Tag Archives: Investors

Commercial Real Estate: Not Sick, But Not Well — Investors, Developers Await Final Diagnosis of Today’s Commercial Real Estate Market

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Richmond, VA (PRWEB) June 9, 2009 –

Sick? Well? On the road to recovery? The diagnosis is still out on the state of today’s commercial real estate market, according to “I’m Not Sick, But I’m Not Well,” the latest in a series of timely, informative podcasts produced by John B. Levy & Company. This new podcast, which is available online at http://www.jblevyco.com, provides clients and analysts with clear understanding of what they can expect in today’s market.

Sentiment among investors and developers about the outlook for commercial real estate is mixed. On the positive side, the stock market has trended up nearly ten percent since April, and along the way, government loan programs have begun to work. But as previous podcasts from John B. Levy & Company have emphasized, commercial real estate is a lagging indicator. It’s unclear whether the market has hit bottom. And even if it has, there are no signs that conditions are improving, even modestly.

“There’s no doubt about it. We are in the throes of a violent deleveraging,” says John Levy, founder of John B. Levy & Company. “Most of us – and I’m speaking for myself, too – have never seen anything like these current conditions. By the time this is all over, values will have declined some 25 to 40 percent from their peak.”

Having experienced the deleveraging and suffered the loss of value, real estate investment trusts (REITs) are now raising new capital at a frenetic pace. In the past couple months alone, more than three dozen REITs have raised over $ 12 billion. As all this takes place, private developers wait on the sidelines, hoping that values recover quickly.

“I hate to say it, but ‘hope’ is not a business strategy,” says Levy. “What’s happening right now reminds me eerily of what happened in the early ’90s. REITs raised new equity long before private developers determined they should do the same.”

As for the debt side of the commercial real estate equation, there have been no new securitizations since the beginning of 2009. What the market is experiencing is an exceedingly high demand for loan extensions from borrowers who can’t find replacement debt.

“CMBS servers are facing a tsunami wave of loan extensions for maturity defaults,” says Levy, “and most are for six months to a year. By the end of 2009, we expect to see extensions as long as three years, perhaps even five.”

Borrowers need to know that there’s a difference between getting a loan extension from a CMBS server and a bank or life insurance company. A CMBS loan extension requires specific processes and procedures, which makes it important that borrowers work with an experienced mortgage or investment banker. Not doing so puts them at a distinct disadvantage.

“Can borrowers who are requesting loan extensions do so without an experienced mortgage or investment banker? Yes,” says Levy. “But that’s not what we recommend. It’s like going to court without a lawyer. Sure, it might be cheaper but only in the short run.”

Firm Background

John B. Levy & Company, Inc. is a real estate investment-banking firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Since John Levy founded the company in 1995, the firm has structured over $ 3.5 billion in financing for developers and owners of commercial and multi-family projects nationwide, often investing its own proprietary funds into transactions with its clients. Mr. Levy is an expert on commercial real estate financing and the effects of interest rates on commercial real estate markets. He is the originator and author of the Barron’s/John B. Levy & Company National Mortgage Survey, a monthly survey of more than 30 of the country’s largest institutional investors, as well as buyers and sellers of commercial mortgage-backed securities, which Barron’s published for over 23 years. Mr. Levy is also co-creator of The Giliberto-Levy Commercial Mortgage Performance Index (sm), the first and pre-eminent index to measure and analyze the performance of investments in the commercial mortgage industry. Additionally, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Anthracite Capital Inc. (NYSE: AHR), a New York Stock Exchange REIT managed by BlackRock, Inc and a former director of Value Property Trust.

For more information about John B. Levy & Company, please visit the firm’s website at http://www.jblevyco.com or call John Levy at 804-644-2000, extension 237. You may also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jblevyco.

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R.O.I. Properties Specializes in Helping Commercial Real Estate Investors Buy Bulk REO Properties in Arizona

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Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) October 2, 2009

R.O.I. Properties, a Phoenix-based real estate firm, specializes in helping commercial real estate investors buy bulk REO properties in Arizona. Buying bulk REO properties creates an enormous opportunity for both the small and large investor.

“Buying REO properties in bulk provides investors with the ability to purchase REO properties at a fraction of the cost in an environment where they could not get anywhere close to the terms and pricing they want on their own,” said Beth Jo Zeitzer, President / Designated Broker of R.O.I. Properties. “We specialize in helping commercial investors meet their needs and avoid the hassles involved in the bulk buying process.”

The size and capitalization of a group brings tremendous credibility to the table since the group can provide multiple exit strategies for the properties. Buyers can invest in REO properties without the hassles of going to auctions, contacting banks, probate sales, estate sales, etc.

According to real estate expert Robert Kline of RW Kline, LLC, there are many advantages associated with investing in commercial real estate in bulk. The first is that preventing retail foreclosures benefits the tenants and their business. The foreclosure process takes months and can result in temporary maintenance, security and insurance problems while the property changes hands. Secondly, the government does not have formal help for commercial loan modifications, although there is money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program to offset losses from bad commercial loans. In addition, the national commercial mortgage debt currently exceeds 3.5 trillion dollars, and two-thirds of securitized mortgages due today have no hope of being repaid in the near term.

