom we had closed multiple loans with. This lender recently closed a similar loan in this market. They understood the market and felt comfortable with the market characteristics. The Sponsor recently completed exterior and interior renovations including common area upgrades. The recent improvements allowed the Sponsor to increase rents thus increasing the value of the Property. GSP was able to provide the Sponsor with a 7-year term and a flexible prepayment structure equal to 5%, 5%, 4%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%. The loan structure allows the Sponsor to refinance out of an expensive loan with a fixed rate of 3.38%, while also receiving cash out. The Sponsor is using cash-out proceeds to continue their business plan of purchasing and renovating additional properties. Thanks to our long-standing relationship with this Lender, GSP was able to meet the Sponsors deadline and close this transaction within 60 days from signing the term sheet.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged $15,100,000 in permanent financing for the refinance of a 5-property multifamily portfolio located in Los Angeles, CA. Using GSP’s vast network of relationships, we were able to source and quickly lock fixed rate financing in a market that is seeing rising interest rates. The Sponsor also wanted to pull cash out of their existing multifamily portfolio to use as equity towards purchasing new properties. The Sponsor had recently completed exterior and interior renovations including common area upgrades to all five properties. The recent improvements allowed the Sponsor to increase rents thus increasing the value of the Property. GSP was able to provide the Sponsor with a 30-year term, with the first 5 years being fixed at a rate of 3.40%. The loan represents 70% loan to value with a minimum 1.20 DSCR. The flexible stepdown prepayment structure is equal to 5,4,3,2,1. The cash-out loan allows the Sponsor to use more equity towards growing their multifamily portfolio. Thanks to GSP’s long-standing relationship with this bank lender, we were able to meet the Sponsors deadline and close this transaction within 35 days from signing the term sheet.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged $4,450,000 in financing for the refinance of a stabilized 37-unit mixed use property located in Los Angeles, California. The loan is fixed at a rate of 3.40% for 7 years. The new financing is a takeout of the acquisition loan that GSP closed five years earlier. Over the course of their ownership, the Sponsor performed a renovation of the Property and substantially increased the net operating income. As a result, the new loan provided a significant return of equity. The Lender held the rate of 3.40% even though interest rates increased while the loan was in application. Full credit was given for the income from two ground floor retail tenants. The loan has 5 years of interest-only payments.

Transaction Description

The Sponsor approached George Smith Partners for highly leveraged (80% Loan-to-Purchase), quick purchase financing. GSP secured this financing which allowed the Sponsor to purchase the 10-unit multi-family property well below the market value. Although the Property is currently 100% occupied, rents were below market because the Seller self-managed and the Property needs exterior and interior improvements. GSP arranged a $2,335,000 in non-recourse financing for the acquisition. The loan was structured with a first trust deed from a debt fund as well as a preferred equity B piece. There’s additional flexibility for the Sponsor because there is no prepayment penalty. This loan structure allows the Sponsor to implement their business plan of renovating units, increasing rents, and refinancing into a permanent loan within a few months. The non-recourse facility was priced at an interest-only fixed rate with a blended rate of 8.05% with a 12-month term plus a 6-month extension. Thanks to GSP’s long-standing relationship with this debt fund and preferred equity investor, we were able to close this transaction in less than 10 days from signing the term sheet.