Last month, California’s median home price experienced its biggest gain in more than 33 years, according to the California Association of Realtors. But it didn’t put off wealthy Chinese who have been pouring money into Golden State real estate.

The San Francisco Bay Area is seeing a tremendous surge in real estate investment from China. According to the San Francisco-based Asia Society, California is on track this year to receive record investments in both commercial and residential real estate.

The society recently held a panel discussion on “Courting the Chinese Buyer: The New California Real Estate Boom”. The experts there agreed that Chinese investment in Bay area properties would continue to be strong.

Yat-Pang Au, founder and CEO of Veritas Investments Inc, one of the largest owners and operators of apartments in San Francisco, said that one of the reasons it made sense to invest in San Francisco was that it is a true cosmopolitan city recognized throughout the world, but still one of the cheapest. Au called it “a natural fit” for a Chinese investor.

“We have good schools, a safe environment, clean air,” Au said. “It is a relatively safe investment in real estate.”

According to the National Association of Realtors, buyers from China are now the second-largest group of foreign investors in US residential real estate (after Canadians), spending $9 billion in the year ending March 2012.

While Chinese individual investors are focusing on residential real estate, Chinese enterprises are making an even harder push into the commercial market.

Chinese developer Zarsion Holdings Group inked a deal to build a $1.5 billion waterfront development in Oakland, California, during Governor Brown’s trade mission to China in April. There is also a joint venture underway between China Vanke Co Ltd and US firm Tishman Speyer Properties to develop luxury apartments in San Francisco.

Wilson Chen, president of Portland-based American Pacific International Capital, thinks that China’s slowing economy will not slow down Chinese investment overseas; on the contrary, he believes there will be more people looking to diversify their portfolios with investments outside of China.

Chen said that inflation in China was huge and in the international currency market, the US dollar was weak against the Chinese yuan. “When Chinese investors come to the US to invest, they pretty much grab the money off the printing machine and come over here to buy cheaper stuff,” he said.

Chinese investment in the US hit an all-time record in 2012 of $6.5 billion and will likely surpass that level in 2013, according to the research firm Rhodium Group.

Leonard Rosenberg, head of the Palo Alto-based law firm Mayer Brown, said investment growth in China goes beyond market forces.

“I think there are policies in place to encourage Chinese investment, particularly the state enterprises,” Rosenberg said, noting that Chinese insurance laws were modified to allow state-owned insurance companies to invest in real property assets.

Rosenberg also mentioned a recent Bloomberg report about China’s official overseer of foreign-currency reserves talking about potentially investing in US real estate.

“It makes sense that they will want to move into real estate in general,” he said. “US real estate is very transparent and a low barrier entry sort of industry.”

The experts suggest being aware of the cultural gap between US and Chinese investors. Because the Chinese are usually thinking differently in terms of what their US partner can offer.

“There are some gaps that cannot be bridged,” Chen said, “primarily on the financial structure side, but also some on the legal structure side that they don’t understand.”

As an example he mentioned that China has no property tax, so when Chinese people come to the US to buy property, they say, Ok, that’s cheap, then buy it, without realizing what they’re getting into.

Yuwei12@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 06/21/2013 page10)

Article source: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2013-06/21/content_16643650.htm

Last month, California’s median home price experienced its biggest gain in more than 33 years, according to the California Association of Realtors. But it didn’t put off wealthy Chinese who have been pouring money into Golden State real estate.

The San Francisco Bay Area is seeing a tremendous surge in real estate investment from China. According to the San Francisco-based Asia Society, California is on track this year to receive record investments in both commercial and residential real estate.

The society recently held a panel discussion on “Courting the Chinese Buyer: The New California Real Estate Boom”. The experts there agreed that Chinese investment in Bay area properties would continue to be strong.

Yat-Pang Au, founder and CEO of Veritas Investments Inc, one of the largest owners and operators of apartments in San Francisco, said that one of the reasons it made sense to invest in San Francisco was that it is a true cosmopolitan city recognized throughout the world, but still one of the cheapest. Au called it “a natural fit” for a Chinese investor.

“We have good schools, a safe environment, clean air,” Au said. “It is a relatively safe investment in real estate.”

According to the National Association of Realtors, buyers from China are now the second-largest group of foreign investors in US residential real estate (after Canadians), spending $9 billion in the year ending March 2012.

While Chinese individual investors are focusing on residential real estate, Chinese enterprises are making an even harder push into the commercial market.

Chinese developer Zarsion Holdings Group inked a deal to build a $1.5 billion waterfront development in Oakland, California, during Governor Brown’s trade mission to China in April. There is also a joint venture underway between China Vanke Co Ltd and US firm Tishman Speyer Properties to develop luxury apartments in San Francisco.

