Commercial Real Estate Has the Hotel Sector Begun Turning Around?

Clearwater, FL (Vocus) July 26, 2010

Data from Smith Travel Research released recently shows U.S. hotel occupancy rose more than two percentage points in the first five months of this year from the same period last year, to 54.7%. However, there is no doubt that many commercial properties such as hotels remain very deeply in debt.

Guardian Solutions, a commercial loan restructuring firm specializing in various segments within the commercial real estate market, has recently helped two such hotels turn matters around despite the struggling economy.

Eventually, the hotel industry will come back, but if a hotel owner is straddled with an untenable balloon payment, or is in default because of the current economic situation, it is imperative that the commercial property owner act aggressively now to keep his property, said Ira J. Friedman COO for Guardian Solutions.

But the overall looming industry debt continues to threaten to undo any recovery the hotel segment is starting to make.

According to research firm Trepp there is about $ 5.6 billion in securitized mortgages tied to hotels coming due this year and next, and about 28% cover properties now estimated to be worth less than their mortgage balances. That makes refinancing those “troubled” loans nearly impossible without the commercial property owners contributing more capital.

Returning to the hotel industry’s boom-time highs may take several years or longer. PKF Consulting Inc., a hotel-industry analysis company, predicts U.S. average rates and REVPAR (revenue per available room) will return to their recent peaks by 2013, but occupancy won’t do so until after 2014. As for property values, HVS, the hotel and leisure research company, forecasts U.S. hotels should regain their 2006 values by 2013.

Some hotel owners may just focus on the first bit of good news they have experienced in two years (slightly improved occupancy rates) but the ones that will survive are the ones that take advantage of this uptick and use it to help restructure their commercial mortgage, and deal with the looming problem sooner rather than later added Friedman.

One group of hotel owners who were not waiting to see if things got better on their own was AllStar Investments, LLC. AllStar was able to renegotiate terms for mortgages for two of their hotel properties with the help of Guardian Solutions.

Guardian Solutions and Mr. Friedman took what appeared to be a hopeless situation for two of our hotels and turned them both around. He negotiated a discounted buy-out of the notes at approximately .60 cents on the dollar, said an AllStar Representative

But the situation is even worse for commercial property owners with hotel loans that are coming due in 2012, many of which were originated when hotel values (commercial real estate values) were much higher than today. Of the $ 5.1 billion in securitized mortgages coming due in 2012, 64.5% currently are underwater, according to Foresight Analytics. Those not generating enough cash to cover their interest payments represent 42.2% of that balance due in 2012.

Friedman added, Guardian Solutions addresses each property we represent individually in accordance with all the issues at hand. Once we are prepared with every piece of relevant information and a realistic game plan, we enter negotiations with the Special Servicer, or in some cases the Master Servicer; our intent is to always secure the best possible terms for the client and address the concerns of the lending institutions.

About Guardian Solutions

Guardian Solutions is the one of nations largest commercial loan restructuring companies and is committed to helping commercial property owners save their properties. The companys knowledgeable mediators are experienced in a variety of disciplines to provide customized restructuring solutions. For more information, visit http://www.GuardianSolutions.org

Contact:

Jamie Sene

Vice President, Marketing

Guardian Solutions

727-442-8833

http://www.GuardianSolutions.org

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Despite Economic Uncertainty, Parts of the Commercial Real Estate Market Have Begun to Self-Correct

Clearwater, FL (Vocus) October 14, 2010

Guardian Solutions, a commercial loan restructuring firm specializing in various segments within the commercial real estate market, has seen a significant increase in the number hotel owners facing imminent foreclosure that are able to save their properties.

This year the number of hotels being sold, as a percentage of investment volume within the CRE property sector has increased from below 8% at the peak of the market to over 10%. But more than one-third of hotel transactions that closed through June 30 involved distress conditions, such as foreclosures, auctions or short sales.

This latest trend is an indication to us that commercial real estate may be finally on the right path to mend itself. Lenders and special servicers that we work with closely seem more willing to restructure, workout or negotiate discounted buyouts than they did in the past; specifically, there was $ 1.29 billion in distressed properties that sold off in the first half of 2010, compared with $ 1.04 billion in first-half 2009, said Ira J. Friedman COO for Guardian Solutions.

Data from Smith Travel Research released recently shows U.S. hotel occupancy rose more than two percentage points in the first five months of this year from the same period last year, to 54.7%. However, there is no doubt that many commercial properties such as hotels remain very deeply in debt and will require a restructuring of some kind if they are to make it.

One hotel owner who was able to save his distressed property with the aid of a commercial loan restructuring firm was Tom LaSalle, owner of LaSalle Management Limited II, who had this to say, From the time they accepted my case until the closing resolution, I found Guardian Solutions to be a very professional, goal-oriented firm that demonstrated a high level of expertise in the financial field throughout our presentations and negotiations. Two months prior to Guardian Solutions closing resolution on my case I could not have anticipated such a positive result.

