A cautionary tale in todays Vancouver Sun for those seeking high returns AND security in a real estate investment: Two time real estate loser leaves investors high and dry.
A former bankrupt, Hauff made his first stab at developing the 35-acre residential project on Bullock Lake near Ganges in 1996. To fund the development, he borrowed millions of dollars from Multimetro Mortgage Corp. at up to 20 per cent per annum.
Multimetro, run by Vancouver businessman Ken Megale, raised most of the money from mom-and-pop investors. He promised them extremely high rates of return and assured them it was a safe, fully secured investment.
In fact, the project was mismanaged from start to finish, and ended in foreclosure. Multimetro lenders, who were owed $11 million including accrued interest, lost everything.
… but dreams die hard, so Hauff bought the property back out of foreclosure for $9 million and started all over, this time with money from Calgary based Gibraltar Mortage Corp at a 24% per annum rate.
Like Multimetro, Gibraltar raised the money from many small investors, promising them high returns on a supposedly fully secured basis.
Alas, under Hauff’s stewardship, the project once again stalled. In February 2007, Gibraltar called its loans and David Bowra was appointed receiver.
Subsequently, the resort lodge and spa burned down. The insurer has agreed to pay $7.4 million compensation. The property, as is, is estimated to be worth another $18 million to $20 million. So in total, creditors might realize anywhere from $25 million to $28 million.
Meanwhile, there is about $36 million worth of debt on the property, most of it owed to Gibraltar investors. Interest is accruing at the rate of about $600,000 per month. There are also property taxes and professional fees to be paid. So even on a best-case scenario, creditors are going to take a serious hit.
Read the full article here.
