Refinance of Prime Los Angeles Retail Shopping Center; Fixed at 4.715% for 10 Years

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 $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 secured a $5,000,000 permanent refinance of a three-building, 8-unit, 20,000 square foot automotive service retail center on a 2-acre parcel in Valencia, CA. The Sponsor had purchased the Property in an all cash transaction in 2019 via 1031 Exchange and wished to recapitalize with a long-term fixed rate loan. GSP leveraged its expertise and strong relationship with a capital provider to execute a low fixed-rate, 30-year fully amortized, partial-recourse, permanent loan. Most importantly, there were no-post closing covenants, including occupancy, which was especially attractive to the Sponsor due to the shorter terms and automotive/specialty related tenancy. GSP was able to get the Capital Provider comfortable with the asset due to its strategic location in the heart of the auto-dealerships corridor, which makes this location quite attractive to businesses in the auto service space.

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 successfully secured a $4,100,000 non-recourse permanent refinance of a 14-unit, multifamily property in West Los Angeles. Loan proceeds were used to pay off the existing variable, higher interest rate bridge loan into a lower interest, fixed rate loan. There was significant cash-out to the Sponsor, who had recently completed an extensive reposition and upgrade of the Property. Due to the Sponsor’s business plan, flexibility and interest only were paramount. As such, GSP worked with the Lender to structure a 5-year fixed rate term with 3 years interest only and a step-down prepayment structure of 3%, 2%, 1%. This structure allows the Sponsor to maximize current cash flow while providing the flexibility of a step-down structure that burns off when the loan begins to amortize.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured $7,800,000 for the cash-out, refinance of a newly renovated, class B, 246-unit multifamily building located in Indianapolis. The structure allowed the Sponsor to pull out over $2,000,000 in cash and leave in place an affordable grant loan that was awarded to the Property for maintaining a certain number of affordable units.

The Sponsor is a regional multifamily owner who has a strong relationship with an international bank. The in-place loan was originated by the Sponsor’s relationship bank. There were only three months of results after renovations. Due to the lack of results, the current Lender’s proposed offer to refinance the Property did not give the Sponsor credit for the upgrades and increased rents. It also would have required the payoff of an attractive loan from the City.

GSP identified a national balance sheet lender that understood the strength of the asset, improvements and experience of the Sponsor. Using our vast experience in understanding this type of asset and proving out the large future increases in cash flow, GSP was able to secure financing that was far superior and allowed for cash-out to the Sponsor. The financing also allowed for the affordable grant loan to remain in place. GSP was able to negotiate no lender fees or prepayment. The loan GSP secured allowed for higher proceeds, cash out, longer term, and an overall lower cost.