REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Firm Seeks Chapter 11: Combined Properties, the warring Haft family’s real estate business, filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Stuart Grant, attorney for Ronald Haft, Combined Properties’ president, said the reason for the filing is that the Greenbelt, Md.-based company has been unable to meet mortgage payments. The company, which owns about 38 shopping centers nationwide, has liabilities of about $500 million, Grant said. Assets far exceed that amount, but the money has not been available to run the business because of the dispute, he said. Grant said the Bankruptcy Court filing to reorganize the company will free the cash for Combined’s mortgage payments.