The Lede

National Mortgage Professional, Oct. 23, 2018--Phil HallThe new body, which will replace the MBA's Investor Council, is designed to formulate ideas about investment in commercial real estate debt. It will also present information on market trends and develop best practices and industry standards. Council members will include professionals from life insurance companies, banks, securitized lenders, debt funds and government-backed capital sources.

Los Angeles Times, Oct. 19, 2018--Liam DillonRobert Shrum, co-director of USC's Center for the Political Future and a longtime Democratic strategist, said the numbers don't look good for the initiative. The election is less than three weeks away, and landlord-backed opponents of the measure are significantly outspending supporters.

National Mortgage News, Oct. 19, 2018--John Reosti (subscription)Bank OZK in Little Rock, Ark., did more than stub its toe when it reported lower profit tied to two big chargeoffs. The $22 billion-asset company may have lost the confidence of investors for the foreseeable future, even though management used an earnings call to passionately defend its heavy reliance on commercial real estate lending, where the chargeoffs took place.

National Real Estate Investor, Oct. 24, 2018--Beth Mattson-TeigCommercial mortgage-backed securities lenders are working harder to retain market share in a highly competitive sector where the overall pie for conduit lending doesn't appear to be getting any bigger.

National Real Estate Imvestor, Oct. 23, 2018--Joseph Iacono, Kim DiamondTen years have passed since the global financial crisis and the last commercial real estate downturn. In a market that is likely approaching its cyclical peak, it is time for global investors seeking a portfolio hedge to move out of commercial real estate equity and into debt.

Bloomberg, Oct. 19, 2018--Natalie Wong, Justina VasquezNew York developer Silverstein Properties Inc. built a $4 billion pipeline of real estate deals just weeks after starting. None of the money was for buildings it will own.

The commercial real estate industry is making significant progress in reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions, water usage and waste disposal, reported the Urban Land Institute, Washington, D.C.

The U.S. hotel sector saw mixed year-over-year performance during the third quarter and full-year 2017 performance fell short of expectations, analysts said.

The Mortgage Bankers Association and other industry trade groups urged federal banking agencies to streamline the "Volcker Rule" to reduce costs for businesses.

Rent prices in single-family rental properties increased 3.1 percent year-over-year in August, reported CoreLogic, Irvine, Calif.

The Mortgage Bankers Association announced formation of the Capital Council, a new business council, consisting of commercial real estate finance professionals from MBA member firms.

RealPage, Richardson, Texas, agreed to acquire Rentlytics, San Francisco, for nearly $57 million.

Cap rates edged higher in the second quarter, but they remain low; economic growth should support demand for commercial properties, offsetting further cap rate increases, reported Wells Fargo Securities, Charlotte, N.C.