MBA’s Stevens: Recap and Release is Reckless

National Mortgage Professional, June 14, 2016–Hall, Phil
The head of the nation’s most prominent mortgage banking trade group is warning that proposals to rebuild the capital reserves of the government-sponsored enterprises and then terminating their federal conservatorship would result in unprecedented damage to the housing finance market.

Commercial Debt Rises in the First Quarter

Scotsman Guide, June 14, 2016–Whitman, Victor
Three of the four major investors in commercial mortgages increased their debt holdings in the first quarter, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported.

More Evidence Insurers Are Refinancing Loans Out of CMBS Conduits

National Mortgage News, June 14, 2016–Bisbey, Allison
There’s been plenty of speculation about insurance companies crowding out commercial mortgage bond investors this year. Volatility in capital markets in the first quarter, combined with new and impending regulations, have made it difficult for firms that underwrite loans for sale to securitization conduits to compete with so-called portfolio lenders.

Energy Downturn Hammers Commercial Real Estate

Houston Chronicle, June 13, 2016–Sarnoff, Nancy 
The fate of two prominent commercial real estate deals spotlights the accelerating impact of oil’s price collapse across the Houston economy.

Online Auction Platforms Move Further into Mainstream Sales

National Real Estate Investor, June 15, 2016–Mattson-Teig, Beth
Auction companies saw a spike in popularity as lenders worked to clean up the mess from the bursting of the real estate bubble in both residential and commercial real estate.

Online Retail Gives Industrial REITs a Lift

Wall Street Journal, June 14, 2016–Grant, Peter
As online retail has grown, few expected industrial real estate investment trusts to be hurt. But it hasn’t been clear how much they would benefit.

Yellen Says Latest Jobs Report Raises Questions About Economic Outlook

Wall Street Journal, June 6, 2016–Davidson, Kate
Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen on Monday said the dismal May employment report has raised significant questions about the economic outlook that will weigh on officials as they determine when to lift short-term interest rates.

Report: No-Longer-Potential Homeowners Turn to Rentals in Housing Bust

Philadelphia Inquirer, June 5, 2016–Heavens, Alan J.
“Demand for rental housing has greatly outstripped supply, rapidly pushing vacancies down and rents up even as incomes fell,” said Lynn Fisher, vice president for research and economics with the Mortgage Bankers Association. “The supply is still trying to catch up with the demand.”

Fed Governors Signal Bigger Bank Capital Requirements Looming

Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2016–Tracy, Ryan
Federal Reserve officials strongly signaled they will toughen big-bank capital requirements even more than they have since the 2008 crisis, a move that will add to the pressure on the largest U.S. banks to consider shrinking.