There are no shortage of bankruptcy considerations that must be understood by an incoming lender who acquires a distressed commercial real estate loan and whose borrower shortly thereafter files for bankruptcy protection. For the purposes of this article, we imagine a hypothetical distressed debt buyer who has acquired the loan with the goal of eventually obtaining the underlying property and who may be distressed (pun intended!) by the bankruptcy filing. While often considered an impediment to acquisition efforts, we believe that bankruptcy presents significant benefits and opportunities for the strategic loan-to-own investor.
Articles Posted in Distressed Real Estate
UCC Foreclosure Basics: Acquisition of Distressed Real Estate Mezzanine Debt
We recently provided an outline of items to diligence when purchasing a mortgage loan in distress—and separately also discussed issues to diligence when purchasing a mezzanine loan in distress. This post (the third in this series) outlines Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) foreclosures in general terms and describes key considerations for mezzanine lenders (and the purchasers of distressed mezzanine loans) contemplating or planning a UCC foreclosure.
Acquiring Distressed Commercial Mortgage Loans: A Diligence Checklist
Is a By-the-Hour Motel a Single Asset Real Estate for Chapter 11 Purposes?
Single asset real estate (SARE) is a unique classification under the Bankruptcy Code with implications for both debtors and lenders. SARE classification is apparent for a property such as a shopping center, apartment complex or office building where the debtor’s income is generated exclusively from real estate operations, but is less apparent for a hospitality property where the debtor may provide incidental services. Although a full-service hotel with a pool, fitness center and restaurant is not a SARE property, recent trends indicate that even hourly motels offering little-to-no onsite amenities may not qualify for SARE classification. Because SARE classification is viewed as providing lenders with distinct advantages in a chapter 11 case, property owners seeking chapter 11 protection to reorganize often try to avoid that classification, while lenders seek to impose it through sometimes costly litigation.
Hotels & Hospitality: Trends and Recovery
In episode # 30 of Industry Insights podcast, Christian Salaman returns to join host Joel Simon to provide insights on the current recovery of the hospitality industry, the latest trends for owners and managers and the impact across other asset classes like senior residences and student housing. Continue Reading ›
A Deep Dive into the Corporate Transparency Act
In episode #29 of Industry Insights podcast, Andrew Weiner joins host Joel Simon for the second episode of our two-part examination of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). In this episode, Weiner turns his attention to the unanswered questions and ambiguity underlying phrases like “beneficial owner” and “substantial control.”
Pandemic Does Not Satisfy Lease’s Casualty Clause Court Finds
One year into the pandemic, courts have almost uniformly found that COVID-19 does not permit commercial tenants to avoid their rent payment obligations. In this case, the court continued that trend, ruling that the pandemic was not a “casualty” that permits a tenant to abate its rent payments or cancel its lease. Authors Patrick J. Potter, Christian A. Buerger, Hugh M. McDonald, Patrick E. Fitzmaurice, and Jonathan Doolittle discuss a new case from the Southern District of New York that extends the trend of courts enforcing leases against tenants forced to close due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in “Court Finds Pandemic Does Not Satisfy Lease’s Casualty Clause.”
COVID and Commercial Lease Bankruptcies
Real Estate partner Christian Buerger and Insolvency & Restructuring partner Hugh McDonald discuss COVID’s impact on commercial leases and an overview of the bankruptcy process the latest Swimming Lessons Series presentation.