NEW ENGLAND REALTY ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Mar 14, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Mar 14, 2025
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Item 1. Business
General
New England Realty Associates Limited Partnership (“NERA” or the “Partnership”), a Massachusetts Limited Partnership, was formed on August 12, 1977 as the successor to five real estate limited partnerships (collectively, the “Colonial Partnerships”), which filed for protection under Chapter XII of the Federal Bankruptcy Act in September 1974. The bankruptcy proceedings were terminated in late 1984. In July 2004, the General Partner extended the termination date of the Partnership until 2057.
The authorized capital of the Partnership is represented by three classes of partnership units (“Units”). There are two categories of limited partnership interests (“Class A Units” and “Class B Units”) and one category of general partnership interests (the “General Partnership Units”). The Class A Units were initially issued to creditors and limited partners of the Colonial Partnerships and have been registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Each Class A Unit is exchangeable for 30 publicly traded Depositary Receipts (“Depositary Receipts”), which are currently listed on the NYSE American and are registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. The Class B Units were issued to the original general partners of the Partnership. The General Partnership Units are held by the current general partner of the Partnership, NewReal, Inc. (the “General Partner” or “NewReal”). The Class A Units represent an 80% ownership interest, the Class B Units represent a 19% ownership interest, and the General Partnership Units represent a 1% ownership interest.
The Partnership is engaged in the business of acquiring, developing, holding for investment, operating and selling real estate. The Partnership, directly or through 31 subsidiary limited partnerships or limited liability companies, owns and operates various residential apartments, condominium units and commercial properties located in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. As used herein, the Partnership’s subsidiary limited partnerships and limited liabilities companies are each referred to as a “Subsidiary Partnership” and are collectively referred to as the “Subsidiary Partnerships.”** **
The Partnership owns between a 99.67% and 100% interest in each of the Subsidiary Partnerships, except in seven limited liability companies (collectively, the “Investment Properties” or “Joint Ventures”) in which the Partnership has between a 40% and 50% ownership interest. Jameson Brown and Harley Brown indirectly collectively own between 47.6% and 59%, and five other current and past employees of Hamilton own collectively between 0% and 2.4%, respectively of the Joint Ventures. The Partnership’s interest in the Investment Properties is accounted for on the equity method in the Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—“Principles of Consolidation.” See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements—“Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures” for a description of the properties and their operations. Of those Subsidiary Partnerships not wholly owned by the Partnership, except for the Investment Properties, the remaining ownership interest is held by an unaffiliated third party. In each such case, the third party has entered into an agreement with the Partnership, pursuant to which any benefit derived from the third party’s ownership interest in the applicable Subsidiary Partnerships will be returned to the Partnership.** **
The long-term goals of the Partnership are to manage, rent and improve its properties and to acquire additional properties with income and capital appreciation potential as suitable opportunities arise. When appropriate, the Partnership may sell or refinance selected properties. Proceeds from any such sales or refinancing will be used to reduce debt, reinvest in acquisitions of other properties, make distributions to the partners, repurchase equity interests, or use for operating expenses or reserves, as determined by the General Partner.
Operations of the Partnership
As of December 31, 2023, Sally Michael and David Reier, the Trustees of the estate of Harold Brown, held voting control over the capital stock of NewReal, the General Partner of the Partnership. The estate was closed on January 2, 2024, whereupon the capital stock of NewReal previously owned by the estate of Harold Brown were transferred to JPB Real Estate LLC and Maisie Brown LLC, entities controlled by Jameson Brown and Harley Brown respectively, with each entity acquiring 37.5% of the voting control of NewReal at that time.
The General Partner has engaged The Hamilton Company, Inc. (the “Hamilton Company” or “Hamilton”) to perform general management functions for the Partnership’s properties in exchange for management fees. The Hamilton Company is wholly owned by JPB Real Estate LLC and Maisie Brown LLC. The Partnership, the Subsidiary Partnerships, and the Investment Properties currently contract with the Hamilton Company for 58 individuals at the Properties (as defined below) and 11 individuals at the Joint Ventures who are primarily involved in the supervision and maintenance of specific properties. The General Partner has no employees**.**
As of February 1, 2025, the Partnership and its Subsidiary Partnerships owned 2,943 residential apartment units in 27 residential and mixed-use complexes (collectively, the “Apartment Complexes”). The Partnership also owns 19 condominium units in a residential condominium complex, all of which are leased to residential tenants (collectively, the “Condominium Units”). The Apartment Complexes, the Condominium Units and the Investment Properties are located primarily in the metropolitan Boston area of Massachusetts.
