(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Berkadia, Berkshire Hathaway’s joint venture with Leucadia National Corporation, has announced the financing of a $41 million first mortgage for The Woods at Blue Heron Pines, a multifamily community in Galloway Township, New Jersey. Managing Director Jim Badolato and Senior Analyst Patti Henne of Berkadia’s Philadelphia office structured the financing through the firm’s partnership with Freddie Mac. The borrower is an entity controlled by DiLucia Management, a Pennsylvania-based management company.
Utilized to refinance a maturing loan, the new 10-year financing carries a sub-4 percent fixed interest rate and five years of interest only.
“DiLucia’s long-term commitment to the asset and its residents is evident, making this an ideal lending opportunity for Berkadia,” said Badolato. “Freddie Mac understood the fundamental strengths of the property and location. Despite proximity to Atlantic City, there is a diverse base of employment drivers and a limited supply of quality rental housing in the area. Major employers within five miles of the property include AtlantiCare’s headquarters, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Stockton University, Atlantic City Airport and the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center, which employs over 2,500 people.”
The Woods at Blue Heron Pines is located at Bally Bunion Drive, affording convenient access to the Atlantic City Expressway and the Garden State Parkway. The Class A community has 330 units on over 58 acres with views of Ron Jaworski’s Blue Heron Pines Golf Club. The property features large floorplans averaging 1,458 square feet, each with a private garage. Developed by DiLucia in 2001, the asset is in excellent condition and has consistently performed at over 95 percent occupancy.
About Berkadia
Founded in 2009 as a 50/50 joint venture between Berkshire Hathaway and Leucadia National Corporation, Berkadia is a third-party commercial mortgage servicer, as well as an approved lender for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and HUD/FHA.
The company is among the top Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae multifamily lenders.
Berkadia owes its origins to GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corporation, which was acquired in 2009 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Five Mile Capital Partners LLC, and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. Christened Capmark Financial, the company had $10 billion of originations in 2008 and a servicing portfolio of more than $360 billion before running into bankruptcy in October 2009.
In a deal approved by the bankruptcy court, Capmark sold its mortgage loan and servicing to the newly formed Berkadia in a deal worth $515 million.
The deal brought Berkshire into the heart of the commercial loan serving business, and the company has one of the largest commercial real estate servicing portfolios.
© 2017 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.