BALTIMORE, MD - Real estate investment firm Hamilton Zanze (HZ) has acquired the 404-unit Kingscrest Apartments in Frederick, Maryland, entering the state for the first time. The purchase, brokered by Transwestern Mid-Atlantic Multifamily Group, closed May 10.
The 356,632-square-foot community sits on just under 25 acres and had an occupancy rate of 94.6% at the opening of 2018. Though this is the first property the company has acquired in Maryland, it comes on the heels of acquisitions in Virginia and Connecticut, signaling a strong expansion on investment into the Northeast for HZ.
"Kingscrest is a true value-add opportunity in a great submarket, allowing us to further expand our growing presence on the East Coast," said David Nelson, managing director of acquisitions for Hamilton Zanze. "We believe Kingscrest presented an opportunity to buy a great asset in a stable market, with strong cash flow. We are planning an extensive interior renovation campaign, resulting in a strategically positioned asset in a fabulous location."
Constructed in phases between 1990 and 1992, Kingscrest Apartments is located at 6959 Castle Ct, and offers one- and two-bedroom units. Community amenities include a pool, dog park, playground, barbecue area, tennis and volleyball courts, and a clubhouse for residents with both a business and fitness center. The garden apartments each include bay windows with window seats, a patio or balcony, walk-in closets, recessed lighting, and full-sized washers and dryers.
HZ plans to execute a $4.2 million capital improvements program that will include upgrades to the community amenities, such as an expansion of the dog park, and more than $10,000 of improvements to each interior unit, including the addition of new stainless-steel appliances, new fixtures and lighting, new countertops, and more. Property management responsibilities will be transitioned to Mission Rock Residential, a Denver-based company.
Located within the Washington-Arlington-Alexandrea metro area, the region touts one of the nation's most educated workforces, with roughly 50% of the working age population holding bachelor's degrees or higher. Frederick County is home to the second largest concentration of biotech companies in the State of Maryland, many of which are located in I-270 tech corridor. The market also offers easy transportation access to both the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas.