McDonald’s Won’t Spin Off Real Estate Holdings

Wall Street Journal, Nov. 10, 2015–Jargon, Julie
McDonald’s Corp. won’t spin off its vast U.S. real estate holdings, as some investors had pushed it to do, Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook said.

Multifamily Lending Starting to Level Off

National Real Estate Investor, Nov. 10, 2015–Anderson, Bendix Lenders will keep pouring money into apartment properties over the next two years, originating about the same volume of loans in 2016 and 2017 that they are likely to close in 2015, according to the latest Commercial/Multifamily Real Estate Finance Forecast from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Cushman Hit With Round of Layoffs

The Real Deal, Oct. 30, 2015–Bockman, Rich
Cushman & Wakefield went through a round of layoffs that hit the marketing and research departments in what appears to be fallout from the merger with Chicago-based DTZ earlier this year.

Wharf Street Acquires Majority Stake in Kroll Bond Rating Agency

HousingWire, Nov. 3, 2015–Lane, Ben
Kroll Bond Rating Agency now has a new majority owner, as the credit ratings agency announced Tuesday that one of its minority investors, private-equity firm Wharf Street, acquired a majority stake in the firm.

CMBS Default Rate Declines in Third Quarter: Fitch Ratings

National Mortgage News, Nov. 2, 2015–Peters, Andy
Defaults on commercial mortgage-backed securities declined from the end of the third quarter, compared to the previous quarter, according to Fitch Ratings.

Wells Fargo Risks Being Odd Man Out Under New Rule

Wall Street Journal, Oct. 29, 2015–Tracy, Ryan; Glazer, Emily
New rules to be proposed by the Federal Reserve likely will force the San Francisco bank-more than some of its rivals-to make significant changes to its balance sheet, even though Wells Fargo has fared better than competitors in earlier tests on safety and soundness.

Major Civil Rights Groups Join Push to Recapitalize Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac

Housing Wire, Oct. 29, 2015–Lane, Ben
Several of the largest civil rights groups in the country are joining together to call on the federal government to end the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and recapitalize the agencies, stating that an independent and fully capitalized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can better serve the country’s housing needs.