But the picture is not all wine and roses for the industry; the situation remains difficult for commercial property owners with hotel loans that are coming due in 2012, many of which were originated when hotel values (commercial real estate values) were much higher than today.

The basis to any successful workout negotiation is ensuring that it is a win-win for both the property owner and the lenderthe difficulty arises in creating a clear view of what is at stake for both parties as well as how they both can make the best of a tough situation with the most favorable terms, added Friedman.

According to Foresight Analytics, of the $ 5.1 billion in securitized mortgages that are coming due in 2012, a whopping 64.5% are currently underwater. Those properties not generating enough revenue to cover their interest payments represent 42.2% of that balance due in 2012.

This pending debt foreshadows more turbulent times before any real recovery for the hotel sector takes hold; hotel owners would be well advised to take immediate steps to save their properties through a comprehensive loan restructuring plan sooner rather than later.

While we expect the hotel industry to eventually come back strong, I would advise any hotel owner facing an untenable balloon payment, or already in default to act aggressively now to keep his property by engaging a reputable commercial loan restructuring firm to represent the property, added Jeramie P. Concklin, CEO for Guardian Solutions.

About Guardian Solutions

Guardian Solutions is the one of nations largest commercial loan restructuring companies and is committed to helping commercial property owners save their properties. The companys knowledgeable mitigators are experienced in a variety of disciplines to provide customized restructuring solutions. For more information, visit http://www.GuardianSolutions.org

Contact:

Jamie Sene

Senior Vice President, Marketing

Guardian Solutions

727-442-8833

jvs(at)guardiansolutions(dot)org

http://www.GuardianSolutions.org

###







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One Weak Sector of the Commercial Real Estate Market Has Begun to Turn Around, Despite U.S. Economic Sluggishness

Clearwater, FL (Vocus) October 18, 2010

This year the number of hotels being sold, as a percentage of investment volume within the CRE property sector has increased from below 8% at the peak of the market to over 10%. But more than one-third of hotel transactions that closed through the end of last summer involved distressed conditions, such as foreclosures, auctions or short sales. But the numbers alone can be misleading.

According to Ira J. Friedman, COO of Guardian Solutions, a commercial loan restructuring firm specializing in various segments within the commercial real estate market, they have seen a significant and steady increase in the number of hotel owners facing imminent foreclosure that are able to save their properties.

This latest trend is an indication to us that commercial real estate may be finally on the right path to mend itself. Lenders and special servicers that we work with closely seem more willing to restructure, workout or negotiate discounted buyouts than they did in the past; specifically, there was $ 1.29 billion in distressed properties that sold off in the first half of 2010, compared with $ 1.04 billion in first-half 2009, said Friedman.

Data from Smith Travel Research released recently shows U.S. hotel occupancy rose more than two percentage points in the first five months of this year from the same period last year, to 54.7%. However, there is no doubt that many commercial properties such as hotels remain very deeply in debt and will require a restructuring of some kind if they are to make it.

One hotel owner who was able to save his distressed property with the aid of a commercial loan restructuring firm was Tom LaSalle, owner of LaSalle Management Limited II, who had this to say, From the time they accepted my case until the closing resolution, I found Guardian Solutions to be a very professional, goal-oriented firm that demonstrated a high level of expertise in the financial field throughout our presentations and negotiations. Two months prior to Guardian Solutions closing resolution on my case I could not have anticipated such a positive result.

But the picture is not all wine and roses for the industry; the situation remains difficult for commercial property owners with hotel loans that are coming due in 2012, many of which were originated when hotel values (commercial real estate values) were much higher than today.

The basis to any successful workout negotiation is ensuring that it is a win-win for both the property owner and the lenderthe difficulty arises in creating a clear view of what is at stake for both parties as well as how they both can make the best of a tough situation with the most favorable terms, added Friedman.

According to Foresight Analytics, of the $ 5.1 billion in securitized mortgages that are coming due in 2012, a whopping 64.5% are currently underwater. Those properties not generating enough revenue to cover their interest payments represent 42.2% of that balance due in 2012.

This pending debt foreshadows more turbulent times before any real recovery for the hotel sector takes hold; hotel owners would be well advised to take immediate steps to save their properties through a comprehensive loan restructuring plan sooner rather than later.

While we expect the hotel industry to eventually come back strong, I would advise any hotel owner facing an untenable balloon payment, or already in default to act aggressively now to keep his property by engaging a reputable commercial loan restructuring firm to represent the property, added Jeramie P. Concklin, CEO for Guardian Solutions.

About Guardian Solutions

Guardian Solutions is the one of nations largest commercial loan restructuring companies and is committed to helping commercial property owners save their properties. The companys knowledgeable mitigators are experienced in a variety of disciplines to provide customized restructuring solutions. For more information, visit http://www.GuardianSolutions.org

Contact:

Jamie Sene

Senior Vice President, Marketing

Guardian Solutions

727-442-8833

jvs(at)guardiansolutions(dot)org

http://www.GuardianSolutions.org

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