Opal Holdings

Seem to be a lot of news on this shop lately. Built a very large office portfolio rather quickly, and seems to be getting sued by every lender on loans less than 5 years old. According to some of the articles the founder borrowed on both the leasehold and fee mortgages. Is this common I don't understand how a lender would allow this?  

11 Comments
 

Based on the highest ranked content on WSO, here are some insights related to your query:

  1. Borrowing on Both Leasehold and Fee Mortgages:

    • It's not common for lenders to allow borrowing on both the leasehold and fee mortgages. Typically, lenders are cautious about such arrangements due to the increased risk and complexity involved.
  2. Lender's Perspective:

    • Lenders usually have stringent requirements and prefer clear, straightforward mortgage structures. Borrowing on both the leasehold and fee mortgages can complicate the lender's position and increase the risk of default.
  3. Market Norms:

    • In commercial real estate, understanding market norms and financing terms is crucial. Meeting with mortgage bankers to discuss common loan products and terms for your property type can provide clarity and help in negotiations.
  4. Capital Expenditures (Capex):

    • It's essential to understand capex requirements. Properties that appear profitable on paper might need significant investments in areas like roofing or plumbing, which can affect overall returns.
  5. Building Relationships with Financial Institutions:

    • Developing long-term relationships with a few financial institutions can be beneficial. These relationships can lead to favorable lending terms and increased trust, allowing for more flexible financing options.

For more detailed discussions and insights, you might want to explore the following threads on WSO: - https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/real-estate/breaking-into-commerc…</a">Breaking Into Commercial Real Estate - https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/real-estate/this-is-how-guys-are-…</a">This is how guys are getting rich in real estate

If you have more specific questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!

Sources: This is how guys are getting rich in real estate, Rational behind a lender choosing a loan term, This is how guys are getting rich in real estate, Breaking Into Commercial Real Estate, Mezz Debt vs. Traditional Debt Financing

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

A  bunch of shady New York scumbags. Zero equity in any of their deals with over 100% leverage. Looks like they haven't been paying any vendors but I guarantee those pigs are getting well fed. 

 

Heard of them in certain markets - I haven't interacted with them personally. The leverage comment above is 100% correct and I believe this is a reason why the bifurcation of the land and asset will not be able to be an "arms length entity" going forward.  In theory, if they own both they can default on the senior and have the lender keep them current on the GL.

 

I know people who have worked with them and all have said the same thing. Shady business practices, unorganized, and the principle clearly has no regard for his assets as he made all of his money upfront,

 

I'm having trouble understanding the structure of their deals ... is the below correct?

1. Opal buys the office building fee simple, using a loan

2. Opal bifurcates the fee simple property interest into (1) leasehold interest of the building and (2) ground lease interest

3. Opal obtains additional loans on the ground lease interest

If the above is true ... why would a lender allow bifurcation of property interests if it lent on the fee simple estate? Or is this just due to a covenant-lite loan doc. 

 

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