[IMGCAP(2)]An erstwhile condo conversion project, the Royalton at King Farm has traveled a path familiar to owners of multifamily properties that tried to convert them to condos--just as the condo market began to crash. Located at Route 355 and King Farm Blvd. near the Shady Grove metro station, the property was originally purchased as a 317-unit multifamily in 2006 by Monaco Development in Chicago, which then proceeded to convert the property into condos. That process stalled as the condo market began to falter shortly after the property's purchase; two years later only 42 of the 317 units have sold as condos. The property transferred to iStar via foreclosure in Feb. 2008.

Bernstein closed on the remaining 275 units last week. This last leg of Royalton's journey was a complicated one, London tells GlobeSt.com. "There were many issues to overcome to get the property to closing."

The new owner plans to stabilize the units, which are 80% occupied right now, London says. Comprised of both apartments and townhouses, the average unit size is 1,206 sf. After the property is stabilized, he says, then the owner will decide on what long-term decisions it wants to make.