Over the past 8 months, from January 1, 2009 to September 1, 2009, there have been a total of 352 commercial REO sales transactions for a total of over $ 1 billion. That is a more than 30% decline over the same 8-month period in 2008, when the transactions resulted in a sales volume of more than $ 1.4 billion (Costar).

For more information about real estate investment opportunities related to bulk REO properties in Arizona, visit ROIPropertiesAZ.com.

About R.O.I. Properties

R.O.I. Properties is a full service real estate brokerage firm specializing in foreclosure properties in Arizona, bankruptcies, probate properties and more. R.O.I. works with banks, lenders, asset managers, bankruptcy attorneys, receivers, fiduciaries and turn around professionals to sell their distressed real estate assets, both residential and commercial.

Contributing Writer: Marcela Houser

Marcela Houser, CCIM, is part of R.O.I. Properties’ Commercial Distressed Assets Division. Marcela has been working in commercial real estate for eight years, with a specialization in retail and office leasing and sales. She is bilingual, and brings a wealth of experience in facilitating transactions with users, owners and investors.

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The Votes Are In: 100+ VCs and Angel Investors Have Chosen the Top 50 Emerging Companies

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New York, NY (PRWEB) October 8, 2009

FundingPost (http://www.FundingPost.com) proudly announced today the winning companies from its sixth annual Pitching Across America competition.

FundingPost, which has been introducing entrepreneurs to investors for over 8 years, established the competition in which a panel of judges votes on hundreds of business summaries from emerging companies nationwide. The largest Venture Capital competition ever organized, this year’s Pitching Across America (TM) was sponsored by Duane Morris.

“We are thrilled to announce the winners of our 6th annual competition!! It’s a rough economy for the Entrepreneurial and Venture Industries. Competition for capital is tougher than ever,” said Joe Rubin, Director, FundingPost. “The VCs and Angels have raised the bar for new investments, and it’s apparent by the high quality of the winners that they have chosen this year.”

The emerging companies were evaluated on a scale of 1 to 10. Judging criteria consisted of several key points including: the professionalism of the written summary, current stage of development (customers, revenue), competitive advantage and need in the marketplace, feasibility for success, and whether the company is “VentureWorthy.”

The first-place winner this year is Ivy Exec, an Online recruiting firm that combines next-generation technology with white glove executive recruiting.

“We are delighted to be the winner of the Pitching Across America Competition. We look forward to attending FundingPost’s events and meeting potential investors,” said Elena Bajic, CEO, Ivy Exec. “I believe these events will provide an excellent opportunity for us to present our business.”

FundingPost had an amazing panel of VC and Angel Investor judges this year voting on the companies.

“The FundingPost Pitching Across America competition did an incredible job in featuring some of the most promising companies and technologies out there, which are certainly some of the companies that will drive market growth and expansion for quite a number of years,” said Carter Caldwell, Principal, Cross Atlantic Capital Partners. “Thanks to FundingPost for including me as a judge, because I was privileged to have had a chance to be introduced to these companies and get a sense for what is emerging across many different industries.”

“It’s good to see that entrepreneurialism is alive and well in America,” said Elizabeth D. Sigety, Esq., Delaware Crossing Investment Group. “The diversity of industries, stages and approaches to business reflected

in the business summaries of the competitors was impressive. Good luck

to the winners and competitors for the future of their businesses.”

“FundingPost allows the venture community to review many interesting deals in a short period of time,” said Deepak Kamra, General Partner, Canaan Partners. “The consistent format allows VCs to quickly evaluate companies raising capital based on the criteria that are most important to them. Canaan Partners is happy to participate in this process.”

First Place National Winner:

Ivy Exec (NY)

Online recruiting firm that combines next-generation technology with white glove executive recruiting. $ 100K+ in Revenue! $ 260K Raised from Founders and Angels.

Runner Up:

XCOM Wireless, Inc. (CA)

XCOM is a fabless semiconductor company with strong partners and a chip that improves wireless broadband devices.

Regional Winners:

RadioTraffic.com, Spinetronics LLC, XCOM Wireless, Inc., Camera Screen Laryngoscope, Inc./Pat. Med Devices, Zero Burn, Jobaba Inc., Tower of Babel LLC, CircleBuilder Software LLC, External Pharma Inc., The Independent Life Settlement Advisory Group LLC, EosHealth, Zimple Inc., Financial Modeling Solutions, Inc., Living Well-Assisted Living at Home, Medical Systems International, Walters Manufacturing Inc., LHL Ventures LLC, Mathematical Bio-Solutions Inc., Global Med Solutions, ProFACT Proteomics, Ball Semiconductor Inc., BuyGreen.com, NR 27, MBF Therapeutics, BoomCloud Inc., Sterile Containment Technology, Coronary Bypass Devices LLC, CANI Optical Systems, Safety Engineering International, nTerraCon, Ivy Exec, Dubay Ingredients LLC, Hydro Technologies Inc. of Michigan, Kollabnet, Inc., ComCam International Inc., UMS Healthcare, Cedar Valley Manufacturing, NeighborsHubs LLC, Global Trade Management, Fasprin Health, Electronic Sports, Fibertrek, Inc., 3DMedia, See Jane Run, Envisionier, SolarAMP LLC, MicroMed Cardiovascular Inc., Spearhead Innovations, Nelbee LLC, Premium Knowledge Group

The list of Investor Judges and the winning Companies can be found at http://www.FundingPost.com/pitch-america.asp

Premiere Sponsor: Duane Morris LLP.

