Category: Top National News

National Mortgage Professional, June 14, 2018–Phil HallThe delinquency rates for commercial and multifamily mortgage loans were virtually unchanged from the fourth quarter of last year to the first quarter of this year, the according to the latest Commercial/Multifamily Delinquency Report issued by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

National Real Estate Investor, June 11, 2018–Mary DudichHotels appear to be a particularly good fit for retail centers, which tend to have ample parking, prime locations and shopping, restaurants and entertainment options readily available for travelers.

Bloomberg, June 12, 2018–Sarah Mulholland (subscription)As they battle the rise of e-commerce, U.S. mall owners are trying to clear their books of fading centers so they can focus on the most-profitable ones. That’s proving difficult, with just a shallow pool of investors who are willing to take on a declining mall and even fewer who would pay what the landlords want.

Wall Street Journal, June 11, 2018–Scott Calvert (subscription)Philadelphia’s City Council is weighing a proposed 1% tax on construction to raise millions of dollars for affordable-housing programs, marking the latest push by a U.S. city to address rising residential costs.

National Mortgage News, June 8, 2018–Brad Finkelstein, Austin Kilgore (free story)”I will come in with a fresh set of eyes and ears and listen to the concerns of our members and respond accordingly,” Robert Broeksmit said. Still, “I am coming into the MBA when it is as strong as it’s ever been, and not coming in anticipating that there are substantive immediate changes that need to be made.”

The Hill, June 7, 2018–John BowdenA plan being pushed by HUD Secretary Ben Carson would raise rents on Americans receiving federal assistance by 20 percent on average in metropolitan areas around the country, according to a new study.

Forbes, June 12, 2018–Ted Knutsen2018 won’t be as strong of a year for commercial and multifamily real estate investments as 2017, the Mortgage Bankers Association predicted in an annual report released today.

Wall Street Journal, June 12, 2018–Esther Fung (subscription)The mergers-and-acquisition bug has hit the real-estate investment trust industry, the long-anticipated result of the discounts that REIT stocks have been trading at compared with the private-market valuations of their properties.

Forbes, June 4, 2018–Brad Thomas CoStar Managing Director Hans Nordby said publicly traded real estate investment trusts are “substantially” cheaper than private real estate. “Clearly, there is a disconnect. Either REITs are too cheap, which could represent a buying opportunity, or conversely, private real estate could be too expensive, in which case property owners would be well served to sell, to avoid losses.”

National Real Estate Investor, June 5, 2018–Bendix Anderson Rising interest rates are already making a difference for apartment properties. Borrowers can no longer secure the large permanent loans that have become used to.