Four Innovative Financing Strategies for Life Plan Communities to Create Operational Cashflow during COVID-19

With how unpredictable the last year has been, it would be foolish to believe that we can reasonably predict what will happen in the next five years as it relates to Life Plan Community financing and capital markets as a whole.

However, we have learned in recent months that communities can implement innovative financing tactics to create operational cashflow in this current market situation. Here are some thoughts, considerations and possible opportunities for your organization.

Read more insights from Melissa Messina, SVP, HJ Sims, in the Love & Company Blog.

HJ Sims arranges $4M PACE financing for StoneCreek

HJ Sims completed a $3.8 million retroactive Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing package on behalf of StoneCreek Real Estate Partners and Civitas Senior Living, for StoneCreek Littleton, a 92-unit assisted living and memory care facility in Littleton, Colorado that opened in January 2020. Please read more in Senior Housing News.

HJ Sims Partners with StoneCreek Real Estate Partners to Facilitate $3.8 million in Retroactive PACE Financing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tara Perkins, AVP | 203-418-9049 | [email protected]

HJ Sims Partners with StoneCreek Real Estate Partners to Facilitate $3.8 million in Retroactive PACE Financing

FAIRFIELD, CT– HJ Sims (Sims), a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm founded in 1935, is pleased to announce a successful April 2021 Retroactive Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing in the amount of $3.8 million for StoneCreek Real Estate Partners (StoneCreek).

StoneCreek, a Dallas based developer, is a collaboration of professionals with 50+ years of combined experience in the operations, development and ownership of successful senior living communities in TX, CO and AZ. The operator, Civitas Senior Living (Civitas), is a Fort Worth, TX based for-profit owner/operator of senior living communities in TX, FL, OK, NM, KY and AZ. Founded in 2012, Civitas has 100+ corporate employees and manages 45+ senior living communities.

The StoneCreek Littleton development is new construction of a 92-unit senior housing community with 70 assisted living units and 22 memory care units. The community opened in January of 2020 and provides local access to quality senior housing and care in the Littleton area of Denver. With occupancy and operational challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, StoneCreek was exploring alternative capital sources to provide additional operational leverage when Sims proposed exploring retroactive PACE financing.

PACE is a Public/Private partnership that allows property owners to finance projects through voluntary assessments placed on the property by a state economic development agency. The program finances 100% of the energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, resilience improvements and the related costs for construction and renovations/retrofits up to about 20% of the property’s appraised value. The financing is collected with regular local real estate taxes and assessment payments are amortized at a fixed-rate over the useful life of the project (15-25 years). The PACE program is typically considered an alternative source of financing to mezzanine debt where interest rates average between 12%-15%. In many states, PACE is allowed to be applied retroactively post-certificate of occupancy for qualified costs for a determinate amount of time.

Sims coordinated with StoneCreek, Civitas, the PACE loan provider and the Colorado PACE Authority for approval for PACE financing from the senior construction lender. Despite the atypical nature of the program, the financing team satisfied the concerns of the senior construction lender while also navigating the various regulatory challenges associated with multi-party financings.

StoneCreek, with the guidance of Sims, was able to borrow $3.8 million in PACE financing at 5.85% to finance necessary operating expenses related to an early 2020 opening and the ensuing impact of the Pandemic.

Financed Right® Solutions— James Rester: 901.652.7378 | [email protected], Curtis King: 603.219.3158 | [email protected] or Ryan Snow: 843.870.4081 | [email protected].

ABOUT HJ SIMS: Founded in 1935, HJ Sims is a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm. Headquartered in Fairfield, CT, Sims has nationwide investment banking, private wealth management and trading locations. Member FINRA, SIPC. Testimonials may not be representative of another client’s experience. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,  Instagram.

                                                                                                     ###

Your Portfolio Holds So Much Potential

Investment Income Expertise

With more than 85 years of expertise, we help you to reach your investment goals. Why just invest in bond funds when your portfolio holds so much more potential? We offer in-house holistic wealth management, examining equities, individual high-yield instruments, alternative investment strategies, portfolio management and more – helping you leverage the potential within the market, adjusting your portfolio to meet current conditions and better protect your assets.

Watch the video below to learn more.

StoneCreek at Littleton (April 2021)

HJ Sims Partners with StoneCreek Real Estate Partners and Civitas Senior Living to facilitate $3.8 million in Retroactive PACE Financing. The StoneCreek of Littleton development is a new construction, 92-unit senior housing community that includes 70 assisted living units and 22 memory care units providing local access to quality senior housing and care in the Littleton area of Denver, Colorado.

