Acquisition of Windward Lakes
by Bay Communities
Bay Pompano, LLC was formed in 2005 to finance the acquisition
of the Windward Lakes Apartments (the “Property”),
originally built in 1992. On June 20, 2005, the Property was acquired
by Bay Communities, a Tampa, FL real estate developer and condominium
converter (the “Developer”). Following its acquisition
of the Property, the Developer proceeded to convert the property
to condominiums and began marketing condos in 2005.
The Developer acquired the Property for $34,725,000. The purchase
price was financed primarily by a $32,000,000 Promissory Note
Secured by Mortgage (“Senior Loan”) issued by a group
of approximately 400 investors (the “Lenders”). The
Property was also pledged as collateral under a $17,500,000 Junior
Mortgage, pursuant to a Junior Mortgage and Subordination Agreement.
The Senior Loan was syndicated by USA Commercial Mortgage (“USACM”),
which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 23, 2006. The Senior
Loan was due and payable on June 30, 2006 and is currently classified
as “Default Maturity”.
USACM has an agreement to provide mortgage servicing for the
Property. The Lenders have not received principal or interest
payments since August, 2006. The Mortgage provides for interest
at the rate of 13% per annum from June 20, 2005 until maturity
on June 20, 2006. As of October 31, 2006, the loan had a principal
balance of $14,680,390 outstanding.
Condominium Sales to Date
The Developer sold condominiums steadily during 2005-early 2006
pursuant to a Partial Release of Mortgage Agreement with the Lenders.
Condominium sales have declined markedly in recent months as a
result of the considerable slowdown in the south Florida real
estate market.
As of November, 2006, the Developer reported having sold 113
units, with an additional 34 units “under contract”
or “reserved” for models or other purposes. The “units
under contract” are somewhat questionable because prospective
purchasers in south Florida have been canceling transactions at
a dramatic rate in the past six months. Furthermore, USACM has
refused to grant a Partial Release of Mortgage to the Developer
because the loan is in Maturity Default.
Partial Release of Mortgage Provision
Section 27 of the Mortgage, Security and Assignment of Rents Agreement
between the Lenders and the Developer provides that the Mortgagor
pays a release price equal to 90% of net proceeds from the sale
(“Release Price”) provided that net proceeds shall
be based on the gross sales prices of the following minimum sales
prices:
Exhibit “A”
Windward Lakes – Minimum Release Prices
Unit Type
(Per Agreement) |
Unit Type
(Renamed) |
Min. Sales Price |
Avg. Asking Price |
| |
|
|
|
| Skiff |
Hamilton |
$150,253 |
$180,471 |
| Ketch |
Belmont |
$180,323 |
$211,513 |
| Sloop |
Fairlawn |
$208,453 |
$239,362 |
| Schooner |
Wyndham |
$218,153 |
$248,500 |
| Clipper |
Amesbury |
$256,953 |
$281,553 |
| Windward |
Buckingham |
$260,833 |
$300,500 |
Condominiums of similar construction and size in
this area are being offered for sale at substantially lower prices
than the minimum sales prices, above and the Developer’s
current asking prices. We do not believe the minimum sales prices
or the Developer’s current asking prices are realistic given
the current highly competitive environment in south Florida. |