HFF, Inc. announces new leadership team structure

  

 PITTSBURGH, PA – HFF, Inc. announced today the creation of a new Leadership Team for its operating partnerships to replace their former Operating Committees. 

The Leadership Team includes 41 of the firm’s top professionals who have the overall leadership and management responsibilities of the firm’s business for 2011. 

The Leadership Team consists of professionals spanning across each of HFF’s lines of business, property and product specialties and all of its offices, and it also includes a new four-person Executive Committee, which has overall responsibility for implementing the strategic direction of the firm and the Leadership Team. 

The new structure of HFF’s top line leadership is intended to enable better coordination and communication within the various platforms, specialties and offices, and provide HFF with improved management capacity to further strategically grow its business as well as better identify future leaders of the business.

New leadership designations of note include Gerard Sansosti who is responsible for HFF’s overall Debt Placement line of business.  In addition, as the current head of HFF’s Washington, D.C. debt practice, Sansosti, along with Steve Conley (middle left photo), is responsible for significantly growing and expanding the debt practice there.

Further notable leadership changes include Steve Henderson who is now head of HFF’s Freddie Mac relationship; Randy Baird who leads HFF’s industrial specialty efforts; Jason Nettles is an office head in Atlanta; Trey Morsbach is now an office head in Dallas; Mark Popovich is an office head in Pittsburgh; and Doug Bond helps lead the firm’s Los Angeles office.

 A list of professionals and areas of responsibility within the new Leadership Team is below:

Line of Business Leadership

Debt Placement & Structured Finance, Gerard Sansosti                   

Investment Sales, Mark Gibson

Loan Sales, Jody Thornton                     

HFF Securities, Investment Banking,  Mark Gibson

Corporate Consulting, John Pelusi

Loan Servicing, David Croskery

Office Location Leadership

Atlanta, Jason Nettles & Mark Sixour  

Austin, Sean Sorrell & Jody Thornton

Boston, Riaz Cassum & Fred Wittmann

Chicago, Mike Kavanau & Matthew Lawton

Dallas, Andrew Levy & Trey Morsbach

Hartford, Dana Brome

Houston, Scott Galloway & Grady Roberts

Indianapolis, Dave Keller

Los Angeles, Paul Brindley, Doug Bond & Dan Cashdan

Miami,  Manny de Zarraga

New Jersey, Tom Didio & Jon Mikula

New York, Mike Tepedino

Orange County, Don Curtis, Sean Deasy & Ryan Gallagher

Pittsburgh, Dave Nackoul & Mark Popovich

Portland, Lloyd Minten

San Diego, Tim Wright

San Francisco, Bruce Ganong & Michael Leggett

Washington D.C,. Stephen Conley & Gerard Sansosti

Property Specialty Leadership

Office, Stephen Conley                                                   

Retail, John Pelusi

Multi-Housing, Sean Deasy & Matthew Lawton

Industrial, Randy Baird

Hospitality, Daniel Peek

Self-Storage, Aaron Swerdlin   

Net Lease, Mark West

Special Assets Group, Manny de Zarraga

Foreign Capital, Riaz Cassum

Freddie Mac, Steve Henderson

Executive Committee, Mark Gibson, John Pelusi, Jody Thornton & John Fowler

 Contacts:

John H. Pelusi Jr., (top right photo)  Chief Executive Officer, (412) 281-8714, jpelusi@hfflp.com

Myra F. Moren, Director, Investor Relations , (713) 852-3500,

mmoren@hfflp.com

                                      

Warehouse Markets Showing Higher Occupancies, RECI Finds

 CHICAGO, IL - As spring approaches economic recovery is delicate, but more encouraging signs are surfacing within specific realty product sectors and markets demonstrating job growth, according to the Real Estate Capital Institute.

For example, many warehouse markets enjoy higher occupancies as global trade rebounds.  In addition, consumers are renewing spending, helping to ease oversupply concerns in the retail sector. 

