Trade Street Residential Highlights Recent Accompl

– Portfolio Expanded and Debt Maturities Extended –
– Executive Management Team Strengthened –

AVENTURA, Fla., July 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trade Street Residential, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSRE ) (the "Company"), a fully integrated owner and operator of high-quality apartment communities in targeted growth markets in the southeastern United States, including Texas, today provided an update on its accomplishments since its initial public offering was completed in May 2013.

"We are extremely excited about our accomplishments since we completed our initial public offering in May," stated Michael Baumann, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trade Street Residential. "Since that time, we have completed the acquisitions of two brand new communities, refinanced $26.4 million of first mortgage financing, eliminated high-cost noncontrolling interests in four of our properties, and added significant experience to our executive team. As we look forward to the second half of 2013 and beyond, we expect to continue executing on our plans to provide the Company with greater financial flexibility as we evaluate and consider incremental accretive opportunities to grow and enhance our portfolio performance in the future."

Since its IPO, the Company has completed the following strategic steps: 

• Added two new Class A communities to the portfolio.  In May, the Company purchased St. James at Goose Creek, a 244-unit apartment community in Charleston, South Carolina, for $27.2 million, and Woodfield Creekstone, a 256-unit apartment community, located in Durham, North Carolina, for $35.8 million. In June, the company sold Oak Reserve at Winter Park, a 41-year old, 142-unit apartment community located in Winter Park, Florida, for $11.8 million. Net of these acquisitions and the disposition, the Company lowered the average age of its portfolio to 20 years as of the date of this release.
     
• Obtained $44.8 million of long-term fixed rate secured debt, and repaid $36.1 million of 2013 debt maturities.  In May, the Company obtained a new $25.8 million first mortgage loan, which is secured by Pointe at Canyon Ridge, a 494-unit apartment community in Sandy Springs, Georgia. The 12-year loan has a fixed rate of 4.1% per annum with two years of interest-only payments followed by principal and interest payments based on a 30-year amortization schedule thereafter. Proceeds were used to repay a $26.4 million 6.0% first mortgage loan at maturity. In June, the Company placed a new $19.0 million first mortgage loan, which is secured by St. James at Goose Creek. The 10-year loan has a fixed rate of 3.75% per annum with two years of interest-only payments followed by principal and interest payments based on a 30-year amortization schedule.  As a result of these financings and the sale of Oak Reserve at Winter Park, the Company has extended the weighted average term-to-maturity for its non-credit line debt from 4.4 years at March 31, 2013 to 7.1 years as of the date of this release, and increased its percentage of fixed rate debt from 42% to 66%, during the same period.
   
• Consolidated ownership in four properties by repaying high-cost noncontrolling interests.  In May, the Company repurchased noncontrolling interests in four property-owning subsidiaries for total consideration of $7.7 million, thus eliminating this high-cost liability. The interest expense for these noncontrolling interests in the first quarter of this year was approximately $562,000.  The Company now owns 100% of The Beckanna on Glenwood, a 254-unit apartment community in Raleigh, North Carolina, Merce Apartments, a 114-unit apartmen t community in Addison, Texas, Park at Fox Trails, a 286-unit apartment community in Plano, Texas, and Terrace at River Oaks, a 314-unit apartment community in San Antonio, Texas.
   
• Strengthened our executive team.  On July 22, 2013, the Company named David Levin as Vice Chairman of the board of directors and President to oversee the Company's investment and capital strategy.  Mr. Levin served as the lead independent director of the board of directors and was formerly the Vice Chairman of LNR Property LLC.               

About Trade Street Residential, Inc.

Trade Street Residential, Inc. (TSRE) is a full service, vertically integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust focused on acquiring, owning, operating and managing conveniently located, garden-style and mid-rise apartment communities in mid-sized cities and suburban submarkets of larger cities primarily in the southeastern United States, including Texas. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements related to the offering and the expected use of the net proceeds therefrom, which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," or "potential" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases, which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. While forward-looking statements reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, they are not guarantees of future performance. Furthermore, the Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could impact the Company's future results, performance or transactions, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's final prospectus relating to the Company's recent public offering of its common stock.

Investor Relations: Stephen Swett 786-248-6099