The Lede

Forbes, July 12, 2017--Champaign WilliamsA decade ago debt funds were the last option for borrowers looking for capital to get a project off the ground. Today these funds stand toe-to-toe with some of the country's largest banks--and it is not because traditional lenders have ceased to take on commercial real estate debt.

Forbes, July 10, 2017--Sam DiedrichAs an income-oriented sector, real estate investment trusts can be negatively affected by interest-rate increases. As interest rates rise, all else being equal, the income produced by REITs at the current stock price is worth less, and so prices generally fall in order to increase the yield of those stocks relative to other income producing instruments.

Business Insider, July 7, 2017--Avery Hartmans Internet giant Facebook wants to build housing, retail stores, a hotel and more at its corporate headquarters--in short, Facebook wants to build its own town.

Commercial Property Executive, July 7, 2017--Gail KalinowskiNatixis issued the first green-specific tranche in a CMBS to refinance part of Ivanhoé Cambridge and Callahan Capital Properties' $358.6 million acquisition loan for New York City's 85 Broad St.

National Real Estate Investor, July 12, 2017--Eli RazinOn the heels of Amazon's recently announced acquisition of Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, owners and lenders of Whole Foods-anchored properties are waiting to see what Amazon will do with the latest purchase the e-commerce giant has placed in its shopping cart.

Single-tenant net lease sector cap rates increased across all asset classes in the second quarter, reported Boulder Group, Northbrook, Ill.

Only 25 percent of CRE executives said their firms incorporate property tax management into their investment strategy, which increases underperformance risk at both asset and portfolio levels, said Altus Group LTD, Toronto.

The Mortgage Bankers Association released a new MBANow video featuring MBA members who discuss their experiences on Capitol Hill at the recent MBA National Advocacy Conference.

Apartment rents have increased across the country, but market-rate rents for new renters increased more than rents for renewing tenants, reported Zillow, Seattle.

New hotel construction continued at a "rapid" pace in California and Chicago has the greenest commercial real estate in the nation. Details below.

New commercial real estate construction activity should improve "moderately" in 2017 and 2018, although at a slower pace than in recent years, said Fitch Ratings, New York.

Economic activity expanded "slightly to moderately" in June while commercial real estate activity was flat to expanding in most areas, the Federal Reserve Board's Beige Book reported yesterday.

Apartment rents have increased across the country, but market-rate rents for new renters increased more than rents for renewing tenants, reported Zillow, Seattle.

Apartment rents have increased across the country, but market-rate rents for new renters increased more than rents for renewing tenants, reported Zillow, Seattle.