Matt Douglas, a principal of Venture West Funding and the broker on the deals, tells GlobeSt.com that all are non-recourse loans. "We originated these loans about four to five months ago to take advantage of low rates," Douglas says. "These would have been more difficult in today's credit environment if we were initiating them now."

Douglas arranged the financing for the $12.35 million in loans through Union Bank and Luther Burbank Savings for a Northern California-based apartment investor. The four apartment buildings include three in Brentwood and one in Sherman Oaks that are an aggregate of 97% occupied.

[IMGCAP(2)]The refinancings involved three five-year fixed rate loans and one 10-year fixed with an average rate less than 5.5%. The loan-to-value ratio ranges from 35% to 70% on the four buildings. Despite the general real estate credit crunch and the tightening of underwriting standards by lenders, Douglas comments that Venture West remains "very bullish on the outlook for multifamily lending during these volatile credit markets."