American Homes 4 Rent, American Residential Properties Complete Merger

HousingWire, Mar. 1, 2016–Lane, Ben
In a move that creates a giant in the single-family rental space, American Homes 4 Rent and American Residential Properties announced Tuesday that the companies finalized their merger, which was first announced in December.

How Low Will Interest Rates Go?

Washington Post, Feb. 26, 2016–Mui, Yian Q.; Marte, Jonelle
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s index of refinance activity jumped 16 percent in just one week this month as mortgage rates hit their lowest point this year. Rates have since moderated but are still well beneath what economists had projected.

Apartment-Building Boom Looks Set to Ease

Wall Street Journal, Feb. 27, 2016–Kirkham, Chris
Apartment construction has been a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster recovery of the nation’s housing market over the last six years. Now economists say the tide might be turning away from apartments and toward single-family homes.

Hilton Says It’s Getting Out of the Real Estate Business

Reuters, Feb. 26, 2016
Waldorf Astoria hotels owner Hilton Worldwide Holdings will spin off most of its real estate assets into a real estate investment trust, joining a list of companies turning to the tax-efficient structure to maximize shareholder returns.

Has The Bubble Burst In Commercial Real Estate?

Forbes, Feb. 24, 2016–Howe, Neil
After months of optimism, commercial real estate forecasters have come back down to earth. The tonal shift is warranted: While rents and prices are soaring in urban areas, CRE is stagnating or even declining in terms of new investment and in most non-urban sectors.

Five Multifamily Markets Recommended for Exits

National Real Estate Investor, Feb. 19, 2016–Bell, Diana
Though analysts expect strong momentum in the multifamily sector this year, a handful of markets bear watching. In these markets economic indicators including employment and wage growth are stagnating and vacancy and rent growth are not in tune.

Despite Volatility, Freddie Mac’s 4Q Net Income Jumps to $2.2B

HousingWire, Feb. 18, 2016–Swanson, Brena
Freddie Mac recorded fourth quarter net income of $2.2 billion, a jump after net loss of $475 million for the third quarter of 2015, which marked the first loss in four years. The government-sponsored enterprise also posted a comprehensive income of $1.6 billion, up $2.1 billion from a comprehensive loss of $501 million for the third quarter of 2015.