Wilson Chen, president of Portland-based American Pacific International Capital, thinks that China’s slowing economy will not slow down Chinese investment overseas; on the contrary, he believes there will be more people looking to diversify their portfolios with investments outside of China.

Chen said that inflation in China was huge and in the international currency market, the US dollar was weak against the Chinese yuan. “When Chinese investors come to the US to invest, they pretty much grab the money off the printing machine and come over here to buy cheaper stuff,” he said.

Chinese investment in the US hit an all-time record in 2012 of $6.5 billion and will likely surpass that level in 2013, according to the research firm Rhodium Group.

Leonard Rosenberg, head of the Palo Alto-based law firm Mayer Brown, said investment growth in China goes beyond market forces.

“I think there are policies in place to encourage Chinese investment, particularly the state enterprises,” Rosenberg said, noting that Chinese insurance laws were modified to allow state-owned insurance companies to invest in real property assets.

Rosenberg also mentioned a recent Bloomberg report about China’s official overseer of foreign-currency reserves talking about potentially investing in US real estate.

“It makes sense that they will want to move into real estate in general,” he said. “US real estate is very transparent and a low barrier entry sort of industry.”

The experts suggest being aware of the cultural gap between US and Chinese investors. Because the Chinese are usually thinking differently in terms of what their US partner can offer.

“There are some gaps that cannot be bridged,” Chen said, “primarily on the financial structure side, but also some on the legal structure side that they don’t understand.”

As an example he mentioned that China has no property tax, so when Chinese people come to the US to buy property, they say, Ok, that’s cheap, then buy it, without realizing what they’re getting into.

Yuwei12@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 06/21/2013 page10)

Article source: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/2013-06/21/content_16643650.htm

(Read More: Apartment Building Bubbles as Single-Family Homes Struggles)

Zelman noted an intentional slowing by home builders, who are strapped by labor and supply shortages and who are looking to gain pricing power as the market recovers, as a key driver of apartment demand.

Rising rents are pushing some tenants to move, but not as many as expected. 11.5 percent of departing residents in April left due to rent increases, according to the report, up from 10.9 percent in 2012 but way down from 17 percent in 2011. In addition, more than half of those moving out remained in the apartment rental market. Thirty percent bought a home, and ten percent rented a single family home; the remaining moved in with family or friends.

The concern for investors in the apartment sector, especially in multi-family REITs (real estate investment trusts), is that there is too much new supply coming on line, just as demand is about to turn. The government numbers for housing starts in April added confusion to that argument, but some say the monthly numbers, especially for new construction, which have a wide margin of error, are just “noise.”

(Read More: Rising Rates Rattle Mortgage Market)

“Multi-family starts plunged 38.9 percent to 23,000 units, but the more important average of March and April was still a solid 321,000 units,” noted Michael Montgomery, an economist at IHS Global Insight.

Article source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100746253

“The previous generation had a very tense relationship. The Boomers, with their parents, was not a close comfortable relationship because the Boomers had been an iconoclastic, rebel generation,” McClain noted. “They [Boomers] are much closer with their kids.”

(Read More: Hitting 65, Boomers Seek Out ‘Retirement Coaches’)

Seeing the trend, developers are working fast to cash in. Construction in urban areas is booming again, and secondary urban markets, once considered suburbs, are taking shape.

In Bethesda, Md., just minutes outside Washington, DC, cranes dot the downtown, as hundreds of new condominium and rental apartments go up. High-end retailers like Apple, Lululemon, and North Face have moved in, as planners create European-style walking plazas with outdoor eateries.

“Apartment growth in the last 24 months has been significant in Washington, and we are confident that in that growth,” said John Tschiderer, vice president of development at Federal Real Estate Investment Trust, a Maryland-based REIT. “The product we are delivering in the locations we are delivering are going to meet our investment opportunities and our strategy.”

(Read More: Defying Gravity: Miami Condos Flying High Again)

Article source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100637694

“We are delighted that UBS is involved with this asset,” said Tom Engberg, Chief Executive Officer of Loja Real Estate. “They understand the value of this property as a community asset for the town of Pleasant Hill. We believe they will carry on with the program of improvements we instituted here,” he said.

Downtown Pleasant Hill is a 345,687 sq. ft. shopping center with prime retail space located in the affluent community of Pleasant Hill in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Downtown Pleasant Hill is the central business district for the town with 40 brand name retailers, including Century Theaters, Lucky Supermarket, Bed Bath Beyond, Michaels, Ross, Golfsmith, Paul Mitchell the School, Carter’s, and Zachary’s Chicago Pizza.