Continue reading

Why Small Businesses Matter: HJ Sims

HJ Sims ‘ Managing Principal, Bil Sims, was recently interviewed by the Fairfield Hamlethub. In the article, he discusses HJ Sims’ history, investment banking, bond and wealth management expertise. Read more.

HJ Sims Partners with Gurwin Healthcare System to Finance New Community with 55% Pre-sales

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tara Perkins, AVP | 203-418-9049 | [email protected]

HJ Sims Partners with Gurwin Healthcare System to Finance New Community with 55% Pre-sales

FAIRFIELD, CT– HJ Sims (Sims), a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm founded in 1935, is pleased to announce the successful closing in March 2021 of a $102.1 million financing for Fountaingate Gardens, an independent living community to be located in Commack, NY.

The Gurwin Healthcare System has been providing healthcare services to Long Island residents since 1988, through the Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and the Fay J. Lindner Assisted Living Residences.  Gurwin Jewish Healthcare Foundation acquired land adjacent Fay J. Lindner Residences with the goal of completing the continuum of care through development of an independent living community to be known as Fountaingate Gardens. Working with Eventus Strategic Partners and Perkins Eastman, Fountaingate Gardens will initially add 129 independent living apartments and offer various services/amenities to its residents. Healthcare services will be provided at the Gurwin facilities contiguous to the community.

The Foundation donated $4 million to cover early expenses and loaned nearly $16 million for pre-development capital. It also donated the 10.5-acre site, appraised at $4.675 million. Total development costs, including the tax-exempt bonds, is approximately $113.8 million. The Foundation has committed $25.5 million to the project, providing confidence to investors and enabling the bonds to be issued with only 55% of the independent living units reserved with deposits from future residents.

The Foundation agreed to an Entrance Fee Guaranty Agreement, whereby it would advance up to $2.85 million, equal the entrance fees on six independent living units, in the event occupancy did not meet expectations upon opening. It also committed $10 million in the form of a Liquidity Support Agreement.

The $102,115,000 tax-exempt bond issue was divided into two short-term Entrance Fee Principal Redemption BondsTM series and a long-term bond series. The Series 2021C bonds ($31,000,000) will be repaid when occupancy reaches 48%. The Series 2021B bonds ($32,500,000) will be repaid when occupancy reaches 86%, expected to occur in 2023. The Series 2021A ($38,615,000) has a final maturity of 2056.

Sims closed on the Series 2021 Bonds with $10.5 million of the issue purchased by Sims’ Private Wealth Management clients and the remainder purchased by 28 institutional firms. The yield on the Series C bonds is 3.125%, the yield on the Series B bonds is 4.125% and the yield on the Series A bonds maturing in 2056 is 5.375%, demonstrating demand for the project and strength of the Gurwin name in the local market.

“With tremendous support from the Sims’ team, we successfully secured bond financing for Fountaingate, Gurwin Health’s new independent living community. Despite the challenges we faced the past year, with the impact of the pandemic, Sims found creative solutions, with a firm determination to bring this project to completion. Sims not only serves as a lender; they are a model for senior housing and development. They embrace the same goals that we have as a healthcare provider: caring, quality and excellence. Thank you, Sims for all you have done to help secure the future for our community,” said Stuart Almer, CEO, Gurwin Healthcare System.

Financed Right® Solutions—Andrew Nesi: 203.418.9057 |  [email protected]

 

ABOUT HJ SIMS: Founded in 1935, HJ Sims is a privately held investment bank and wealth management firm. Headquartered in Fairfield, CT, Sims has nationwide investment banking, private wealth management and trading locations. Member FINRA, SIPC. Testimonials may not be representative of another client’s experience. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,  Instagram.

###

Aging Redefined

How old "we feel" is changing our expectations about retirement

The world is preparing to welcome a new generational powerhouse in that of “seniors” and those considered of “retirement age.” A transition is occurring, establishing the largest projected population of retirees and senior citizens in human history. This trend can be attributed to various factors, including the reduced physical demands of many jobs today, advancements in healthcare, a greater focus on healthy living, and technological advances, which are expanding global lifespans and the median age of adults.

Dr. Joseph Coughlin, Director of the MIT AgeLab, (also keynote speaker of this year’s HJ Sims Annual Late Winter Conference), discusses the trends of aging and longevity. Drawing upon his extensive and varied experience in academia and advising global firms, Dr. Coughlin shares insight gained from his position as instructor in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning and Sloan School’s Advanced Management Program. Dr. Coughlin is also the author of The Longevity Economy: Inside the World’s Fastest Growing, Most Misunderstood Market.

