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Although it is headquartered in New Jersey, Sims Mortgage Funding seems to have a second home in Louisiana – we have closed close to $530 million in HUD-insured loans in the Pelican State.  We returned there last month to complete a $10,814,900 refinancing for Metairie Manor, a 287-unit, Section 8 funded, affordable senior housing community owned and managed by affiliates of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

The backstory?  We originally refinanced Metairie Manor in 2012 when it paid off its HUD Section 202 Direct Loan; that refinancing produced about $250,000 in annual debt service savings that have been used to fund wellness and affordable nutrition programs, resident units deep-cleaning services, and enhanced transportation options.  Interest rates for HUD-insured loans have dropped since the 2012 refinancing, so the Archdiocese brought us back to evaluate options to generate more debt service savings. 

Our solution?  We originated a new HUD-insured loan under the Section 222(a)7 program, an expedited review option that does not require an appraisal and has a pared-down application and underwriting format.  This minimized the time it took us to develop the application and loan underwriting, and the time it took for HUD to review and approve the deal.   

The result?  The 223(a)(7) loan reduced the project’s interest rate by 33% and produced debt service savings of $118,000 annually.  Moreover, in order to maximize annual debt service savings, we negotiated an extension of the loan term of almost 10 years.  The additional savings from the new 223(a)(7) loan materially expands Metairie Manor’s capacity to provide services and programs to its residents, enhancing it already-solid reputation in the community.  We also built approximately $700,000 into the new loan to supplement the existing Reserve for Replacements fund, so there is a stable platform to provide for Metairie’s physical needs in the future. 

The takeaway?  The new 223(a)(7) loan will enable Metairie Manor to expand its programs and services and increase its capital reserves – all to be accomplished without an increase in the existing Section 8 funding. 

An encore?  The Metairie Manor refinancing is the eleventh HUD-insured loan we have closed for the Archdiocese and its management affiliate, Christopher Homes, Inc.