Category: News and Trends

Although institutional investors continue to rate commercial real estate higher than alternative investments such as stocks, bonds and cash, CRE ratings declined in the first quarter while cash improved, reported Situs RERC, Houston.

DALLAS–As more lenders focus on small-balance commercial and multifamily loans, servicers need to understand how to handle these loans post-closing, analysts said here at the MBA Commercial/Multifamily Servicing and Technology Conference.

Voracious global demand for e-commerce fulfillment and distribution centers fueled a 2.8 percent year-over-year increase in prime logistics rents globally–led by double-digit gains in U.S. coastal markets–reported CBRE, Los Angeles.

Commercial real estate fundamentals should continue to strengthen as the economy maintains its moderate growth path, said Cushman & Wakefield, New York.

Commercial property market supply/demand fundamentals held steady in late 2015 consistent with balanced construction and absorption, reported Moody’s Investors Service, New York.

Though April did not add much to U.S. payrolls, the labor market remains in sound condition and could benefit offices and apartments, said Marcus & Millichap, Calabasas, Calif.

Commercial banks continue to add multifamily mortgages to their balance sheets at a strong clip.

U.S. hotel industry revenue topped $189 billion in 2015, up nearly $14 billion from 2014, reported STR, Hendersonville, Tenn.

The office market slowed slightly in early 2016. But as financial markets stabilized later in the first quarter, office-using job growth accelerated, which could signal stronger tenant demand to come, analysts said.

Commercial real estate construction contracted slightly during the first quarter compared to the previous three quarters but remains healthy, reported Reis, New York.