Safehold Closes $45 Million Ground Lease for Affordable Housing Development
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 44 minutes ago
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Source: PRnewswire
- Ground Lease Size: Safehold Inc. has closed a $45 million ground lease in the Soquel area of Santa Cruz, California, aimed at developing a 256-unit affordable housing community to address the significant unmet demand for high-quality affordable housing in the region.
- Development Partnership: The project will be developed by The Pacific Companies, a prolific development firm, which deepens Safehold's strategic relationship in the affordable housing sector, highlighting its commitment to this market.
- Financing Structure: Construction financing and tax credit equity are provided by Wells Fargo and Citi Community Capital, with Citi also offering permanent financing, showcasing a diversified financing approach that helps advance the project amid high interest rates and construction costs.
- Market Positioning: This ground lease marks Safehold's second affordable housing project in the Santa Cruz area, indicating the company's proactive expansion in the affordable housing sector to meet the ongoing demand for accessible housing solutions.
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Analyst Views on SAFE
Wall Street analysts forecast SAFE stock price to rise
5 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 15.210
Low
14.00
Averages
18.00
High
28.00
Current: 15.210
Low
14.00
Averages
18.00
High
28.00
About SAFE
Safehold Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company helps owners of multifamily, office, industrial, hospitality, student housing, life science and mixed-use properties to generate higher returns. The Company operates its business through one reportable segment by acquiring, managing and capitalizing ground leases. Its primary investment objective is to construct a diversified portfolio of Ground Leases that is focused on generating attractive quality risk-adjusted returns and support stable and growing distributions to its shareholders. The Company’s portfolio consists of Ground Leases and one master lease (relating to five hotel assets that it refers to as its Park Hotels Portfolio). Its portfolio of properties is located across Manhattan; Washington, District of Columbia (DC); Boston; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Denver; Honolulu; Nashville; Miami and Atlanta.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Ground Lease Size: Safehold Inc. has closed a $45 million ground lease in the Soquel area of Santa Cruz, California, aimed at developing a 256-unit affordable housing community to address the significant unmet demand for high-quality affordable housing in the region.
- Development Partnership: The project will be developed by The Pacific Companies, a prolific development firm, which deepens Safehold's strategic relationship in the affordable housing sector, highlighting its commitment to this market.
- Financing Structure: Construction financing and tax credit equity are provided by Wells Fargo and Citi Community Capital, with Citi also offering permanent financing, showcasing a diversified financing approach that helps advance the project amid high interest rates and construction costs.
- Market Positioning: This ground lease marks Safehold's second affordable housing project in the Santa Cruz area, indicating the company's proactive expansion in the affordable housing sector to meet the ongoing demand for accessible housing solutions.
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- Ground Lease Transaction: Safehold announced the closing of a $45 million ground lease aimed at developing an affordable housing community in Santa Cruz, California, which is set to deliver 256 units by 2028, addressing local housing needs.
- Development Partnership: The project will be developed by The Pacific Companies, utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) for financing, demonstrating the company's commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development.
- Financing Support: Construction financing and tax credit equity are provided by Wells Fargo and Citi Community Capital, ensuring stable funding for the project and reducing investment risks.
- Long-Term Financing Arrangement: Citi is also providing permanent financing for the project, further strengthening the financial structure and ensuring good liquidity for future operations.
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- Bond Offering Size: Safehold Inc. announced the signing of a definitive note purchase agreement through its operating company, Safehold GL Holdings LLC, successfully issuing $225 million in senior unsecured notes due in 2056, reflecting the company's strong performance in capital markets.
- Interest Rate Structure: The bond features a stair-step interest rate structure starting at 4.00% and increasing to 6.615% over 21 years, which not only helps reduce initial financing costs but also provides higher returns in the future.
- Use of Proceeds: The company plans to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including repaying borrowings under its unsecured revolver, increasing investments in ground leases, and providing working capital, demonstrating a proactive approach to future investments.
- Market Participation: The bond offering attracted participation from both U.K. and U.S. investors, indicating an increasing recognition of Safehold in international capital markets and laying a solid foundation for the company's future financing activities.
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- Bond Issuance Size: Safehold Inc. announced a definitive note purchase agreement for a total of $225 million in senior unsecured notes due August 1, 2056, demonstrating the company's strong financing capability in the capital markets.
- Interest Rate Structure Advantage: The bond features a stair-step interest rate structure starting at 4.00% and increasing to 6.615% over 21 years, which will aid the company in maintaining flexibility and predictability in future financial planning.
- Clear Use of Proceeds: Safehold intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including repaying borrowings under its unsecured revolver and increasing investments in ground leases, reflecting the company's strategic planning for capital utilization.
- Market Participation: The bond offering attracted participation from both U.K. and U.S. investors, indicating an increasing recognition and influence of Safehold in the international capital markets, which will facilitate future financing activities.
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- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Safehold has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.177 per share, consistent with previous distributions, demonstrating the company's ongoing ability to maintain stable cash flows and bolstering investor confidence.
- Yield Performance: The forward yield of 4.48% associated with this dividend offers relative attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially drawing in income-seeking investors and enhancing the stock's appeal.
- Shareholder Record Date: The dividend will be payable to shareholders of record on June 30, indicating the company's commitment to its shareholders while providing a clear timeline for investment decisions.
- Ex-Dividend Date: The ex-dividend date is also set for June 30, meaning investors must hold the stock before this date to qualify for the dividend, which may help increase trading activity in the short term.
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- Dividend Announcement: Safehold Inc. has declared a second-quarter dividend of $0.177 per share for 2026, reflecting the company's ongoing ability to generate stable returns for shareholders with an annualized rate of $0.708.
- Payment Timing: The dividend is set to be paid on July 15, 2026, to shareholders of record as of June 30, 2026, ensuring timely returns for investors and bolstering confidence in the company's financial health.
- Company Background: Since creating the modern ground lease industry in 2017, Safehold has focused on helping owners of high-quality properties achieve higher returns with lower risks, showcasing its innovative approach within the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector.
- Long-term Strategy: As a REIT, Safehold aims to deliver safe, growing income and long-term capital appreciation to its shareholders, reflecting its keen insight into market demands and strategic positioning for future growth.
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