Transaction Description: GSP arranged ground-up construction financing for a 29-unit for-sale condominium development in the Koreatown sub-market of Los Angeles. The client was a local general contractor who partnered with an owner who contributed the land. The goal was to obtain highly leveraged, non-recourse construction financing and provide no additional equity. The Sponsor tried to access bank financing on their own before coming to GSP.
Challenge: Non-recourse construction financing is very difficult, especially for first time developers. Lenders view ground-up condo construction as one of the most risky types of financing. In addition, the Koreatown market has seen lots of multifamily developments, but there has been little recent condo construction in this market since the last real estate cycle. Also, the insurance and other last minute expenses increased the overall project cost by $500,000.
Solution: Using it relationships, GSP was able to identify a non-recourse construction lender who would provide highly leveraged construction financing. Because the ownership did not want to bring in new capital, it was also critical for the project to be correctly underwritten and achieve certain loan to cost and loan to value targets. When it was discovered that additional insurance would be needed to protect the contractor and the long-term welfare of the project, the lender agreed to increase the loan by $500,000 a few days before closing to provide capital for unexpected costs. This allowed us to close the loan and start construction.
- Rate: 10.25% Interest Only
- Term: 24 Month Construction Loan
- LTC: 85%
- Guarantee: Non-recourse
