Bluerock Residential Growth REIT Acquires 320-Unit Apartment Property in Port St. Lucie, FL
NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluerock Residential Growth REIT, Inc. (NYSE MKT: BRG) ("BRG", the "REIT" or the "Company") announced today that it has acquired the 320-unit, multifamily Apex Prima Vista Apartments ("Apex") in Port St. Lucie, FL. The Company acquired the property through a joint venture for a total purchase price of approximately $38.3 million, or approximately $120,000 per unit.
BRG invested 85% of the venture's equity requirement, or approximately $11.3 million, with an affiliate of the Carroll Organization investing the balance for a 15% stake in the venture. The transaction was further capitalized with a senior loan in the amount of approximately $27 million.
The acquisition is projected to yield a stabilized pro forma cap rate of approximately 7.3% on execution of the Company's Value-Add upgrade strategy. This compares favorably to estimated market cap rates of 5.0% – 5.5% for comparable assets.
Apex, which was built in 2003, features one-, two- and three-bedroom units averaging nearly 1,050 square feet. The property also features community amenities including a clubhouse, two large central lakes, two pools, recreation courts, a fitness center and a playground.
The property is located a half mile from Federal Highway/US-1, which provides access to major employment hubs. It is located within 20 minutes of The Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, The Tradition Center for Innovation and Treasure Coast Research Park, which have emerged as strong centers of science and technology employment within South Florida.
The Port St. Lucie market, which has had very limited new multifamily development in recent decades, is now reporting robust population growth. The city, which has nearly doubled in size since 2000, is now the eighth largest in Florida, surpassing Ft. Lauderdale, and is ranked among the fastest growing U.S. metropolitan areas for employment growth in the coming five years. Approximately 17,000 new jobs are forecasted in the MSA over the next five years.
"Apex presents a clear value-add opportunity in a growing market with constrained supply. The property is generating solid in-place cash flows today, and the rapid expansion of the Port St. Lucie MSA signals room for ample rent growth. Our ability to source Apex at a favorable cost basis makes it possible us to improve the property and meet the needs of the market's expanding new employment base," said Ramin Kamfar, Chairman and CEO of BRG.
About Bluerock Residential Growth REIT, Inc.
Bluerock Residential Growth REIT, Inc. (NYSE MKT: BRG) is a real estate investment trust that focuses on acquiring a diversified portfolio of Class A institutional-quality apartment properties in demographically attractive growth markets to appeal to the renter by choice. The Company's objective is to generate value through off-market/relationship-based transactions and, at the asset level, through improvements to operations and properties. BRG generally invests with strategic regional partners, including some of the best-regarded, private owner-operators in the United States, making it possible to operate as a local sharpshooter in each of its markets while enhancing off-market sourcing capabilities. The Company is included in the Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 Indexes. BRG has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (REIT) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For more information, please visit our website at: www.bluerockresidential.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's present expectations, but these statements are not guaranteed to occur. Furthermore, the Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. Investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. For further discussion of the factors that could affect outcomes, please refer to the risk factors set forth in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 24, 2016, and subsequent filings by the Company with the SEC. We claim the safe harbor protection for forward looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
SOURCE Bluerock Residential Growth REIT, Inc.
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