Briefs: Brookfield-Rouse; MetLife-MassMutual

Brookfield Asset Management, New York, agreed to acquire real estate investment trust Rouse Properties, New York, for $18.25 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.8 billion.

Single-Family Rental Fundamentals Favorable

Single-family rental investors saw healthy income and appreciation returns last year in most markets across the country, reported HomeUnion, Irvine, Calif.

KPMG: Investors Bullish But Cautious

Investors remain optimistic about U.S. commercial real estate, with 91 percent expecting fundamentals to hold steady or improve, reported KPMG, New York.

CBRE: Retailers Expanding Stores Despite E-Commerce

Retailers are expanding stores internationally this year despite growing online shopping, with a greater percentage eyeing growth in the Americas than last year, reported CBRE Group, Los Angeles.

KBRA Identifies $684M in Oil-Exposed CMBS Loans of Concern

After 18 months of falling oil prices, the downturn’s ripple effect spilled over into energy-related commercial mortgage-backed securities loans, said Kroll Bond Rating Agency, New York.

Southeast Dominates SFR Strength

Florida and Louisiana are home to the top five single-family rental markets in the country, reported RentRange, Westminster, Colo.

JLL: Flight to Quality Benefits U.S.

A “flight to quality” mentality has spurred record capital flows into U.S. commercial real estate, reported JLL, Chicago.

Office Forecasts Diverge Slightly

The office market saw both rent and occupancy gains in late 2015, but analysts diverge slightly on the sector’s outlook for the rest of this year.