CMA launches investigation into leasehold residential market

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has formally launched an investigation to find out whether people are being treated fairly when buying their home. This follows ongoing concerns about the fairness, clarity and presentation of some leasehold contract terms, which could lead to people being stung by costly fees over a long period or having to abide by onerous terms. The CMA’s consumer protection law investigation will examine two key areas, potential mis-selling and potential unfair terms. It will look at whether people who have bought a leasehold property are given the information they need to fully understand the obligations they are taking on, for example the requirement to pay ground rent over a certain period of time, or whether they have an accurate understanding of their ability to buy their freehold.

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Peachtree Group Announces New Brand Positioning and Logo

Peachtree Group | September 21, 2023

Peachtree Group, an investment firm with a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate assets, announced a refreshed corporate brand position to showcase better the company's fully integrated investment and service platforms. Accompanying the new brand position is a powerful new tagline, ‘Guided by Intuition, Grounded by Expertise.’ This succinct expression captures the essence of Peachtree Group's approach to investment strategies. The firm combines its intuitive understanding of commercial real estate with the wisdom of years of experience to make informed decisions that drive growth and deliver exceptional results. "Our dedication to branding has empowered us to maintain a competitive advantage in attracting top-tier talent, ensuring we consistently have the finest minds and skills to navigate a rapidly evolving business landscape," said Greg Friedman, Peachtree Group's CEO and managing principal. "Furthermore, our strategic branding approach, focused on unifying our extensive range of businesses, is positioned to unlock even more of the untapped potential within our investment platform. This platform, which has already demonstrated its value in the hospitality sector, has been instrumental in our successful expansion and diversification into other real estate sectors and ventures." The company has consolidated all affiliated brands under the Peachtree Group umbrella. This change unifies the Company's diverse portfolio of brands, including Stonehill and Peachtree Hospitality Management, into Peachtree Group Credit and Peachtree Group Hospitality Management, respectively. "By bringing the company's brands together, we aim to leverage our collective strengths, streamline our operations and provide an enhanced experience for our valued partners," Friedman said. Alongside the rebranding, Peachtree Group has unveiled a new logo that combines the simplified representation of a tree with the capital letter P letterform. It succinctly champions the company's roots and remarkable growth it achieved since its inception in 2007, driven by deep expertise and strategic foresight. "The introduction of our refreshed brand position and logo marks an exciting new chapter in Peachtree Group's journey," said Jatin Desai, Peachtree Group's CFO and managing principal. "The consolidation of our affiliated companies under one unified name reflects our commitment to delivering a seamless and cohesive experience to all our stakeholders. Our new tagline embodies the balance of our innovative vision and the profound expertise that underpins our success." About Peachtree Group Peachtree Group is an investment firm driving growth with a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate assets and other ventures. The company has executed hundreds of investments since its inception, focusing on real estate acquisition, development and lending valued at $9.0 billion in total market capitalization. Today, Peachtree manages over $2.5 billion in equity, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments.

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Venterra Realty Acquires Avasa Grove West Community in Wesley Chapel

PR Newswire | October 03, 2023

Venterra Realty recently acquired the Avasa Grove West community located in Wesley Chapel, Florida. The 330-unit, multi-family community was built in 2023 and offers modern one, two, and three-bedroom garden-style residences that range from 782 – 1563 square feet in eight unique floor plans. The apartments offer high-end unit interiors that feature quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, prep islands, large soaking tubs or stand-up showers, ample closet space, and screened-in patios. The property provides renters with a best-in-class amenity package that includes a resort-style pool area, complete with pergolas, poolside grills, a California kitchen and TVs, our 24/7 fitness center, a Yoga / Spin studio, and an upscale clubhouse. Located in the fast-growing area of Wesley Chapel, Florida, the community is approximately 20 miles north of downtown Tampa, along Interstate-75. The property is directly adjacent to The Grove at Wesley Chapel and Krate, two large retail developments that boast an array of unique shopping and dining experiences for residents to enjoy. Venterra will implement its resident-focused programs such as the Live it. Love it. Guarantee.™, the 48-Hour Maintenance Guarantee, and SMARTLEASING. "We have seen excellent growth in the Tampa metropolitan area, and are excited to expand our Florida portfolio with the addition of the amenity-rich property Avasa at Grove West," said John Foresi, CEO of Venterra Realty. "Venterra has become known as a company that is committed to providing a market-leading living experience, and we look forward to identifying opportunities to further enhance the standard of living at Avasa Grove West by implementing Venterra's customer-focused management platform," added Venterra Chairman, Andrew Stewart. About Venterra Founded in 2001, Venterra Realty owns and manages approximately 80 communities and more than 23,000 apartment units across 19 major US cities that provide housing to over 45,000 people and 15,000 pets. The organization has completed over $9 billion in real estate transactions and currently manages a portfolio of multi-family real estate assets valued at over $4.8 billion. Venterra is committed to improving the lives of its residents by delivering industry-leading customer experience.

