(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Berkadia, Berkshire Hathaway’s joint venture with Leucadia National Corporation, has announced that it has arranged more than $130 million in financing for H7, a portfolio of seven, Class B multifamily properties located in Houston.
Managing Director Ed Kim of Berkadia’s Irvine office originated the refinancing, which closed on May 1. The floating rate bridge loan, secured through a CMBS lender, featured a 75 percent loan-to-value ratio. Totaling more than 2,000 units, the portfolio had an average occupancy rate greater than 93 percent at closing.
“The solid rent growth and stable occupancy in the Houston Class B multifamily space, coupled with a decline in interest rates, has fueled an increase in apartment refinances,” Kim said. “The lender was able to meet the borrower’s required timeline, which was aggressive, and provide a favorable structure accretive for the sponsor’s investment thesis.”
The properties offer one-, two- and three-bedroom units with a variety of amenities, including fireplaces, walk-in closets, dishwashers, ceiling fans, hardwood floors, built-in bookshelves, gated access, clubhouses, fitness centers and swimming pools.
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.