As of February 1, 2025, the Subsidiary Partnerships also owned two commercial shopping centers in Framingham, Massachusetts, one commercial building in Newton, Massachusetts, one commercial building in Brookline, Massachusetts and commercial space in mixed-use buildings in Boston, Brockton and Newton, Massachusetts, totaling approximately 131,000 square feet of commercial space. These properties are referred to collectively as the “Commercial Properties.” See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
Additionally, as of February 1, 2025, the Partnership owned a 40-50% interest in 7 residential and mixed use complexes, the Investment Properties, with a total of 688 residential units, one commercial unit, and a 50 car parking lot. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these investments.
The Apartment Complexes, Investment Properties, Condominium Units and Commercial Properties are referred to collectively as the “Properties.”
The Brown family entities, including JPB Real Estate LLC and Maisie Brown LLC, entities controlled by Jameson Brown and Harley Brown respectively, and, in certain cases, Ronald Brown, and officers, employees and former employees of The Hamilton Company own or have owned interests in certain of the Properties, Subsidiary Partnerships and Joint Ventures. See “Item 13. Certain Relationships, Related Transactions and Director Independence.”
The leasing of real estate in the metropolitan Boston area of Massachusetts is highly competitive. The Apartment Complexes, Condominium Units and the Investment Properties must compete for tenants with other residential apartments and condominium units in the areas in which they are located. The Commercial Properties must compete for commercial tenants with other shopping malls and office buildings in the areas in which they are located. Thus, the level of competition at each Property depends on how many other similarly situated properties are in its vicinity. In addition to Item 1A, Risk Factors, see “Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Factors that May Affect Future Results.”
The Second Amended and Restated Contract of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”) authorizes the General Partner to acquire real estate and real estate related investments from or in participation with either or both of the Brown family related entities and Ronald Brown, or their affiliates, upon the satisfaction of certain terms and conditions, including the approval of the Partnership’s Advisory Committee and limitations on the price paid by the Partnership for such investments. The Partnership Agreement also permits the Partnership’s limited partners and the General Partner to make loans to the Partnership, subject to certain limitations on the rate of interest that may be charged to the Partnership. Except for the foregoing, the Partnership does not have any policies prohibiting any limited partner, General Partner or any other person from having any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by the Partnership or in any transaction to which the Partnership is a party or has an interest in or from engaging, for their own account, in business activities of the types conducted or to be conducted by the Partnership. The General Partner is not limited in the number or amount of mortgages which may be placed on any Property, nor is there a policy limiting the percentage of Partnership assets which may be invested in any specific Property.
Unit Distributions
In March 2025, the Partnership approved a quarterly distribution of $12.00 per Unit ($0.40 per Receipt), payable on March 31, 2025. In addition to the quarterly distribution, there will be a special distribution of $96.00 per Class A unit ($3.20 per Receipt). In 2024 the Partnership paid an aggregate distribution of $48.00 per Unit ($1.60 per Receipt) for a total payment of $11,244,559 in 2024. In 2023, the Partnership paid a total distribution of an aggregate $84.00 Unit ($2.80 per Receipt), for a total payment of $9,954,888.** **
On August 20, 2007, NewReal, Inc., the General Partner authorized an equity repurchase program (the “Repurchase Program”) under which the Partnership was permitted to purchase, over a period of twelve months, up to 300,000 Depositary Receipts (each of which is one-tenth of a Class A Unit). Over time, the General Partner has authorized increases in the equity repurchase program. On March 10, 2015, the General Partner authorized an increase in the Repurchase Program to 2,000,000 Depository Receipts and extended the Program for an additional five years from March 31, 2015 until March 31, 2020. On March 9, 2020, the General Partner extended the program for an additional five years, from March 31,2020, until March 31, 2025.