Of course, problems in the housing sector continue to translate to higher profits in most multifamily markets.

The Middle East tensions are favorably influencing lower mortgage interest

rates.  During February declining treasury yields combined with compressing

mortgage spreads helped interest rates stay in the 4.5%-to-6% range for many

types of fixed-rate, longer-term loans.

Important trends changing the commercial property financing landscape

include:

*   Economic Outlook:  The usual leader in economic recovery, the

housing industry remains depressed.   Housing starts are nearly at a

standstill.  Yet the economy is rebounding at a modest tempo with overall

growth pegged at about three percent.  Such a pace is still below historical

rebounds following severe recessions.  Nonetheless, the unemployment rate is

expected to dip below nine percent - still a favorable statistic for overall

income-realty markets.  Also on the inflation front, increases are minimal

as economic recovery moves at a slow pace, benchmarked below two percent.

*   Low Rates:  In the short term, the Fed's active monetary decisions

are preserving rates at historically insignificant levels.  However,

investors are nervous about longer-term consequences including global growth

and fiscal spending. If overall mortgage rates remain in the

mid-single-digit range, realty values will remain at healthier levels,

otherwise higher rates will lead to more valuation pressures.

*   Demand for Quality:  During the past three quarters, further

consolidation occurring as commercial realty markets bask in the abundant

supply of attractively priced debt capital.  Although more equity is

required [and readily available, universal investor demand is unabated for

quality, income-producing properties.  Second-tier assets continue to suffer

and a wide pricing differential exists between various quality classes. 

*   Restrictive underwriting:  As Wall Street revives the CMBS platform,

mortgage delinquency rates reach new highs, hovering just below ten percent.

New loan origination underwriting is now more restrictive due to lingering

legacy issues.  As a result, life companies, and other lenders void of major

legacy loans, are more competitive in this funding arena.  In addition,

while pricing is relatively attractive, the net result across the board for

newly originated loans includes more restrictive covenants, mandatory

collection of reserves and escrows and loan covenants.  Investors demand

adequate protections and want reduced risks in the event problems emerge.

The Real Estate Capital Institute's Jeanne Peck (top right photo), emphasizes, "Conditions are improving and optimism is in the air.  New construction should selectively rebound as demand is unabated for high-quality, urban infill properties."

The Real Estate Capital Institute(r) is a volunteer-based research organization that tracks realty rates data for debt and equity yields.  The Institute posts daily and historical benchmark rates including treasuries, bank prime and LIBOR. 

Furthermore, call the Real Estate Capital RateLine at 7RE-CAPITAL (773-227-4825) for hourly rate updates.

Contact:

The   Real Estate Capital Institute(r)

3517 West Arthington Street

Chicago, Illinois USA 60624

Contact: Jeanne Peck, Research Director

Toll Free 800-994-RECI (7324)

director@reci.com

http://www.reci.com/

Texas Shopping Center Trades for $15.5 Million

WAXAHACHIE, TX, Mar. 4, 2011 – Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has brokered the sale of Waxahachie Crossing (top left photo), a 96,983-square foot shopping center in Waxahachie. The sales price of $15,500,000 represents $159 per square foot. 

Craig Fuller and Scott Wiles in Marcus & Millichap’s Cleveland office, along with Erin Patton in the firm’s Columbus office, brokered this transaction. Jason Vitorino in the firm’s Dallas office, also provided representation.

“Waxahachie Crossing is a high-quality core asset located in a growing area with a strong tenant base,” says Fuller. “The property was a great fit for the buyer’s current acquisition strategy.”

 Built in 2009, the property is located near U.S. Route 287 and U.S. Route 77 in Waxahachie, Texas.

Waxahachie Crossing is anchored by Best Buy, Ross and PetSmart. Shadow anchors include JCPenney and Home Depot. Wal-Mart, Target, Lowe’s and Belk and various national restaurants are located within the area.

The center’s tenants have triple-net leases and pay their own taxes, insurance and common area maintenance. Anchor tenants have recent 10-year leases. Shop tenants are on five-year original term leases.