 

Dr. Coughlin cites the leading indicators of the pattern of retirees and consequent implications for product and service providers in countries throughout the world.

 

  • In Germany: the country is recognizing the trending population of older adults and creating an anti-aging beer
  • In Japan: the sale of adult diapers has surpassed those sold for infants
  • In the U.S.: an adult turns the age of 75 every seven seconds and 13% of all online dating services are being utilized by persons aged 65+ and older

With the population aging as whole, in the U.S., the baby boomers will redefine the standards of retirement. These standards are being driven by educated consumers and corporations recognizing the demand of this growing population with expectations and wants that differ markedly from prior generations. If combined into an aggregate economy, the “aging population” would create the world’s third largest driver of global spending. Furthermore, adults above the age of sixty have the highest concentration of wealth in the world, and are living longer now.

 

Not only are adults living longer, they are staying active. A growing majority of these aging adults are the baby boomers who grew up in a counter-culture era soaked in rebellion and quasi-revolution. Dr. Coughlin amusingly quotes the musician Jimmy Buffet describing baby boomers as, “the people our parents warned us about.” This “warning” is being increasingly heeded by consumers and producers. The stereotypical parent of a baby boomer was polite, hardworking, patient and easily appeased, explains Dr. Coughlin. These generational qualities helped shape many of the current products and services for seniors.

 

For context, Dr. Coughlin draws a parallel to product offerings, between the two age groups, using coffee, as an example. The current population in their mid-70’s and older most likely had two options for coffee growing-up: decaffeinated and caffeinated. The younger generation has experienced a multitude of options from which to choose: frappuccinos, lattes, espressos and even white chocolate caramel macchiatos served hot, warm, chilled and iced. “They (baby boomers] are creating a new generational gap, a gap of expectations,” exclaims Dr. Coughlin. That gap is what will drive innovation and pave the way for what Coughlin defines as the Longevity Economy.

 

Dr. Coughlin notes that, in fact, even the word “retirement” has changed meaning throughout time. Originated as a word to describe the stage when a person ran out of “vital life” and ability to perform physical labor, retirement meant one could no longer function as a member of the working economy and likely would result in a person falling victim to poverty. The modern definition of retirement could not be further from its root of origin. Today, people will live almost one third of their adult lives as retirees. With this extended period of time, Dr. Coughlin characterizes retirement as having four phases:

 

  • Ambiguity: Should one keep working or not?
  • Big Decisions: Does one downsize, move or travel?
  • Complexity: Should decisions like housing, healthcare, etc. be  managed by a third party?
  • End of life: When does one begin preparing for the final chapter of life?

As it relates to the first three phases, observed trends indicate that when aging or retired baby boomers move-out of their current homes, they are often down-sizing into smaller townhomes or apartments in the community-at-large or in “active adult” communities. A meaningful component is also relocating, whether to warmer/more hospitable climates, locales that offer amenities of interest and to be closer to children/grandchildren, which may include smaller communal towns throughout the country.

 

A key desire among retirees is for a sense of community. This latter observation is coupled with the fact that advancing technology enables aging adults to remain in their homes longer. Dr. Coughlin cites numerous technologies; for example, utensils that indicate nutritional value of the food people consume, mirrors that can measure blood pressure, and, even a toilet that can gauge nutrient deficiencies. All of these tools possess the capability to upload information to a healthcare database for use by a product/services provider. Brands like Amazon, Walgreens, Best Buy and Walmart are developing in-home platforms for aging seniors that will likely enable adults to remain in their current homes for a longer period of time.

 

To conclude, the experience of retirement, like the approaching baby boomers, will not conform to the past. The notion of retirement or aging, as we have known it, has taken on a new definition with today’s more active and demanding adult consumer.

 

On your own terms

At HJ Sims, we recognize that retirement is neither traditional, nor is it dictated by a calendar or specific age – it’s a mindset, a second-act and an opportunity for a new journey. You are more interested in pursuing passions and creating a lifestyle to match your mindset. This is about your personal growth, identity, freedom and flexibility. Whether your investment goal is to save for milestones or retirement, our wealth experts take our entirement® approach, looking at your entire wealth picture, along with your lifestyle goals and needs. We work tirelessly to construct a portfolio that helps to enrich your life and the lives of your family members for years to come.

 

It’s your adventure: Planning for your journey should be exciting, freeing and empowering. Contact an HJ Sims’ Financial Professional today.