Housing Market Collapse Continues
In another sign of the collapse of the market for new homes, builder Lennar Corp. has dumped a portfolio of 11,000 properties for 40 percent of their previously’stated book value.
Lennar (Charts, Fortune 500), the nation’s largest builder in terms of revenue, is selling the properties to a joint venture it has established with the real estate arm of Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley (Charts, Fortune 500). Morgan Stanley will own 80 percent of the joint venture, while Lennar will own 20 percent.
Lennar announced the deal late Friday as its fiscal fourth quarter came to a close. It is selling the properties for $525 million, even though it said their book value as of Sept. 30 stood at $1.3 billion. Lennar also will receive fees for continuing to manage the properties, which include mix of raw land as well as partially and fully developed homesites.
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