Contact: Stacey Corso, Public Relations Manager, (925) 953-1716

stan johnson company completes sale of Comerica Bank ground lease in

RANCHO CUCAMONA, CA – Stan Johnson Company, one of the nation’s premier net lease brokerage firms, has completed the sale of 0.76 acre parcel 100% leased to Comerica Bank and guaranteed by Comerica Incorporated to a foreign private investor  for $3.3 million or a 5.09 percent cap rate.  The property is located at 12035 Foothill Blvd. in Rancho Cucamonga.  

Brandon Duff and Brad Feller of Stan Johnson Company exclusively represented the seller in the transaction, a California private partnership. 

“This cap rate is one of the most aggressive I have seen in recent years,” says Duff.  “We are seeing similar activity on comparable properties we are currently marketing and continue to see investors who are first time net lease investors enter the marketplace.”

Duff went on to say that the buyer was looking for a passive, investment grade, net-lease property in the United States. There were multiple offers on the property and the buyer performed a five day due diligence period and closed seven days thereafter in order to win the deal.

The property is situated within the Victoria Commons master-planned project, on Foothill Boulevard, the primary retail corridor for the Rancho Cucamonga trade area. It is located adjacent to national restaurants and hotels.

Located less that 1/8 of a mile from the subject property is Victoria Gardens Regional Town Center. Victoria Gardens (bottom right photo) is one of Southern California’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destinations with over 150 specialty stores, restaurants, AMC Theatres (12 screens), the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center; and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World (a 180,000 square foot sportsman’s paradise).

Contact: David Ebeling, Ebeling Communications, (949) 278-7851 david@ebelingcomm.com

                      

Jones Lang LaSalle Completes Four Leases at Manhattan Towers in Manhattan Beach, CA

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA. Mar. 4, 2011 — Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) today announced that it has completed four leases totalling approximately 10,000 square feet at Manhattan Towers (top left photo), a Class A, two-building complex totalling 309,705 square feet at 1230 and 1240 Rosecrans Avenue in Manhattan Beach, Calif. 

Jones Lang LaSalle’s team of Managing Directors Chris Strickfaden and Steve Solomon along with Mark Mattis of PM Realty Group represented the landlord, Wells REIT II, and are responsible for leasing at the complex.

The leases signed include:

·         APEX signed a five-year lease for 3,530 square feet of space.  APEX was represented by Gary Horwitz of Jones Lang LaSalle.

·         Oppenheimer & Co. signed a five-year lease for 3,039 square feet of space.  The company is relocating its regional office from another building in Manhattan Beach.  Oppenheimer & Co. represented itself in the transaction.

·         Spolin Silverman Cohen & Bosserman signed a five-year lease for 2,061 square feet of space.  The law firm is moving from Santa Monica.  Spolin, Silverman & Cohen was represented by John Ottinger of Tenant Advisors Corp.

           Edward S. Jones signed a three-year lease renewal for approximately 1,000 square feet of space.  Edward S. Jones represented itself in the transaction.

“Manhattan Towers is ideally suited for companies that desire premier office space ranging from 1,000 square feet up to 150,000 square feet in an ideal location with abundant nearby amenities,” said Strickfaden. 

For further information, please visit our website, http://www.joneslanglasalle.com/

Contact:  David Ebeling, Phone: +1 949 278 7851

 Email: david@ebelingcomm.com

 

Hunter Realty Transacts Three Hampton Inn & Suites for $26 Million

 ATLANTA,  GA,  Mar. 3, 2011—Officials at Hunter Realty today announced the firm represented the sellers of three properties in three separate transactions. 

The transacted hotels are the Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas/Arlington-South, in Texas; the Hampton Inn & Suites Pine Bluff, Ark.; and the Hampton Inn & Suites Texarkana, Texas.  The aggregated price of the three hotels was $26 million.