“Loja’s real estate team is to be commended for adding value to an already strong property. It has been a real pleasure to own Downtown Pleasant Hill and it would be a great property to retain in our portfolio. We felt, however, that this was an opportune time to sell and advance other important initiatives at Loja,” said Katherine Burr, CEO of Loja Group LLC.

Loja was represented in the sale by Kevin Van Voorhis, James Kaye, Jay Gomez and Lindsey Lantis of Colliers International.

About UBS Global Asset Management

With over 35 years of real estate investment advisory experience, the US real estate business of UBS Global Asset Management has approximately $20.2 billion under management on behalf of over 450 clients. A multi disciplined real estate organization with staff of approximately 176, it is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut with regional offices in San Francisco and Dallas. In addition to its US real estate business, UBS Global Asset Management, Global Real Estate manages investments in Europe, Asia and Australia, totaling approximately $65 billion in real estate and real estate securities worldwide. In the US it operates through its legal entities, UBS Realty Investors LLC and UBS AgriVest LLC, registered investment advisors. www.ubs.com/realestate

About Loja Group LLC/Loja Real Estate, LLC

Loja Group LLC is a real estate investment management firm with $190 million in assets under management. Through Loja Real Estate, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary, Loja acquires and manages grocery-anchored real estate assets throughout the United States for institutional clients. Additional information about Loja may be found at www.lojagroup.com.

Article source: http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/loja-real-estate-sells-downtown-pleasant-hill-shopping-center-pleasant-hill-ca-1767228.htm

Raintree acquired the property directly from the seller in February 2012.

(Save the date: RealShare Apartments East comes to the Hyatt Regency Miami, Florida on February 26^th, 2013)

REDWOOD CITY, CA-As GlobeSt.com reported this morning, Raintree Partners, a Laguna Niguel, CA-based real estate investment and development company, has begun construction on a ground-up multifamily development project, called 201 Marshall. The project is a 116-unit, seven-story community next to the Caltrain station in the heart the Citys expanding downtown.

201 Marshall is the first large project approved under Redwood Citys Downtown Precise Plan.

GlobeSt.com has learned from Raintree director of development, Jason Check, that The citys proximity to San Francisco and San Jose makes it a desirable location for young professionals who are commuting to these markets for employment, as well as for those wishing to live in an area with shopping, night-life, transportation, and expanding employment opportunities all within walking distance.

Check explains that When we decided to build this project, one of the first things we did was to contact Zipcar, a car sharing company, to encourage the company to expand into Redwood City, which it did earlier this year across the street from our property. Our residents will now be able to walk to Zipcars, to Caltrain, and to employment, groceries, shopping, restaurants and nightlife, Check explained.

According to Check, Redwood Citys Downtown Precise Plan enabled Raintree Partners to quickly entitle the site. We were able to complete our entitlement effort with the City and start construction in little more than one year, he says.

The Downtown Precise Plan is a very innovative plan, and one that should serve as a model to other cities seeking to create community supported change at a more rapid pace when the market supports new development, Check says.

Raintree Partners acquired the property at 201 Marshall St. directly from the seller in February 2012 in an off-market transaction after it had completed the entitlement for the project. The firm would not release further information on the seller or for how much it was purchased for by deadline. Construction is now underway on the project, which is scheduled to open in Spring 2014.

201 Marshall will contain studios, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. The community was designed by TCA Architects, and will feature a modern design with open-concept units, as well as loft-style units. The community will also feature upscale finishes, a bike repair workshop and bike lockers, telecommuting center, outdoor communal dining, and an expansive roof deck with an indoor/outdoor lounge area.

Raintree currently has three other Bay Area projects in development. The company is actively pursuing additional development opportunities in California, focusing on infill sites in core markets in both Northern and Southern California, according to a prepared statement.

Article source: http://www.globest.com/news/12_514/sanfrancisco/multifamily/City-Plan-Helps-Expedite-Multifamily-Build-328563.html

International real estate investment and services firm Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) today announced that it added a supplemental loan to the existing financing on Summer House Apartments, a 615-unit multifamily community that it acquired with one of its investment partners in 2010. On December 31, 2012, the company and its partner closed a $19.4 million Freddie Mac loan arranged by Berkeley Point Capital. Including this transaction, the financing on Summer House now totals $90.2 million at a fixed rate of 4.44% and maturity on November 1, 2020. Kennedy Wilson’s initial investment in the property was $2.8 million. Through this financing and previous property cash flow, the company has received a total of $3.8 million of distributions. Kennedy Wilson invested 15% of the equity in this property and, based on the distributions to date, is receiving 30% of current distributions due to its promoted interest in the property.