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AREP Partners with Award-Winning Tech Accelerator Unstuck Labs to Ignite a New Era of Innovation at Rosslyn City Center

Business Wire | September 01, 2023

American Real Estate Partners announced a partnership with Unstuck Labs, an award-winning tech accelerator and mobile app developer that works with early-stage startups, founders, and innovation programs. United by a shared goal of providing environments for people to feel and perform at their best, Unstuck Labs chose one of AREP’s custom-designed SuiteX office spaces for its new startup studio location at the company’s newly transformed Rosslyn City Center (RCC) in the heart of Arlington, Virginia. And every week, RCC will be home to Unstuck Tuesdays, a free workshop for the brave, curious entrepreneur looking to level up. “We are incredibly proud to partner with Arlington Economic Development, Rosslyn BID and Unstuck Labs to support and bring new businesses to Rosslyn,” said Paul Schulman, Principal and COO at AREP. RCC isn’t your typical office building. With innovation and technology ingrained in its DNA, AREP developed RCC to accommodate the ever-changing customer and digital landscape, incorporating prop tech to elevate the tenant experience. RCC offers tech-advanced workspaces that foster innovation and connectivity and leverages broader tech partnerships like Wired Score, Datawatch and VTS to better serve and understand its customers. Each tenant has exclusive use of AREP’s award-winning tenant engagement app AREPx to seamlessly access exclusive events and programming, building features, and amenities in and around the building. Unstuck Labs’ jargon-free, no-fluff approach to accelerating startups’ growth and commitment to building a learning community of passionate founders who help each other succeed perfectly aligns with AREP’s mission. And there’s no better place for the two companies to lock arms than the gateway to the nation’s capital. Ranked No. 3 on Niche’s list of Best Cities to Raise a Family in America and No. 5 on its list of Best Cities for Young Professionals in America, Arlington has emerged as one of the nation’s premier destinations for new businesses, especially in the technology field. RCC’s prime location in the heart of Rosslyn coupled with its unapologetic customer-first philosophy and world-class amenities make it a premier destination for growing businesses - not to mention its location above one of the Washington region's busiest Metro transit stations, providing seamless access to the wider DMV area. "You know, at Unstuck Labs, we're not just about lighting up creativity or speeding up innovation. We're about dreaming big, about building a future where ideas have no limits, and RCC? Well, it's the perfect place for us to make this happen," said Wa'il Ashshowwaf, CEO and Co-founder of Unstuck Labs. "Just think about it. We're right in the middle of this amazing hub, with big-name corporations and top universities as our neighbors. We're surrounded by incredible talent and folks who are just as eager to make a difference as we are. And our new spot at RCC? It's not just an office with a killer view, it's a place where dreamers and doers come together. After a day of shaping the future, we can kick back at the Assembly Food Hall, get our sweat on at Gold's Gym, or just jump on the Metro and be home in no time. It's all part of the journey. We're super excited to be a part of the Rosslyn BID and Rosslyn City Center community, and together, we're going to make a future where every idea has the potential to change the world. And you know what? We can't wait to get started." “Rosslyn is attracting innovators from all over the country, and RCC is the epicenter of it all,” said John Chesley, AREP’s MD Asset Management. “More and more tech companies are choosing AREP because we offer connectivity, accessibility, and world-class amenities in bustling, walkable communities. And with a prime location in one of the nation’s top cities for startups and incubator businesses, RCC provides companies like Unstuck Labs with everything they need to grow their business and thrive.” "Arlington has always been an excellent location for tech companies to grow and thrive, and the region's local tech startups are some of the most innovative in the nation," said Michael Stiefvater, Acting Director of Arlington Economic Development's Business Investment Group. "The resources of Unstuck Labs will allow for some of these early-stage startups to collaborate and expand on opportunities available locally. We are proud to support Unstuck Labs in Rosslyn via the Arlington Innovation Fund.” “Rosslyn is designed to help companies like Unstuck Labs plug into an ecosystem in a prime location with business amenities and connections that support growth and expansion at any stage,” said Mary-Claire Burick, president of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID). “When I met the Unstuck Labs team, I knew that their commitment to dreaming big and building the future of innovation would be an asset to Rosslyn and, in turn, could help them thrive and excel within our connected and vibrant neighborhood. I can’t wait to see what the future of this relationship will hold.” ABOUT AMERICAN REAL ESTATE PARTNERS Headquartered in the Greater Washington metropolitan area, AREP is an institutional fund manager and operating partner focused on data center, residential, industrial, and office assets, on both a development and repositioning basis in key markets along the East Coast.Since the company’s founding in 2003, AREP has deployed over $5.3 B across targeted geographies, acquired more than 21 million SF of Class A real estate, and currently oversees over 10 million SF. AREP's vertically integrated real estate platform and experienced Management Team provide exceptional expertise in all ownership disciplines from acquisition to realization. By leveraging this expertise, AREP remains at the forefront of real estate innovation, maximizing investment and enhancing performance to provide added value for its investors. ABOUT UNSTUCK LABS Unstuck Labs is an award-winning digital agency, venture-building studio, and hyperlearning community based in Arlington, Virginia. Founded by a team of career professionals turned entrepreneurs, Unstuck Labs helps early-stage startups and innovation programs to validate ideas, build products, and launch ventures. Unstuck Labs offers a range of services, including mobile and web development, branding and marketing, pitch decks and fundraising, and advisory and mentoring. Unstuck Labs also runs a 12-week startup studio program that provides hands-on support, deliverables, and perks to selected founders.

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