The Lede

Multi-Housing News, Mar. 6, 2017--Sanyu KyeyuneHunt Mortgage Group President & CEO James Flynn caught up with Multi-Housing News at the Mortgage Bankers Association CREF/Multifamily Housing Convention & Expo in San Diego to share his views on regulatory reform, competition among capital providers and the future of multifamily lending.

National Mortgage Professional, Mar. 10, 2017--Phil HallIn a letter to leaders of the Senate and House, the Mortgage Bankers Association announced its backing of S. 563 and H.R. 1422, both named the Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act.

Washington Post, Mar. 10, 2017--Thomas HeathFor decades, department stores such as Macy's and Sears have anchored sprawling suburban malls. Now as their business has languished and they board up shop, another sort of tenant is trying its luck in their place: grocers.

National Real Estate Investor, Mar. 12, 2017--Bendix AndersonNew construction is hurting the hotel business in markets across the country.

Forbes, Mar. 14, 2017--Ellen ShengChinese investors were the single largest group of foreign investors in commercial real estate in the U.S. last year, with deal volumes reaching a record high of $19.2 billion, up 10 percent from $17.3 billion in 2015.

The Home Story (Fannie Mae), Mar. 8, 2017--Cathie Ericson"Listen to your own voice and do not dismiss your thoughts," says Marcia Davies, COO of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

HousingWire, Mar. 9, 2017--Kelsey RamirezThis cut would go towards Trump's goal to cut domestic spending by $54 billion, and could decrease HUD's budget 14% to $40.5 billion in fiscal 2018, which begins in October.

Bloomberg, Mar. 9, 2017--Oshrat CarmielRents fell last month for Manhattan apartments of all sizes, the first across-the-board price decline in at least four years, as a construction boom brought more buildings to market and allowed some tenants to leave for bigger or newer units.

HospitalityNet, Mar. 13, 2017--Brett E. Russell; Desiree M. FlanaryDavid Stevens, MBA president and CEO, put it starkly: "If you thought '86 was a big deal, I encourage you to buckle up"--a reference to the 1986 Tax Reform Act and its ill effects on commercial real estate well into the next decade.

World Property Journal, Mar. 14, 2017--Michael GerrityAccording to the Mortgage Bankers Association's most recent Commercial/Multifamily Delinquency Report, delinquency rates for commercial and multifamily mortgage loans remained low in the fourth quarter.

Wall Street Journal, Mar. 14, 2017--Esther Fung (subscription)As more shoppers tote smartphones while browsing in stores, shopping-center owners are tracking their movements and spending habits to try to figure out how best to arrange stores and mall layouts to boost shopping activity.

JC Penney's planned closure of up to 140 stores and two distribution centers will weigh on some commercial mortgage-backed securities loans, said Fitch Ratings, New York.

The prospect of increased economic growth and less regulation drove investor sentiment for commercial real estate slightly higher despite potentially rising interest rates, reported CBRE, Los Angeles.

U.S. monthly apartment rents held steady in February as their growth rate trends back to the long-term average, reported Yardi Matrix, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Average prices for single-family rental investment homes rose to $227,000 in January, up 8.7 percent year-over-year, reported Homeunion, Irvine, Calif.