“These are premium-branded properties in ‘like-new’ condition with an average age under three years old, which means they will require minimal product improvement plan investments,” said Teague Hunter (top right photo), president, Hunter Realty.

 “We have seen the volume of properties coming to market increase substantially over the past five months, including conventional and distressed assets. 

“Concurrently, we’ve seen a sharp rise in activity from special servicers and lenders, which seems to indicate they are ready to begin selling after a period of ‘delay and pray.’  More and more hotels’ performance have begun to improve and the bid/ask spreads have narrowed thanks to give and take on both sides.

 

 “Owners now feel they are receiving a better price and buyers recognize the good value they are acquiring.  All are positive signs of a rebounding hotel environment.”

Lee Hunter (middle left photo) chief operating officer, Hunter Realty, noted that the firm’s nationwide office network played an important role in listing and selling the properties.

“It was a team effort with Gary Mills (bottom right photo), who heads up our Dallas office, as the team leader on all of these transactions,” said Lee Hunter. 

“Gary had a deep understanding of the owners, their needs and the local markets.  This helped him to conclude transactions that were mutually advantageous for both buyers and sellers.”

Contact:    Patrick Daly, Jerry Daly,  media, (703) 435-6293, patrick@dalygray.com

HFF closes sale of west Houston multi-housing community

  

HOUSTON, TX –HFF announced today that it has closed the sale of The Pathway (top left photo) , a 144-unit multi-housing community in west Houston, Texas.

HFF marketed the property on behalf of the seller, The Milestone Group.  Hudson Capital Investments purchased The Pathway for an undisclosed amount. 

The Pathway is situated on nearly six acres at 2901 Elmside Drive close to the Sam Houston Tollway in west Houston.  The property is 94 percent leased and units average 969 square feet each.

The HFF team that represented The Milestone Group included senior managing directors Craig LaFollette (lower right photo), Todd Stewart and Todd Marix, director Tre Banks and associate director Chris Curry.

 The Milestone Group is a vertically integrated real estate investment and management platform with more than $2.5 billion of multifamily assets under management, representing in excess of 45,000 units nationwide. 

The firm has corporate offices in Dallas and New York and eight regional offices throughout the United States employing more than 1,000 personnel.

Hudson Capital Investments is a Charleston, South Carolina-based multi-family investment firm headed by Lenny Blevins.

Contacts:   

J. Todd Stewart, HFF Senior Managing Director, (713) 852-3500 tstewart@hfflp.com

Kristen M. Murphy, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, (713) 852-3500,                                             

 krmurphy@hfflp.com

                                     

Colliers International Directs Four Retail Sales Totaling $11.25 million in Greater Los Angeles and Nevada

LOS ANGELES, CA  – Colliers International, the second largest global real estate services organization, has completed four retail sales totaling $11,250,000 million in greater Los Angeles area. Jereme Snyder (top right photo), senior vice president in Colliers International’s Irvine office, closed all four sales.

 ---The sale of a 25,825-square-foot retail building located at 18527 Yorba Linda Blvd. in Yorba Linda, Calif. to a private Orange County-based investor. The transaction is valued at $5,250,000. The property has been leased to Stater Bros. since 1975 and recently executed a new 10-year lease extension.

---The sale of a 2,360-square-foot retail building located at 308 Abbot Street, Salinas, Calif. to a private investor. The transaction is valued at $660,000. This single tenant 7 eleven had a corporate guaranteed NNN lease, and is located at the Southwest corner of Abbot Street and Maple Street. Snyder represented both the seller, Evercore Trust Company and the buyer.

---The sale of a 42,289-square-foot retail building located at 9155 Jurupa Road Riverside, Calif. The transaction is valued at $3,000,000. Snyder and Robert Hoyt, senior vice president based in Collier International’s Irvine office, represented the seller, and the private local buyer represented themselves. This property is the 13th single tenant Stater Bros Market Snyder and Hoyt have sold for Vornado since 2009. 

