$8,000,000 Bridge Financing for 28-Unit Multifamily Refinance; La Mirada, CA

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully placed a $14,500,000 bridge loan for the lease-up of a newly constructed 54-unit apartment building in Los Angeles, California. The bridge loan refinanced the construction loan at maturity and provided time to stabilize the Property. GSP sourced a Lender that was able to provide cash neutral financing and fix the interest rate for the duration of the loan term. The financing is open for prepayment at any point throughout the loan term with a minimum of 12 months interest paid.

Transaction Description:

GSP utilized a quick close bridge fund to provide 3 separate loans:
$7,150,000 Distressed Multifamily Purchase – 80% LTC in Los Angeles
$2,200,000 Mixed-Use, Retail-Residential – 65%LTV in Los Angeles/Venice
$2,580,000 Restaurant/Retail – 65% LTV in Pasadena

George Smith Partners successfully arranged three bridge financings in Southern California. In today’s turbulent market, private quick close options are sometimes necessary. The ability to act quickly often allows our clients to become the chosen Buyer- purchasing these Properties at a large discount or solve a tenant/occupancy issue before a permanent refinance.

GSP worked with a local REIT to develop a program that includes a first and second private mortgage of up to 85% of acquisition price. With the fund and GSP, the loans are underwritten to the future value, to allow the client to implement their strategy. When used for purchasing a property, the loans are designed to provide the same surety of close as an all-cash buyer, with no appraisal needed and the ability to close as fast as 5 business days. The loans are non-recourse and have no prepayment penalty.

These loans are cheaper and easier than equity partners and allow the Sponsor to take advantage of opportunities using less cash.

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 successfully arranged $102,000,000 (approx. $2.75M/unit) in non-recourse, bridge financing for a 37-unit, ultra-luxury apartment building located in the heart of West Hollywood. The fully condo-mapped project features hotel-level service and amenities including daily breakfast, airport drop-off, wellness classes, cooking classes, wine tastings, entertainment lounge, private dining room & kitchen, screening room, fitness center, yoga studio and a leather-paneled bowling alley. The asset boasts some of the highest rental rates on the West Coast.

Located in one of Los Angeles’ most coveted retail and residential neighborhoods, this trophy asset caters to wealthy residents seeking an amenity-rich community with minimal maintenance and maximal convenience. The best-in-class Sponsor recognized the investment potential of an ultra-luxury product in a prized location—the revered “pumpkin patch” site in West Hollywood. In working with potential lenders for this financing, GSP was able to identify a capital provider who not only understood the as-is value and in-place cash flow of the operating multifamily asset, but also the potential future value as 37 individual high-end condos. The loan closed in 50 days from application.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully arranged $30,139,000 in construction financing for the phased adaptive reuse of a landmark office tower into a 145-key upper-upscale lifestyle hotel with boutique-quality amenities. Located within a Qualified Opportunity Zone in the heart of Downtown Tucson, the Project is a focal point in the downtown skyline, offering unparalleled accessibility to numerous restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment venues.

The financing capitalized renovation costs related to the redevelopment of the office tower; the Project also qualified for valuable tax benefits intended to spur new development in the surrounding area.
The Downtown Tucson market currently has only one upscale lifestyle hotel, while market growth has created a strong demand for upscale product within the hotel sector. Bolstered by local knowledge and industry expertise, the top-tier Sponsorship team recognized the gap within the market and identified the asset as a unique opportunity to create a transformative hotel in the city’s employment and social epicenter. GSP was able to identify an institutional-quality lender who not only understood the substantial value of the Project’s tax benefits in a high-growth market, but also the Sponsor’s ability to execute on the business plan.