$5,619,400 Quick Close Loan on a 382 Unit, Class C Houston Multifamily Project

George Smith Partners arranged $3,500,000 in quick-close acquisition bridge financing for a waterfront Newport Beach multifamily property.  The sponsor approached GSP with an extremely tight closing time frame and a property with one down unit. The sponsor valued certainty of execution above all else, so he could close on the property in short order. GSP identified a non-bank lender with a long history of providing quick close bridge execution, familiar with the location and comfortable with the property’s weak in place cash flow.  Sized to 65% of purchase with no hold back requirement for interest reserve or capital expenditures, the loan carries a 9-month term, interest only payments at a 7.00% fixed rate and no prepayment penalty.  The loan also includes two 3 month extensions and a 1.5% lender fee.

Transaction Description
George Smith Partners secured a $3,000,000 non-recourse bridge loan to demolish and begin the redevelopment of a fire damaged retail building on a prime corner in Downtown Los Angeles. After the fire, the sponsor decided to demolish and rezone the property. The long term plan is to redevelop the property into a mixed use building with ground floor retail, office, and condos. GSP used its experience and relationships to identify a private money lender who could understand the greater value of the project and was able to demonstrate both the inherent value of the property due to its extraordinary location as well as the future value of the project as completed. The lender was able to close in 5 days. The interest only loan is priced at 7.99% and represents 55% of the property’s current value. The loan has a 1-year term with a 1-year extension option and no prepayment penalty.

Transaction Description:
George Smith Partners secured a $2,250,000 bridge loan for the 70% completed spec luxury waterfront single family residence in Naples, Florida. The sponsors self-funded the development and sought to use the proceeds to recapitalize for other projects.

Challenge:
The Sponsor requested maximum cash-out proceeds that dissuaded many capital providers from considering the request given the luxury home’s vulnerability in a market downturn and overall development risk. Most lenders were not comfortable going over 60% loan to cost.

Solution:
GSP identified a private capital source who was comfortable with the incomplete project and understood the upside potential at completion. Our Sponsor’s considerable development track record and financial strength further encouraged the capital provider not to shy away from the high dollars per square foot. Sized to 75% of total cost and 53% of as-complete value, the 12-month loan is interest only with no prepayment penalty or yield maintenance.

George Smith Partners arranged a $2,700,000 cash-out refinance bridge loan on an unflagged boutique hotel in Sacramento, California. The Borrower approached GSP seeking a financing solution from a lender that could close quickly, provide capital to renovate, and bridge until stabilization. GSP identified a lender who was comfortable lending on an unflagged hotel in the middle of renovations and located in a secondary market. During due diligence, an unpaid occupancy tax from the prior owner was discovered. With the prior ownership unable to pay the tax, the county placed a lien against the property, even though it was under new ownership with no relation to the prior owners. This created a setback for closing, as title could not be cleared until the tax, interest, and fees were paid in full. The borrower weighed the cost of litigating to fight the liens, but chose to pay off the liens which allowed the lender to close on time.  Sized to 50% of cost, the interest only loan has an 18 month term to allow for full stabilization of the property and has no prepayment penalty. The loan is priced at 7.90% for the first twelve months and 8.30% thereafter, for the remainder of the term.