Eli Gershenson, director of Dallas-based Quantum First CapitalLP, says the package took 90 days to pull together because theborrower of record, Westdale Northlake Ltd., wanted the new loan tokick in when the CMBS note, bearing a 4.8% fixed rate, expired forthe 10233 E. Northwest Hwy property. "We could have closed itsooner if he'd wanted," Gershenson says.

Northlake's owner secured a three-year, Libor-based loan fromWashington Mutual Bank, one of four lenders looking at the deal forthe 80%-leased shopping center, according to Gershenson whopartnered with Quantum president Stuart Wernick to arrange the newdebt. WaMu's interest rate and maximum proceeds earned the nod,Gershenson says, adding the deal enabled the borrower to monetizeadditional equity derived from a renovation.

Gershenson says the deal swung to short-term note and a Liborrate instead of a fixed rate because occupancy is 80%. "The currentoccupancy of the center limited us to a shorter term," he tellsGlobeSt.com. "In the environment we're in right now, we ended upgoing to a shorter term deal."