Commercial Real Estate Finance

Archive for February 11th, 2013

Last fall, Philadelphia-based Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) raised a few eyebrows when it announced a new joint venture with luxury home builder Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL). Since it’s known as an owner/operator of office properties in the Mid-Atlantic (and to some extent Texas and California), the REIT’s decision to embark on a major multifamily venture in the suburbs suggests the company has realized the current limitations of the office sector since the real estate downturn.

The foray into multifamily is a reassuring move from an investors’ perspective. Since markets and asset types vary so widely, a little diversification within a REIT’s portfolio seems ideal for any stability-minded investor. Since Brandywine brought Toll Brothers on board (which itself is venturing into newish territory by developing apartments), the REIT has an experienced partner for the project. This is essential, since inexperience is a common liability when diversifying.

Now, Brandywine is upping the ante, moving from the mainstream–multifamily–to something more specialized: student housing. Read the rest of this entry »