HKS Real Estate Advisors tops $500 million in first-half financing

HKS Real Estate Advisors arranged more than $500 million across 30 financing transactions in the first half of 2026, spanning multifamily, mixed-use, retail, student housing and development assets in New York, Connecticut and Florida. The firm said the deal flow points to continued capital availability for experienced sponsors and expects more refinancing and development activity in the second half of the year.

Why it matters: - HKS Real Estate Advisors closed more than $500 million in financing during the first half of 2026, showing lenders are still funding deals for experienced borrowers with solid assets. - The transaction mix covered multiple property types and financing structures, including permanent, bridge, lease-up, senior and mezzanine debt. - HKS said the pace may build in the second half of 2026 as borrowers refinance maturing loans, move development projects forward and pursue new investment strategies.

What happened: - HKS arranged more than $500 million across 30 financing transactions in the first half of 2026. - The closings involved multifamily, mixed-use, retail, student housing and development properties in New York, Connecticut and Florida. - Ayush Kapahi said the firm’s platform and lender relationships helped match capital sources with each deal.

The details: - In Ithaca, New York, Alex Dobosh and Andrew Pilchick arranged $103.75 million in lease-up financing for a recently developed student housing community near Cornell University. - The Ithaca property totals 168,019 square feet and includes 356 units and 483 beds. - GID Credit provided the financing for the Ithaca student housing deal. - In Brooklyn, New York, Andrew Pilchick, Alex Dobosh and Jacob Kaufman secured a $68.5 million senior and mezzanine package for a 2.25-acre waterfront development site at 10 Java Street. - The Brooklyn site permits about 544,000 buildable square feet of mixed-use development and is currently improved with a vacant industrial building. - Centennial Bank provided the senior loan, and Sherwood Equities provided the mezzanine financing. - In Vernon, Connecticut, Andrew Pilchick and Alex Dobosh arranged $55.41 million for a 311-unit multifamily property. - Fortress provided the Vernon financing. - In Manhattan, Ayush Kapahi arranged a $37.5 million refinancing for 230 East 44th Street, a 135,315-square-foot mixed-use property with 164 residential units and six commercial tenants. - Infinity Funds provided the Manhattan refinancing. - In Miami, Ayush Kapahi secured a $30 million refinancing for Merrick Parc, a 91,911-square-foot mixed-use development site at 3191 SW 39th Avenue. - Miami-Dade County added the site to its Rapid Transit Zone, increasing as-of-right development potential from 317 residential units to 806 units and allowing about 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. - Knighthead Funding provided the Miami loan. - In Long Island City, New York, Daniel Kowalsky arranged a $25.8 million refinancing for a 52,578-square-foot retail property occupied by iFLY and VIBE Fitness. - Hanover Capital provided the Long Island City financing. - In Brooklyn, Jay Stern secured a $15.2 million refinancing for a two-property portfolio that includes a renovated multifamily building and a mixed-use asset with ground-floor retail and residential apartments. - Citi provided the Brooklyn portfolio refinancing. - In SoHo, Ayush Kapahi arranged a $10 million refinancing for 216 Lafayette Street, a commercial property that recently signed Seven Seven Six as its headquarters tenant. - 360 Capital Funding provided the SoHo refinancing. - In SoHo, Michael Lee secured a $6.8 million refinancing for 156 Prince Street, a six-story mixed-use property with two retail spaces and 21 residential apartments. - Peapack Private provided the 156 Prince Street financing. - On the Lower East Side, Daniel Kowalsky arranged a $6.45 million refinancing for a 11,372-square-foot retail condominium at 92-98 Delancey Street. - Citizens Private provided the Lower East Side financing. - In Fort Greene, Daniel Kowalsky secured a $4.8 million refinancing for 30 Saint Felix Street, a 25,032-square-foot multifamily property with 16 free-market apartments. - Chase Bank provided the Fort Greene loan. - HKS also pointed readers to more information about the firm and its $30 billion financing portfolio.

Between the lines: - The deal list is concentrated in New York, where refinancing demand appears strong across office, retail, multifamily and development assets. - Several financings support properties in lease-up, redevelopment or entitlement-heavy situations, which suggests lenders are willing to back execution risk when the sponsor and asset profile fit. - The Miami transaction shows how zoning changes can materially improve financing terms by increasing development potential.

What's next: - HKS expects more financing activity in the second half of 2026. - Borrowers are likely to keep seeking capital for refinancing, development progress and new acquisitions as maturities come due. - The firm’s pipeline may continue to benefit from a broad lender base willing to structure senior, mezzanine and bridge solutions.