“This transaction exemplifies the company’s ability to produce profits in a variety of ways,” said William McMorrow, chairman and CEO of Kennedy Wilson. “We were able to take advantage of current financing opportunities and return the company’s original equity while maintaining ownership in a property located in a growing market. Additionally, we were able to sell a property in the same area that we believe has reached its stabilized value.”

On December 28, 2012, Kennedy Wilson, through its KW Property Fund III, completed the sale of Rutherford Townhomes, a 66-unit apartment property in Napa, California, for $8.7 million. The company’s KW Property Fund III originally purchased the asset for $6.6 million in 2009, producing a 1.7x gross equity multiple after the sale. Kennedy Wilson owns approximately 12% of the fund before its promoted interest.

Article source: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/01/03/2413819/kennedy-wilson-completes-financing.html

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?Sellers may move money across
the bay in search of higher
yields or park capital in
less management-intensive
single-tenant retail assets,? says
Mishkin.

SAN FRANCISCO-A research report that GlobeSt.com exclusively obtained from Marcus Millichap Real Estate Investment Services shows that for the San Francisco apartment market, renovating existing properties is key to outsized returns. According to the report, the apartment market here is arguably the strongest in the nation, and the impending construction boom will only have a minor impact on operations.

Job growth in the tech industry remains the key driver for occupancy and rent gains, and owners will likely have a strong negotiating position into next year, says the report. However, some early indications are emerging that rent growth will slow to a sustainable pace during the next several quarters, the report says.

Jeffrey Mishkin, first vice president and regional manager of the San Francisco office, notes that “class A vacancy is leveling off, while lower-tier vacancy tightens. As rents in the top-tier have climbed, many tenants are choosing to move down the quality scale rather than spending more of their income on housing,” he says. “Although new demand has been sufficient to offset these losses, new supply could tip the supply-demand bal­ance. Several thousand units will come online during the next two years, creating competition for class A properties. As a result, operators are expected to slow rent gains to maintain occupancy rates until the development cycle wraps up in 2015.”

Investors will remain active in the San Francisco market, though deal flow could be impeded by the number of available listings, he adds. “Sellers may move money across the bay in search of higher yields or park capital in less management-intensive single-tenant retail assets,” he says. “Some owners see the low cap rates and low interest rates as a favorable time to divest. Buyers, meanwhile, remain focused on the spread, which points toward a strong buy stance.”

Many of these investors are seeking older, larger units that can be upgraded, he says. “Changing a large studio to a one bedroom or a large one bedroom into a two bedroom can have a significant impact on asking rents.”

The new owner may have to wait for rent-controlled units to be vacated to execute this strategy, which could tie up capital for an extended period, adds Mishkin. Nonetheless, he explains, “the return could be much more lucrative than the average 5% yield for a class B asset in today’s market.”

Categories:

West,
Multifamily,
Acquisitions/Dispositions,
Development,
San Francisco

Natalie Dolce Natalie Dolce, editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, is responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, Natalie was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Dolce?s background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats Arthur Frommer?s Budget Travel magazine, FashionLedge.com, Co-Ed magazine, and has also freelanced for a number of publications including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine. Contact Natalie Dolce.

Article source: http://www.globest.com/news/12_484/sanfrancisco/multifamily/Renovating-Existing-Property-Key-to-Outsized-Returns-327035.html

CIM acquired the apartment portfolio through a deed in lieu of foreclosure transaction. The properties span the geographic and demographic diversity of the City of San Francisco and, as is typical of this market, have high occupancies. CIM has applied its investment and management model to enhance the properties and increase the value of the portfolio. The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the strongest commercial real estate markets in the country and a top target for investors.

CIM identified the Greater Bay Area as possessing the attributes that fit its investment model, which focuses on established and emerging urban areas with solid infrastructure and transportation networks. CIM Group has investments in a variety of commercial properties in the Bay Area including approximately 1.7 million square feet of office properties and two hotels in Oakland.

About CIM Group

CIM Group is a leading real estate and infrastructure investment firm that since 1994 has systematically and successfully invested in dynamic and densely populated communities throughout North America. CIM Group draws on its experienced team of real estate, investment and finance professionals to identify and pursue investment opportunities in three primary strategic categories: repositioning and development projects in established and emerging urban areas; well-positioned operating properties in transitional and established districts; and infrastructure. CIM manages three distinct portfolios, including opportunistic, stabilized and infrastructure funds, each of which are diversified by geography and type of property within that risk profile. Headquartered in Los Angeles, CIM maintains regional offices in New York, the San Francisco Bay Area and Bethesda, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.cimgroup.com

Article source: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/11/14/4415342/cim-group-sells-10-properties.html