On March 12, 2025, the General Partner authorized the President and Treasurer to cause the Partnership to repurchase, on the open market or otherwise, including through individually negotiated purchases and through a written trading plan that complies with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1, Depositary Receipts and Partnership Units such that (i) the aggregate cost of Depositary Receipts and Partnership Units repurchased shall not exceed the lesser of $5 million or 10% of the Partnership’s balance of cash and investment in treasury bills, (ii) no Depositary Receipts or Partnership Units shall be repurchased after the date that is 12 months after the effective date of the plan, and (iii) no Depositary Receipts or Partnership Units shall be repurchased in excess of $95 per Depository Receipt ( the “Repurchase Plan”). The Repurchase Plan requires the Partnership to repurchase a proportionate number of Class B Units and General Partner Units in connection with any repurchases of any Depositary Receipts by the Partnership based upon the 80%, 19% and 1% fixed distribution percentages of the holders of the Class A, Class B and General Partner Units under the Partnership Agreement. This repurchase authorization replaces the Partnership’s previous repurchase program. The Repurchase Plan shall be made in accordance with the terms of Rule 10b-18 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and shall be made in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations in effect from time to time.
From August 20, 2007 through December 31, 2024, the Partnership has repurchased 1,550,358 Depositary Receipts at an average price of $31.82 per receipt (or $954.60 per underlying Class A Unit), 4,537 Class B Units and 239 General Partnership Units, both at an average price of $1,289.00 per Unit, totaling approximately $56,090,000, inclusive of brokerage fees paid by the Partnership.
Property Transactions
On November 30, 2021, the Partnership entered into a Master Credit Facility Agreement (the “Facility Agreement”) with KeyBank National Association (“KeyBank”), dated as of November 30, 2021, with an initial advance
in the amount of $156,000,000. Interest only on the debt at a fixed interest rate of 2.97% is payable on a monthly basis through December 31, 2031. The Partnership’s obligations under the Facility Agreement are secured by mortgages on certain properties pursuant to certain Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents, and Security Agreement and Fixture Filings (“Mortgages”).
The Partnership used the proceeds from the Facility Amendment to pay down approximately $65,300,000 of existing debt secured by 11 properties, along with approximately $2,700,000 in prepayment penalties. The remaining balance of approximately $89,000,000 was used for general partnership purposes.
On June 16, 2022, the Partnership entered into an amendment to the Facility Agreement (the “Facility Amendment”). The Facility Amendment included an additional advance in the amount of $80,284,000 at a fixed interest rate of 4.33%.
The Partnership used the proceeds to pay down approximately $37,065,000 of existing debt secured by four properties, along with approximately $854,000 in prepayment penalties. The remaining balance of approximately $42,384,000 will be used for general partnership purposes.
On October 14, 2022, the Partnership entered into a loan agreement with Brookline Bank (the “Brookline Agreement”), which refinanced its loan on 659-665 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA. The Brookline Agreement pays down the loan on the existing debt of $5,954,546, extends the maturity until October 14, 2032, at a variable interest rate of SOFR rate, plus 1.7% interest only for two years and amortizing using a thirty-year schedule for the balance of the term. At closing, the Partnership entered into an interest rate swap contract with Brookline Bank with a notional amount equivalent to the underlying loan principal amortization, resulting in a fixed rate of 4.60% through the expiration of the interest rate swap contract. The agreement also allows for an earn out of up to an additional $1,495,453 once the property performance reaches a 1.35x debt service coverage ratio and the loan to value equates to at most 65%.
The Partnership purchased a commercial retail property of approximately 20,700 square feet, located at 653 Worcester Road in Framingham, MA for the sum of approximately $10,151,000 on January 18, 2023. This acquisition was funded from the Partnership’s cash reserves and closing costs were approximately $59,000. From the purchase price, the Partnership allocated approximately $585,000 for in-place leases, and approximately $378,000 to the value of tenant relationships. These amounts are being amortized over 12 and 156 months respectively.