Duane Morris LLP, a full-service law firm with more than 700 attorneys in 24 offices in the United States and internationally, offers innovative solutions to the legal and business challenges presented by today’s evolving global markets.

Duane Morris helps companies navigate this volatile regulatory environment. With broad experience in various investment strategies, our Financial Services lawyers guide clients to the proper financing techniques, including, for example, securitizations, PIPEs and private REITs. Companies seeking financing require both sources of capital and investors with the fortitude to consummate the transaction. Duane Morris brings parties together and works closely with them to structure and close the deal. For more information, contact Peter W. Rothberg, (212) 692-1000, http://www.duanemorris.com.

About FundingPost.com

With over 9,500 CEOs and 620 Venture Capital Funds attending events in 18 cities nationwide; a Printed Dealflow Magazine; and a deal-exchange website with over 7,500 VC & Angel Investor members and over 110,000 companies, that has, on average, made an introduction of an Investor to an Entrepreneur every business day since its inception, FundingPost believes that it is important to reach investors in every medium possible – both online and offline. FundingPost has been responsible for Millions and Millions of dollars in Venture Capital Raised! For more information: http://www.FundingPost.com


Contact:
Heather Coull

FundingPost.com

800-461-5509

press(at)fundingpost.com

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Chinese Drywall Complaint Center Endorses National Construction Warranty Program For Investors & Takes On Florida Banks & Flippers Dumping Chinese Drywall Foreclosures

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(Vocus/PRWEB) March 07, 2011

The Chinese Drywall Complaint Center warning all US banks about dumping toxic Chinese drywall foreclosures on unsuspecting new buyers, with the only disclosure being-As Is. They say, “We can prove major US banks are dumping toxic Chinese drywall foreclosures on unsuspecting new buyers, with the only disclosure being-As Is. The same bank then turns around and puts a new mortgage on the house, with no disclosure to the pension fund, or investor, that buys the securitized mortgage. We call that securities fraud, and we are demanding a criminal SEC securities fraud probe.” The group is also warning all home buyers in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and or Southeast Texas to not buy any home, condo, or town home without having the property thoroughly tested for toxic Chinese drywall. They say, “Because of hurricanes Katrina, Ike, Rita, and Ivan, we have to include storm damaged homes in all US Gulf States, so our time frames for new homes, subdivisions, or condos from 2000 to 2008 just went out the window-translation it could be in any hurricane damaged home.” The Chinese Drywall Complaint Center says, “Just because there is no federal leadership from the Obama Administration, from the US EPA, the CDC, or the absolutely pathetic US Consumer Products Safety Commission, it should not mean it is open season for Florida real estate flippers to dump an un-repaired toxic Chinese drywall home foreclosure-with no disclosure, on a completely innocent consumer, or family. Why even have an Attorney General in Florida, or Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and or Southeast Texas?” http://ChineseDrywallComplaintCenter.Com

The Chinese Drywall Complaint Center says, “We have no issue with honest investors buying toxic Chinese drywall foreclosures in Florida, or the US Gulf States, as long as they buy the warranty products of the National Construction Warranty Program, and they hire a very ethical contractor, who will strictly adhere to the National Construction Warranty Program’s remediation protocol.” The group is saying, “investors involved with these flippers in Florida, and other US Gulf States, who are doing no actual repairs to these toxic Chinese drywall home foreclosures are out of their minds-just wait until the health related exposure to toxic Chinese drywall personal injury lawsuits start.” They say, “We are calling banks, and real estate flippers out for their reprehensible behavior, and we will stop them. As a indication of our resolve, we have designed a service, that will help advise honest Chinese drywall home investors on what to buy, how much to pay, suggest ethical contractors, and strategies. Our one, and only caveat is the investor buys the products from, and strictly adheres to the remediation standards set by the National Construction Warranty Program. This way everyone wins-including the investor, the ultimate consumer, and their family.” http://NationalCDW.Com

For more information about symptoms of toxic Chinese drywall, or information related to toxic Chinese drywall please visit the Chinese Drywall Complaint Center’s web site at http://ChineseDrywallComplaintCenter.Com

The Chinese Drywall Complaint Center, or its parent group Americas Watchdog was not paid a fee, or given any type of compensation for their endorsement of the National Construction Warranty Program. The group says, “We have endorsed the National Construction Warranty Program because its the only sensible game in town for repairing a toxic Chinese drywall home, and because we feel like it was the right thing to do.”

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