About us
AVANA CUSO is one of the most seasoned credit union service organizations (CUSO) focused on commercial real estate. Established in 1998.
Who We Serve
AVANA CUSO is one of the most seasoned credit union service organizations (CUSO) focused on commercial real estate. Established in 1998.
Office Building Acquisition Deal
/in projectsPlaza Acquisition Deal
/in projectsAVANA Companies provided financing to an established investment group to acquire a retail building in the Grand Rapids –Wyoming region of Michigan. The 74,197 square foot building located in Byron Center is 100% leased and includes two long term, investment grade credit rated tenants that drive traffic from two major freeways. Led by Matt Wilk, the team at AVANA CUSO Credit Union […]
The Highly Anticipated 2023 NAFCU Lending Conference
/in PressFinally reaching Q4 has many perks. One of those perks is being able to close out the year with tools to help us successfully navigate 2024 and beyond.
That toolbox is being provided by the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU).
Credit union leaders and employees across the country have marked their calendars for the NAFCU’s highly anticipated annual conference taking place November 7-9 at The Westin New Orleans in Louisiana.
Titled the NAFCU Lending Conference (and already sold out), this year’s theme promises to equip attendees with expert insight and valuable resources prepared by industry leaders and top-tier vendors.
Overall, the goal of this esteemed conference is to help strengthen credit unions’ lending positioning for the years ahead.
The three-day conference is finely curated to create an engaging, compelling and inspiring experience. The agenda features timely topics, expert advice, networking opportunities and a keynote speech by economist Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D.
Here are some highlights of this must-attend event.
Embracing the Future of Lending
AVANA CUSO’s team of lending experts is honored to attend the NAFCU Lending Conference. As the nation’s most seasoned credit union service organization (CUSO), we understand how essential it is to stay abreast of the future of lending.
“We attend inspiring events like this because we love hearing directly from credit union leaders,” says Shivan Perera, AVANA CUSO Senior Vice President. “Attending this conference allows us to tap into credit unions on a different level. In turn, we leave armed with firsthand knowledge about the lending solutions credit unions need right now. Then, we get to work crafting those solutions to better support them and their communities.”
From cybersecurity to underwriting to commercial loans (and everything in between), the NAFCU Lending Conference will arm all who attend with strategy-enhancing tactics for a rewarding future.
Powerful Panel Discussions
The NAFCU Lending Conference will feature topics on the latest trends in lending and business development to help propel CUs forward in today’s competitive landscape. Included in that are a number of panels that will stimulate essential discussions on some of the most pressing lending topics for 2023/24, including:
Sessions Addressing Timely Topics
The past year has been marked by many economic and technological shifts that directly impact credit unions. The NAFCU Lending Conference will address it all. More importantly, the event will leverage these hot-button issues in a way that can positively impact credit unions, their members and their broader community.
Some of those scheduled sessions include:
Forging Lasting Connections
Last but certainly not least, the conference’s agenda features various opportunities to meet fellow credit union leaders and team members. This includes networking breakfasts and luncheons, a welcome reception, an icebreaker “speed” networking event and a happy hour.
The networking possibilities are invaluable, whether you are making small talk or tapping into each other’s expertise.
While you’re mingling, please be on the lookout for AVANA CUSO. We want to hear from you and discuss all the ways we can help your credit union meet its goals for Q4, 2024 and beyond.
About AVANA CUSO
Established in 1998 and headquartered in Simi Valley, CA, AVANA CUSO is America’s premier credit union service organization (CUSO) focused on commercial real estate lending, including SBA 504 loans. For decades, we have partnered with credit unions across the country to offer competitive and collaborative lending solutions. AVANA CUSO is a proud member of the AVANA Family of Companies.
Oaktree and AVANA Companies form a $250MM Joint Venture
/in PressAVANA-Oaktree Private Credit Partnership aims to empower small businesses and drive local economic growth
AVANA Companies (“AVANA”) and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management L.P. (“Oaktree”) announce the formation of a new $250MM AVANA-Oaktree Private Credit Partnership (“AOPCP”) for its direct private commercial real estate lending strategy. Through the JV, AVANA will use the capital to provide private debt financing in the United States over the next three years.
AOPCP aims to invigorate local economies and create jobs. The funding will provide SMEs in the commercial real estate sector with access to capital in the form of bridge and construction loans for all CRE products.
“Oaktree has firsthand experience through past partnerships with AVANA. The AVANA team’s unparalleled expertise and reputation in the CRE lending industry aligns with our focus on risk control in private credit investments,” said Justin Guichard, Managing Director and Co-Portfolio Manager at Oaktree.
Both AVANA and Oaktree have extensive experience in the CRE industry and supporting SMEs across the USA. Recently, AVANA Companies entered a partnership with a national hospitality group to provide franchisers with capital to develop and renovate commercial properties across the United States.
“We meet with every business owner we have lent to; it is important to us to put a name and a face to a loan as part of our due diligence, credit underwriting, and risk mitigation,” said Sanat Patel, Chief Lending Officer and co-Founder of AVANA. “Our ability to build capital for a better tomorrow lies in our team’s deep-rooted history in lending and the trust we have in our partners at Oaktree.”
