$5,300,000 Office Cash-Out Refinance; San Fernando Valley, CA

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged $6,650,000 in owner-user financing for a multi-tenant, 50% owner-user office property located in Beverly Hills, CA. The Sponsor approached GSP to help assist with taking equity out of the Property to reinvest in their company. The Sponsor requested a low interest rate and $2,500,000 cash out. The multi-tenant component, along with a decreased appetite for office lending due to “Work-from-Home”, made it difficult for capital sources to get comfortable with the cash-out and interest-only request. GSP had to identify a capital source that could provide competitive terms, and a certainty of execution. Being in the market daily, GSP was able to successfully structure a first trust deed from a conventional lender and provided the Sponsor with a below-market interest rate of 3.15% fixed, and interest-only payments for the first 5 years of the 10-year term. Thanks to the low-rate and interest-only component, the Sponsor was able lower their debt service from their previous loan, while simultaneously securing over $2.,500,000 in cash-out.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged $5,350,000 in cash-out permanent financing for an owner-user office building located in Downtown Riverside, CA. The Sponsor approached GSP to help assist with the refinance of the Property to help relocate their company headquarters from the east coast. The Sponsor was on a strict deadline with their existing lender, only having 60 days to refinance before the current loan maturity. At the time of the refinance process, the Sponsor was close to completing exterior and interior renovations, including common area upgrades. GSP had to quickly identity a lender who could deliver certainty of execution on short notice, while delivering competitive terms. GSP was able to provide the Sponsor with a 25-year term, and the first 5 years being fixed at a low rate of 4%. The first 12 months are interest only, before converting to 25-year amortization thereafter. There is additional flexibility within the loan structure because there is no prepayment penalty. The cash-out loan allows the Sponsor to use more equity towards continuing to grow their business. Thanks to our long-standing relationship with the Lender, GSP was able to meet the Sponsors deadline and close this transaction within 60 days.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully placed $11,825,000 ($200/SF) in non-recourse financing that provided substantial cash-out to the Borrower with a 3.35% fixed-rate coupon for a 20-year loan term on a University-affiliated research and technology office building during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan was creatively structured as a credit tenant lease financing due to the University’s backstopping the Property’s cash flow through a master lease. GSP worked with the Borrower, Lender, and University to amend the master lease so that it satisfied the needs of all three parties to facilitate both the refinancing as well as successful donation of the building to the University’s technology foundation, which occurred concurrently with the close of this financing.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured a senior bridge loan for a 21,303 square foot office building in Laguna Niguel, CA. The Subject Property was unencumbered; hence the entire loan was comprised of cash-out proceeds which the Borrower is utilizing for a separate project they are developing. The loan represents approximately 60% of the original purchase price and was structured with a 1-year initial term with interest only payments. The loan allows for open prepayment and carries two 6-month extension options.

The loan was collateralized by a recently renovated 21,303 square foot office building. The building had recently upgraded the facade, landscaping, parking lot, entrance, lobby, bathrooms, HVAC and other interior finishes. A new roof and solar system had also been installed. The building was 47% occupied at loan funding. The first-floor single tenant had vacated at lease expiration several months prior leaving limited debt service coverage and unusually high vacancy compounded by other COVID related issues.

GSP selected a lender that was able to move incredibly quick to accommodate the Borrower’s development timeline. The Lender’s credit department approved the loan one-week post submission and did not require an appraisal to close. The Lender underwrote to the stabilized asset value, closed with no debt service reserve and no personal recourse.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully arranged $3,000,000 in a cash-out permanent refinance secured by the sandwich leasehold interest in a single-tenant leased office building in Irvine, California. The Subject Property is in the heart of Orange County’s business district and next to the Irvine Business Complex and John Wayne Airport. The neighborhood is in a mature stage with limited amount of vacant land available for new development. The Property consists of three multi-story buildings having 69,474 SF net rentable space.

The Subject Property is encumbered by a ground lease. The leasehold interest, ground lease, and tenant improvement lease all expire in five years, with no extension options. The non-investment grade tenant has a six year lease remaining and they are not required to provide business financials.

GSP identified a capital provider able to structure a five year fully amortizing loan. The Sponsor’s considerable real estate track record and financial strength further encouraged the Lender to provide a low interest rate. The recourse loan is fixed at 3.00% with a 5-year term and will be fully amortized in five years.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners placed an $11,895,000 cash-out refinance of a 100% owner/user corporate office and assemblage facility in Orange County, California. Excess proceeds were used to address a loan maturity for other unrelated real estate. The other assets are not stabilized but located in primary in-fill Los Angeles markets. Although proceeds were allocated to other real assets our Capital Provider only collateralized the Subject Property. Our Capital Provider sized this request to 65% of appraised value and fixed the rate at 3.88% for 5 years. It was extremely important for our Sponsor to have permanent financing that carries a step-down pre-payment penalty from 5%.