NEWPORT BEACH, CA-In an effort to create a niche in an economywhere distressed properties abound, SabalFinancial Group LP, a diversifiedfinancial-services firm here, has launched acommercial real estate lending program thatfocuses on providing bridge loans forvalue-add real estate opportunities. The programwill initially provide bridge loans across all income-producingproperty types across the West Coast and, eventually,nationwide.

The company has promoted James M. Martin todirect the new program. Martin, a 25-year veteran of commercialreal estate finance, investment and asset management, was formerlypresident of Martin Real Estate Group, afull-service Orange County-based CRE brokerage company. He alsoheld senior management positions with the PicerneGroup and ORIX USA.

“Our real estate expertise enables us to take on complicatedprojects in an industry where speed and service are critical,”Martin said in the statement. “Our advanced technologyinfrastructure creates economies of scale that allow us to performquickly and with certainty of execution.”