Category: News and Trends

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Housing finance reform remains stalled in Congress, but next year could prove pivotal in the effort to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two senators said this week.

Small-balance loan originations grew 10 percent year-over-year in 2015 to eclipse 2013’s previous peak of $176.2 billion, reported Boxwood Means, Stamford, Conn.

Global retail space under development increased 7.4 percent last year to 451 million square feet, reported CBRE Group, Los Angeles.

After a shaky start in early 2016, office market fundamentals proved steady with supply and demand moving in lock-step by the end of the first quarter, reported JLL, Chicago.

Silver Hill Funding, Coral Gables, Fla., introduced a new Multifamily Streamline Program for small-balance commercial mortgage loans from $250,000 to $1 million that does not require tax returns or 4506-T forms.

The Mortgage Bankers Association, in a letter to HUD, said current FHA loan-level certification rules fall short in providing safeguards for responsible FHA lenders and urged FHA to adopt a “meaningful” quality control program.

Median single-family rental home prices increased faster than owner-occupied home prices, reported HomeUnion, Irvine, Calif.

Single-tenant net lease cap rates for retail and industrial properties reached record lows of 6.18 percent and 7.10 percent respectively in the first quarter, reported Boulder Group, Northbrook, Ill.

Commercial real estate capital markets activity–especially transaction volume–reached a new cyclical high in the fourth quarter, reported Tex-X, Irvine, Calif.

Apartment lease renewal rates reached a 10-year high in February, even as average rents set a record, sector analysts said.