Since 2002, AVANA has served over 500 small businesses with 66% of their entrepreneurial customers being black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). AVANA has funded $1B in loans to minority entrepreneurs, which have directly and indirectly created over 5,500 jobs.
“After 22 years of working within the CRE industry and SMEs, we recognize the challenges of this tight lending environment and that’s why we are challenging our team to lend $250MM in the first year,” said Sundip Patel, CEO and co-founder of AVANA Companies. “This capital from Oaktree enables us to multiply our social impact exponentially, offering financing opportunities to entrepreneurs and supporting financial inclusion.”
To learn more about investment and loan opportunities with AVANA Companies, visit www.avanacompanies.com.
About AVANA Companies:
AVANA Companies (AVANA), founded in 2002, is an asset management platform aimed at building capital for a better tomorrow by stimulating economic growth, creating jobs, and contributing to sustainable projects. Headquartered in Arizona, USA with regional offices in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, AVANA serves small businesses, entrepreneurs, Institutional and retail investors, and credit unions in these markets. AVANA provides private credit commercial real estate loans through AVANA Capital, AVANA CUSO, Ezdaher.sa and LendThrive™. AVANA also offers private credit commercial investment opportunities to institutional and individual investors through AVANA Fund and EqualSeat™.
AVANA Capital, LLC is licensed in California under DBO license number 603K752 and in Arizona under CBK license number 0921662. To learn more, visit www.avanacompanies.com or follow AVANA Companies on LinkedIn.
About Oaktree:
Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with $193 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2024. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, private equity, real estate and listed equities. The firm has over 1,200 employees and offices in 23 cities worldwide. For additional information, please visit Oaktree’s website at http://www.oaktreecapital.com/.
Benefits of Being a CRE Entrepreneur
/in PressNovember is National Entrepreneurship Month, a celebration of all the risk-takers and go-getters who push their ideas forward and hedge their bets on themselves. There are so many kinds of entrepreneurs and businesses in which they operate. But today our focus is specific to the commercial real estate entrepreneur. Whether you’re looking to get your start as a CRE entrepreneur or you are an existing one and actively adding more properties to your portfolio, continue reading to see the lucrative advantages of operating a commercial real estate venture. Even better, now’s the perfect time given the current economic environment and its positive effects on the CRE market.
Types of Commercial Real Estate
Investors purchase commercial real estate as a business venture with the intent to earn a profit either through 1. rental income or 2. price appreciation of the property. So, let’s start with the basics: the types of properties that are considered commercial real estate.
Here’s a breakdown of the main types of commercial real estate:
1. Office Buildings
2. Retail Spaces
3. Industrial Properties
4. Multifamily Properties
5. Hospitality Properties
6. Special Purpose Properties
In most cases, a commercial real estate property is rented out to other businesses, but it can also be leased to individual tenants, such as with multi-family properties. Each asset type comes with its risks and advantages, though the industry as a whole is continuing to show upward potential for savvy CRE entrepreneurs.
Why Commercial Real Estate Is A Good Investment Vehicle
Owning a commercial real estate business helps investors diversify their assets and better weather the storm through market downturns.
The value of commercial properties tends to perform well even when the value of equities and stocks is in decline. Particularly during periods of market volatility, owning commercial real estate is a strategic endeavor for investors and entrepreneurs.
Steady Rental Income
One of the biggest benefits to such entrepreneurs is that CRE delivers supplemental income and even passive revenue streams through tenant lease payments.
The best investments are made when those payments cover the owner’s loan payments and carrying costs, and even turn a monthly profit.
In addition, the property is gaining equity over time through natural market inflation or building renovations and improvements.
Versatility
Above all, owning a commercial real estate venture gives investors the benefit of versatility in how they purchase, manage, and sell their investments.
These entrepreneurs can either make improvements to their properties and flip them for a profit, or they can keep the property and continue to collect rental income for the business.
That’s what makes this type of entrepreneurship so exciting. CRE entrepreneurs have tons of options to leverage and control their money while gaining more wealth from their investments.
There are also tax benefits of owning commercial real estate, all CRE entrepreneurs should know this.
About AVANA CUSO
Established in 1998 and headquartered in Simi Valley, CA, AVANA CUSO is one of the most seasoned credit union service organizations (CUSO) focused on commercial real estate lending. For decades, we have partnered with credit unions across the country to offer competitive and collaborative CRE loans. We also uniquely support and guide our partners through the entire lifecycle of our loans. AVANA CUSO is a proud member of the AVANA Family of Companies.
AVANA Group of Companies and AVANA CUSO are dedicated to empowering CRE entrepreneurs by providing tailored business lending solutions that align with their unique needs and growth aspirations. With over two decades of expertise in commercial real estate lending and private credit, AVANA is committed to helping entrepreneurs seize new opportunities, expand their portfolios, and achieve sustainable growth. Whether it’s navigating complex financing scenarios or securing funds for acquisitions, developments, or expansions, AVANA stands by CRE entrepreneurs at every step, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to succeed. Through our comprehensive range of loan products and personalized approach, we enable businesses to thrive in an ever-evolving market landscape.
Ohio Retail spaces
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