Articles

Eight Common Commercial Real Estate Investor Questions

Whether you are just beginning your investing journey or are looking to take your portfolio to the next level, Arbor stands ready with our talented team and decades of expertise. Given our vast experience and national footprint of successful deals, we are familiar with many common commercial real estate investor questions, such as the ones answered in this article.

Articles

Multifamily is Well-Positioned for Short- and Long-Term Growth

With the macroeconomy maintaining its underlying strength and a handful of rate cuts expected by the Fed within the next 18 months, green shoots of optimism within the multifamily sector are multiplying. Even as high interest rates impede normal operations, stabilization is underway while the sector’s long-term prospects remain unwavering. In this deep dive, our research teams will explore the tailwinds underpinning the multifamily sector’s short- and long-term outlook.

Refinance of Existing HUD-Insured Loan

FHA® Interest Rate Reduction (IRR) Refinance of Existing HUD-Insured Loan   Arbor provides this program to reduce the interest rate on qualified existing HUD-insured multifamily loans. The HUD-insured loan remains in place, with reduced payments based on the new rate, the current balance, and the remaining term. The existing prepayment penalty must be paid in full. V041624

Mortgage Insurance for Rental Housing for Urban Renewal and Targeted Redevelopment

FHA®220 Mortgage Insurance for Rental Housing for Urban Renewal and Targeted Redevelopment*   Arbor provides FHA-insured, long-term, fixed rate financing for new construction and substantial rehabilitation of multifamily projects nationwide. This program provides for both construction and permanent financing for projects in urban renewal areas and other areas where local governments have undertaken designated revitalization activities. Applications are typically processed in two stages (preliminary application followed by firm application). Affordable/rental assisted projects and HUDexperienced development teams may request a “straight to firm” application, saving significant time by eliminating the preliminary application stage. V020224

Articles

Regional Construction Trends: Annual Multifamily Completions Surged in the South and West

After the volume of newly issued multifamily permits hit a 37-year high in 2022, multifamily completions surged another 22.3% last year. As the sector continues to gain strength, its growth has remained concentrated in the southern and western regions of the country, according to an analysis of new data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction.

Articles

The Evolving Characteristics of Multifamily Construction

During the post-global financial crisis (GFC) cycle, a disproportionate share of new multifamily construction was of high-rise units in properties with amenities. However, the tides have turned. The rising cost of homeownership has brought the need for more affordable housing development in the U.S. to the top of many legislative agendas. In this deep dive, our research teams utilize data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Construction to show how and why the characteristics of new multifamily properties continue to evolve alongside shifting market needs.

Articles

Video: Growing LGBTQIA+ Visibility in the CRE Industry

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is recognized in June, but its lessons are timeless. During a recent conversation between Tres Seippel, Director, Construction Management at Arbor, and Dr. Sam Chandan, Founder of Chandan Economics, Founding Director, NYU Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance, and Co-Chair of the Real Estate Pride Council, Seippel shared why it is more important than ever for the industry to embrace visibility and show support for employees who identify as LGBTQIA+ or other diverse backgrounds.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

FREDDIE MAC®

Value-Add Loan

• Offers short-term, cost-effective financing for modest property upgrades ($10,000 to $25,000 per unit)
• Enhanced to improve property financing for rehabilitation work
• Competitive pricing; lower execution costs
• Interest-only and uncapped floating-rate loan
• Non-recourse and “one-stop shopping” for upgrades and permanent financing

Terms
  • Three years with one 12-month extension based on the borrower’s request and one optional 12-month extension based on Freddie Mac’s discretion
  • Floating-rate loan with full-term interest-only; no cap required
  • Standard 12-month lock-out with option for longer or shorter lock out based on borrower’s preference; borrower may pay off the loan at any time after the expiration of the lock-out period but must remit an exit fee of 1%; the exit fee will be waived if the loan is refinanced with Freddie Mac
  • Acquisitions and refinances; not assumable
  • Loan documentation at origination will include the Value-Add Rider, which will detail the terms/requirements of the rehabilitation
  • Escrows will include real estate taxes, insurance, and replacement reserves
  • 15% cash equity generally required
  • For longer-term ownership, cash-out is available provided a Completion Guaranty on budgeted improvements in an amount at least equal to the cash-out in place
Upfront Fee Standard 0.5% of loan amount nonrefundable upfront fee subject to adjustment depending on loan terms
Eligible Borrowers
  • Developers/operators with experience in multifamily property rehabilitation and in the local market with sufficient financial capacity
  • 1.5x the standard minimum net worth and liquidity requirements for guarantors
Eligible Property Types
  • Properties with no more than 500 total units in good locations
  • Well-constructed properties requiring modest repairs
  • Market laggards that require capital infusion and new/improved management
  • Real-estate owned properties in receivership that are capable of improved performance
  • Seniors housing, student housing and manufactured housing communities are not eligible
Amount
  • Maximum loan-to-purchase / loan-to-value (LTV) ratio: 85%
  • Minimum amortizing debt service coverage ratio (DSCR): 1.10x – 1.15x depending on market
  • Sizing based on a 7-year sizing note rate
  • Appraisal must include as-is and as-stabilized values; underwriting must support a 1.30x DSCR and 75% LTV based on as-stabilized value supported by the appraisal
  • Standard Freddie Mac underwriting based on as-is income and expense
  • Refinance Test not required
  • No pro-forma underwriting of future performance
Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation must commence within 90 days of loan origination and be completed within 33 months
  • Acceptable budget of $10,000 per unit to $25,000 per unit
  • Budget can be adjusted by as much as 20% without additional approval; 50% of the budget should be spent on unit interiors
  • Completion Guaranty or rehabilitation escrow required
  • Borrower/Servicer reporting required
At Loan Maturity/Refinance
  • Final engineer review of work completion and quality is required
  • Refinance with Freddie Mac with no exit fee; otherwise 1% applies
  • Freddie Mac will re-underwrite the loan according to then-current credit policy parameters
  • One-year borrower extension option is available for a 0.5% extension fee, assuming no event of default
  • Additional Freddie Mac extension option is available thereafter with a 1% extension fee
Fees Standard fees apply, including application fee and good faith deposit.

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