---The sale of a 3,198-square-foot retail building located at 8660 W. Warm Springs Road,  Las Vegas, Nevada to a Calif.-based private investor. The transaction is valued at $2.340.000. Built in 2009, the property is a single tenant, free-standing brand new Carl’s Jr, with a 20-year NNN lease with 15% increases every 5 years.

Snyder is a co-founder of Colliers NNN Group, a specialized national investment team within Colliers International with more than $1 billion dollars in completed transactions.

 Contact: Angela S. Hwang

Dir +1 213 532 3258 | Mob +1 310 867 4105

Main +1 213 627 1214 | Fax +1 213 327 3258

angela.hwang@colliers.com

http://www.colliers.com/

Melrose-Sovereign Companies Names John Carlucci Portfolio Property Manager in Tampa

 ORLANDO, FL --- Melrose-Sovereign Companies, which ranks as one of Florida’s most active home owner and condominium association management firms, recently named John Carlucci as portfolio property manager working out of firm’s Tampa office.

Ellen Lumpkin (top right photo), LCAM, co-founder and partner at the firm with Jack Hanson, LCAM said Carlucci has more than seven years of experience in property and community management.

Melrose-Sovereign Companies manages properties for more than 170 developers, investors and owners throughout Florida. The firm now has eight offices throughout the state.

For more information, contact: 

Jack B. Hanson, LCAM, Partner/Co-founder, Melrose-Sovereign Companies, 407-228-4181, jhanson@melrose-sovereign.com

Ellen G. Lumpkin, LCAM, Partner/Co-founder, Melrose-Sovereign Companies, 407-228-4181, elumpkin@melrose-sovereign.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, Lvershelco@aol.com

 

New Faces at Grubb & Ellis

RetailWorks Principal Michael Dahmer and His Entire Team Recruited for Atlanta

 ATLANTA, GA-- Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that Michael Dahmer (top right photo), principal of the highly successful RetailWorks, and his entire team of real estate professionals have joined the company’s Atlanta office, effective immediately.

 The team’s addition greatly expands Grubb & Ellis’ retail leasing and tenant representation capabilities in Georgia.

 Dahmer joins as senior vice president, Retail Group, specializing in shopping centers and mixed-use agency leasing, tenant representation and land sales. 

Also joining the company is Michael Woodruff, senior associate, and Kellie Scrogum, associate. 

Founded in 2004, RetailWorks grew to become the sixth-largest independent retail brokerage in Atlanta and was ranked as one of Inc. Magazine’s “Fastest Growing Small Business” and part of the “Inc. 5000” from 2007 to 2010.  The team brings with them more than 1 million square feet in listings and 15 active tenant representation assignments.

 “The Atlanta retail market is positioned for growth as consumer confidence resurfaces, so the timing of the arrival of Michael and his team greatly benefits our ability to serve clients as they become active again in the space,” said Brett Hunsaker (top  left photo), executive vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis’ Atlanta office.

 “Michael and his team are highly regarded within the marketplace and bring many local and national retail relationships.  We’re excited to welcome them to Grubb & Ellis.”

TopTenant Representation Broker Sean Moynihan Joins Atlanta Office

ATLANTA, GA – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that Sean Moynihan (middle right photo)  has joined the company’s Atlanta office as senior vice president, Office Group, effective immediately. 

 “We’ve been on the other side of the table from Sean negotiating some of the largest leases in the Atlanta area, and we’ve seen the superior level of client service and integrity he brings to each transaction,” said Brett Hunsaker, executive vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis’ Atlanta office.  “He is a welcome addition to our growing team and adds tremendous strength to our tenant representation capabilities.”

Moynihan was most recently a managing director at Newmark Knight Frank, where he focused on tenant representation as well as national strategic planning and implementation services for corporate users. 

