NEWPORT BEACH, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 21, 2013) - Sabal Financial Group, L.P., a diversified financial services firm, has named Alan Aho as Production Officer for the Arizona region of the company's Home Builder Lending program. Aho will oversee all home builder relationships, business development and loan originations in the area.

Prior to joining Sabal, he served as the vice president of finance at PB Bell Companies, an apartment developer located in Scottsdale, Ariz. During his tenure, Aho maximized returns on multi-million-dollar real estate deals by sourcing debt and equity financing for ground-up apartment communities. He also previously served as investment manager for Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors, where he managed a $50 million portfolio of joint-venture real estate investments and mezzanine debt loans with local home builders. 

"Alan comes to us with strong leadership skills and extensive experience with large volume transactions," said Tom Farrell, director of Home Builder Lending for Sabal. "His strategic relationships in the home builder industry make him a key asset for our expansion into the Arizona market."

After recognizing an opportunity to bring private capital back to the lending space, in June 2012, Sabal was among the first financial services firms to launch a Home Builder Lending program. The program offers non-recourse construction and acquisition and development (A&D) loans to established home builders in California, Washington, Oregon and Arizona. Sabal is filling a void in the lending market left by the departure of traditional capital sources, namely commercial banks, and comes at a time when home builders are actively pursuing quality development opportunities. As a non-regulated lender, Sabal is unique in its capability to provide non-recourse construction and A&D loans secured with completion-only guarantees.

"The Arizona market is primed for a strong recovery and the timing is just right for Sabal's Home Builder Lending program," said Aho. "Sabal has extensive Arizona land holdings in its investments portfolios under management and this deep understanding of market conditions and opportunities makes us uniquely focused in successful lending solutions for builders."

About Sabal Financial Group

Sabal Financial Group, L.P. is an international diversified financial services firm specializing in real estate, banking and lending with nearly $5.5 billion in assets under management. Since 2009, the firm has established a strong presence in the acquisition, valuation, management and servicing of commercial real estate and acquisition, development and construction (ADC) loans. Sabal Financial Group is a non-traditional lender, providing construction and acquisition and development loans to established middle-market residential builders, as well as commercial real estate bridge loans to reputable real estate investors and owners in California, Washington, Oregon and Arizona.

Sabal's diversified platform is complemented by its Bank Credit Advisory Practice that acts as an advisor and M&A specialist to commercial and investment banks seeking unbiased third-party credit portfolio risk and capital and performance assessments.

A privately held company, Sabal Financial Group is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA, with offices in Pasadena, CA; Atlanta; Greenville, SC; and New York City www.sabalfin.com.