NorthStar Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (NorthStar REIT), has announced the direct origination of five new real estate loans totalling USD69.0 million, with a weighted average current interest rate of 9.15%.  The proceeds from the loans, which are summarized below, were used to finance a variety of different real estate properties, further diversifying NorthStar REIT's portfolio.

January 18, 2012: USD13.5 million first mortgage senior loan secured by a 693-unit multifamily property in Jacksonville, Florida;

January 6, 2012: USD12.0 million first mortgage senior loan secured by a 69-room hotel located in Miami Beach, Florida;

December 29, 2011:  USD9.2 million first mortgage senior loan secured by a 111-room hotel located in Panama City, Florida;

December 16, 2011: USD29.8 million in four cross-collateralised, cross-defaulted first mortgage loans secured by four hotel properties containing 500 rooms located in Virginia's greater Hampton Roads MSA; and

December 9, 2011: USD4.5 million mezzanine loan secured by a pledge of ownership interests in four assisted living facilities containing 390 beds located in El Paso, Texas.

"These five loans are consistent with the investment objectives of NorthStar REIT," says Daniel Gilbert, President and Chief Investment Officer of NorthStar REIT. "We continue to demonstrate NorthStar REIT's ability to identify and capitalise on loans that aim to generate consistent current income while providing downside protection for investor capital."

Together with these five loans, NorthStar REIT has invested over USD132.7 million of capital in eight loans and three Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities. The portfolio has an overall current yield of approximately 8.9%.