Contact: Erin Mays, Phone: 312.698.6735                              

Email: erin.mays@grubb-ellis.com

               

Grubb & Ellis Landauer Valuation Advisory Services Opens for Business in Portland, OR and Upstate New York

PORTLAND, OR – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that Grubb & Ellis Landauer Valuation Advisory Services is open for business in Portland.  The office is led by 26-year veteran Scott A. Henningsen (lower left photo), MAI, and is one of 24 offices that have opened throughout the country over the past three months. 

 “We’ve seen an incredible demand for experienced real estate appraisers with an in-depth understanding of local commercial real estate dynamics as well as the challenges presented by the current marketplace,” said Douglas Haney (lower right photo), president, Grubb & Ellis Landauer Valuation Advisory Services.

 “Having an office in Portland has been an important part of our overall business plan.  Scott’s long career as an appraiser in the local market makes him an excellent choice to build our organization regionally.”  

Prior to joining the company as managing director, Henningsen spent one year as a vice president in the Real Estate Valuation Services department of Umpqua Bank. 

 To learn more about Grubb & Ellis Landauer’s capabilities and career opportunities, visit www.grubbellis.com/Landauer

.

Contact: Julia McCartney, Phone: 714.975.2230

Email:  julia.mccartney@grubb-ellis.com

       

Leading appraisal professional Chris Harland, MAI, will lead the Upstate New York office

EAST GREENBUSH, NY – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that Grubb & Ellis Landauer Valuation Advisory Services opened for business in Upstate New York.  The office, based in the Albany area, is led by Chris Harland (bottom right photo) MAI, former founder and president of Capstone Appraisal Group. 

 Harland is joined by his entire team of four appraisers from Capstone, including Mark Grant and Andrea Nazarian as senior appraisers and Stacey Godlewski and Kyle Rueckert as appraisers.

 The Upstate New York office is one of 25 now serving the valuation needs of commercial real estate owners and users as part of Grubb & Ellis’ entry into the valuation advisory business on a national scale.  Harland reports to John Brengelman, senior managing director, Northeast Region.

 Harland, who brings more than 20 years of experience in appraisal, underwriting and analysis, founded Capstone Appraisal Group in 1998 after spending five years in senior appraisal and loan underwriting roles with CB Richard Ellis and Holliday Fenoglio Fowler.  He began his appraisal career at McGrath, Basciani & Associates in 1991. 

For more information, please contact Harland at 518.479.2404.

Contact: Erin Mays, Phone: 312.698.6735                              

Email: erin.mays@grubb-ellis.com

             

Daymark Realty Advisors Secures 215,000-SF Renewal and Expansion with Peabody Energy at Gateway One in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, MO (Mar. 02, 2011) – Daymark Realty Advisors, Inc., one of the country’s leading providers of strategic asset management and structured finance services to owners of commercial real estate, today announced that it has secured a 15-year lease renewal and expansion with Peabody Energy for a total of 215,362 square feet of office space at Gateway One (top left photo).

Daymark Realty Advisors manages Gateway One, a 15-story, Class A office building located at 701 Market St. in St. Louis’ central business district, on behalf of multiple investment programs and individual owners.

 One of the world’s largest private-sector coal companies and a global leader in clean coal solutions, Peabody Energy utilizes the space at Gateway One as its corporate headquarters. 

The Fortune 500 company produced nearly $7 billion in revenue during 2010 and increased its St. Louis workforce by 12 percent, bringing the total number of employees located at the corporate headquarters to more than 500 spread throughout seven floors.

  Peabody Energy will take occupancy of an additional two floors totaling 56,174 square feet of space in July, increasing the building’s occupancy rate to 96 percent.  The company has been a tenant of the property since 1991 and acquired naming rights, which have yet to be announced, as part of the new lease agreement. 

 “With this expansion, Peabody Energy will occupy more than 50 percent of Gateway One,” said Robert Assoian, (middle right photo) executive vice president, asset management, Midwest.  “The company has been a local economic anchor and civic leader in St. Louis for more than 50 years and we are thrilled to have them stay and expand within this trophy property.”