On July 14, 2023, the Partnership purchased a 52 unit mixed use property in the South End neighborhood of Boston, MA comprised of three buildings at 26-30 Rutland Street, 105-117 West Concord Street and 475 Shawmut Avenue, and approximately 3,400 square feet of commercial space for a purchase price of approximately $27,500,000. This acquisition was funded from the Partnership’s cash reserves and closing costs were approximately $81,000. From the purchase price, the Partnership allocated approximately $525,000 for in-place leases, approximately $61,000 to the value of tenant relationships and $241,000 to the value of below-market leases. These amounts are being amortized over 12 and 36 months respectively.
During 2024, the Partnership and its Subsidiary Partnerships completed improvements to certain of the Properties at a total cost of approximately $25,254,000, which includes approximately $15,231,000 for the Mill Street Development. These improvements were funded from cash reserves and, to some extent, escrow accounts established in connection with the financing or refinancing of the applicable Properties. These sources have been adequate to fully fund improvements. The most significant improvements were made at Executive Apartments,1144 Commonwealth, Captain Parker, River Drive Apartments, Redwood Hills, and Hamilton Oaks, at a cost of $1,582,000, $1,061,000, $886,000, $880,000, $872,000, and $782,000, respectively. The Partnership plans to invest approximately $30,837,000 in capital improvements for all properties in 2025. This amount includes approximately $14,769,000 toward the development of a 72 unit apartment complex at Mill Street Development.
As of December 31, 2024, the Partnership has one property under construction located at 57 Mill Street in Woburn, MA. The project includes 72 residential units comprising approximately 93,000 square feet and is estimated to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2025. Total investment to date is approximately $15.2 million, and the total investment upon completion is anticipated to be approximately $30 million. The partnership is using cash reserves to fund this construction but will finance a portion of construction costs upon completion of the project. In connection with the Mill Street development project, the Partnership has entered into a contract with a general contractor with a current contract value of approximately $30 million.
On November 21, 2024, the Partnership entered into an agreement for a new $25,000,000 revolving line of credit. The term of the line is for three years with a floating interest rate equal to a base rate of the SOFR Rate for a period of one month plus the applicable margin of 2.5%. The loan covenants include a leverage ratio not to exceed 65%, a debt service coverage ratio of not less than 1.5 to 1.0, maximum usage of 1.5 times trailing 12 months EBITDA, minimum liquidity of $15 million, and a debt yield of at least 8.5%. The Partnership incurred a commitment fee of $125,000. The Partnership will be charged annually an unused line fee, equal to seventy-five basis points (0.75%) between the difference of the maximum availability and the outstanding principal of the line of credit. This fee will be waived for any period in which the Partnership maintains aggregate deposits of $20,000,000 with the Lender. As of December 31, 2024, the Partnership was in compliance with the financial covenants and did not incur an unused line fee.
The line of credit may be used for acquisitions, refinancing, improvements, working capital and other needs of the Partnership. The line may not be used to pay dividends, make distributions or acquire equity interests of the Partnership.
The line of credit is collateralized by varying percentages of the Partnership’s ownership interest in 27 of its Subsidiary Partnerships and Joint Ventures. Pledged interests are 49% of the Partnership’s ownership interest in the respective entities.
Advisory Committee
As of December 31, 2024, the Advisory Committee members were Robert Nahigian and David Ross, limited partners of the Partnership. These Advisory Committee members are not affiliated with the General Partner. The Advisory Committee meets with the General Partner to review the progress of the Partnership, assist the General Partner with policy formation, review the appropriateness, timing and amount of proposed distributions, approve or reject proposed acquisitions and investments with affiliates, and advise the General Partner on various other Partnership affairs. Per the Partnership Agreement, the Advisory Committee has no binding power except that it must approve certain investments and acquisitions or sales by the Partnership from or with affiliates of the Partnership.
Available Information
The Partnership’s website is www.thehamiltoncompany.com. On its website, the Partnership makes available, free of charge, its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forms are made available as soon as reasonably practical after the Partnership electronically files or furnishes such materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any shareholder may obtain copies of these documents, free of charge, by sending a request in writing to: Director of Investor Relations, New England Realty Associates Limited Partnership, 39 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA 02134.
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