HOUSTON-Boxer Property has made its third property acquisition in the Houston market so far this year, buying 14405 Walters Rd. from special servicer LNR Texas Partners Inc.

The price was not disclosed, but similar distressed assets are trading for $30 per square foot to $40 per square and using those numbers, the 174,072-square-foot, class B building traded for $5.2 million to $7 million.

Boxer Property previously owned the 10-story building. It sold the property to Bresler & Reiner Inc., a private real estate investor based in Rockville, MD, in 2006. When LNR foreclosed on the property, the servicer assigned leasing and management responsibilities to Boxer Property.

LNR tapped the Transwestern investment sales team of Leah Gallagher and Rudy Hubbard to market the 1980s-era property, which is located in north Houston about 23 miles from the city center. The building was on the market for four weeks and received seven offers.

“Some people might have thought that Boxer won the deal because of their relationship with LNR, but they made the best offer,” Gallagher tells GlobeSt. “Boxer was able to pay a higher price because of the efficient way they runs their buildings.

Gallagher says 14405 Walters Rd. received a lot of investor interest because it was in very good condition and needed very little deferred maintenance. The elevators and sprinkler systems have been modernized, and the building boasts a new HVAC system and roof.

Additionally, the property, although distressed, is generating cash flow. It was 57% leased at the time of sale, with a quoted rental rate of $14 per square foot, gross. Since the sale, Boxer has reduced the asking rate to $13 per square foot, gross, and the property is now 61% occupied.

In addition to 14405 Walters Rd., Boxer Property recently has acquired two Houston office buildings totaling 259,854 square feet. The properties, 9950 Westpark and 10333 Harwin, also were sold out of foreclosure by LNR. Bresler & Reiner acquired both buildings in 2006 from Boxer Property.

This year alone, Boxer Property has acquired more than 1.6 million square feet of office and has been awarded leasing and management assignments from other property owners in excess of 1.5 million square feet across the nation. It now manages and leases more than 12 million square feet.

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