Crowdfunding Fills Construction Lending Gap Left by Banks

National Real Estate Investor, May 31, 2016–Anderson, Bendix 
Crowdfunding websites are becoming an important piece of the real estate financing puzzle, especially for apartment developers who need a little extra debt or equity to complete their plans.

Banks Take a Step Back on Construction Loans

National Real Estate Investor, June 1, 2016–Mattson-Teig, Beth
The volume of commercial and multifamily construction loans put in place in January reached $311.3 billion based on total project value. That represents a 14.3 percent increase year-over-year and a 40.7 percent increase compared to January 2014, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Commercial/Multifamily Quarterly Databook for fourth quarter 2015.

U.S. Construction Spending Tumbled in April

Associated Press, June 1, 2016–Crutsinger, Martin
Construction spending dropped 1.8 percent in April after a 1.5 percent gain in March, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. It was the biggest monthly decline since a 4.1 percent plunge in January 2011.

U.S. Economic Data Point to Second-Quarter GDP Rebound

Reuters, May 19, 2016–Mutikani, Lucia
The number of Americans filing for unemployment aid fell from a 14-month high last week, the latest sign the economy was picking up speed in the second quarter and likely would be healthy enough for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in June.

How Clinton Would Reform the Housing Finance System

National Mortgage News, May 20, 2016–McKendry, Ian
Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton appears likely to embrace a recent plan to merge Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into a single government corporation if she wins the White House.

As Condos Sales Slow, Miami Developers Turn to Rentals

Associated Pres, May 22, 2016–Lima, Debora
As Miami’s condo market loses traction amid a softening world economy, developers are shifting gears and rental apartments are sprouting throughout Miami-Dade.

As Their Anchors Sink, Malls Try To Present Retail ‘Experience’

NPR, May 23, 2016–Noguchi, Yuki 
Many of the department stores that once anchored bustling shopping malls continue to close. Mall owners are adding movie theaters, restaurants, gyms and other ‘experiential’ tenants instead.

Chinese Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Property

Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2016–Grant, Peter
Commercial property sales have slowed in the U.S. this year-but Chinese investors are continuing to plow money into the market.

Shopping Pall Trashes NYC Commercial Real Estate

New York Post, May 16, 2016–Weiss, Lois
The fall-off in sales at US brick-and-mortar stores is starting to hit Manhattan’s pricey commercial real estate.