Highland Commercial Mortgage closes HUD financing for 270-unit Orlando project

Highland Commercial Mortgage has closed HUD 221(d)(4) financing for The Gateway, a 270-unit multifamily community in Orlando, Florida. The project is the first phase of a larger 958-unit master plan and adds another sign of lender support for new housing supply in a tight rental market.

Why it matters: - The Gateway adds 270 new Class A apartments to Orlando, where demand for high-quality rental housing remains strong. - The project is the first phase of a 20.05-acre master-planned community that is expected to total 958 apartment homes at full buildout. - HUD 221(d)(4) financing helps make new construction possible with long-term, fixed-rate, non-recourse debt.

What happened: - Highland Commercial Mortgage closed HUD 221(d)(4) financing for The Gateway in Orlando, Florida. - The project will be developed on a 3.50-acre site along Shadow Ridge Drive. - The Gateway is planned as a five-story, mid/high-rise multifamily community with structured parking.

The details: - The Gateway will include a clubhouse, co-working space, fitness center, resort-style pool, grilling areas and a pickleball court. - The amenity package also includes a landscaped courtyard, dog park, pet spa and electric vehicle charging stations. - Highland Commercial Mortgage is an FHA, MAP-approved lender focused on multifamily development, affordable housing, senior living and healthcare. - Chip Moore, president of Highland Commercial Mortgage, said the company is proud to support much-needed multifamily housing in the Orlando market. - Moore said the HUD 221(d)(4) program provides long-term, fixed-rate financing that helps developers deliver high-quality communities. - The HUD 221(d)(4) program offers long-term, fully amortizing, non-recourse financing with competitive fixed interest rates.

Between the lines: - The financing underscores continued lender appetite for large-scale apartment development in Central Florida. - The project’s master-plan structure suggests the Orlando site could become a much larger residential destination over time. - Highland Commercial Mortgage is positioning HUD-backed lending as a core tool for developers seeking stable capital for new construction.

What's next: - The Gateway will move toward construction and later lease-up as the first phase of the broader community. - Full buildout would create nearly 1,000 households in the larger development. - Highland Commercial Mortgage said it looks forward to seeing The Gateway become a premier residential destination in Central Florida.