2015 Year in Review - Shamir Seidman

What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or professional achievement in 2015? I had multiple notable closed transactions in 2015 – a $25 million loan on a vacant apartment building in Williamsburg at 3.00%, a ground lease financing on a luxury tower on the Upper West Side at a 2.50% debt yield and a $10 million loan for a five vacant buildings in Bed Stuy and Bushwick at 2.97%. What real estate project, transaction, market trend or product had a significant impact on your industry in 2015? I did a significant amount of financings in the up and coming areas of Brooklyn: Crown Heights, Gowanus, BedStuy, Bushwick - these areas are exploding with potential and in my opinion will be as desirable in two years from now as Williamsburg is today. How will you be supercharging your productivity in 2016? I am always looking for new opportunities, new markets and new products to further my business. I am working on a large financing package on Central Park that I anticipate will close in the first quarter of 2016. My business continues to move upmarket in terms of both the size of transactions and the sophistication of business plans; indicative of the strategies commercial real estate investors must employ to hit return hurdles in the current environment. What emerging trends will drive investment and development in 2016?   I think fear will play a large role in 2016 – fear of rates moving, fear of the market peaking, fear of another large collapse. Fear is a motivating factor that will drive market activity in 2016.