Offering 409,920 square feet of space, Gateway One is located on the Gateway Mall, providing spectacular unobstructed views of the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River from all floors.

The property is within walking distance of the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse (lower right photo) and the St. Louis Cardinals ballpark, Busch Stadium.  It is also within close proximity to the CBD’s premier hotels, retail establishments and Interstates 64 and 70. 

 The Building Owners and Managers Association has recognized Gateway One as one of the premier and best managed properties in the market, awarding it the Midwest Northern Regional TOBY (“The Office Building of the Year”) in 2008 and the St. Louis TOBY from 2008 to 2010 for properties offering between 250,000 and 499,999 square feet of space. 

Other tenants of Gateway One include Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Marsh Mercer, and Gray Ritter & Graham P.C.

 Rena Boyer, (middle left  photo) CPM, vice president, Colliers | St. Louis, serves as the on-site property manager of Gateway One.  Tony Kennedy, senior vice president, Colliers International, serves as the leasing agent.

Daymark Realty Advisors, Inc. is one of the country’s leading providers of strategic asset management and structured finance services to private and institutional owners of commercial real estate. 

 Daymark provides a fully integrated platform of services that focus on maximizing property value and performance, and offers proven expertise in the repositioning of distressed assets, debt restructuring and property recapitalizations.

  From six offices throughout the country, Daymark manages a nationwide portfolio of commercial real estate properties totaling approximately 33.3 million square feet, including more than 8,700 multifamily units, valued at $4.9 billion. 

For more information regarding Daymark, please visit http://www.daymarkrealtyadvisors.com/

Contact:  Damon Elder, (714) 975-2659, delder@DaymarkRA.com

HFF arranges refinancing for Magnolia Hotel in Dallas

DALLAS, TX – HFF announced today that it has arranged a refinancing for the Magnolia Hotel (top left photo), a 29-story, 329-room hotel in Dallas’ central business district.

HFF worked exclusively on behalf of the borrower, Magnolia Hotels, to secure the 10-year fixed-rate loan through JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.   

Originally built in 1921, the property served as the headquarters for Mobil Oil’s predecessor, Magnolia Petroleum Company, until 1997 when it was renovated into the Magnolia Hotel. 

The property is located at 1401 Commerce Street across from AT&T’s world headquarters and within close proximity to the Dallas Convention Center, the American Airlines Center, the Dallas Museum of Art and the flagship Neiman Marcus department store.

 Along with the 329 guest rooms and suites, the Magnolia Hotel features 9,500 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center, business center and the Magnolia Club restaurant and lounge.

“The refinancing was made possible by the strong performance of the Magnolia Hotel Dallas coupled with the outstanding efforts by JP Morgan and HFF,” said Chris Scheer, CFO for Magnolia Hotels.

The HFF team representing the borrower included senior managing director Dan Peek (middle right photo) and directors Travis Anderson and John Bourret.

Magnolia Hotels is a privately-held hotel management and development company headquartered in Denver, Colorado.  The current portfolio of Magnolia Hotels is comprised of four-star, award-winning independent boutique hotels, all situated in historic buildings and prime downtown locations in Dallas, Denver, Houston and Omaha.

Contacts:

Daniel Peek, HFF Senior Managing Director, (305) 448-1333, dpeek@hfflp.com

Travis Anderson, HFF Director, (214) 265-0880, tanderson@hfflp.com

Kristen Murphy, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, (713) 852-3500, krmurphy@hfflp.com

January Hotel Room Tax Collections Grow in Orange County, FL

 ORLANDO, FLORIDA -- County Comptroller Martha Haynie (top right photo) announced today that resort tax collections received by the County for the hotel collection month of January 2011 were $12,559,300.

 Resort taxes are charged on short-term rentals, mostly hotels and motels.

Comptroller Haynie noted that January 2011 collections were seven percent higher than January 2010.

 “Tourism continues to be the bright spot in our local economy,” Haynie stated.

For a copy of the month’s statistics, please contact Martha O. Haynie (407) 836-5690