Tag Archives: Commercial Real Estate

The U.S. commercial real estate (CRE) market continued to look better in the first quarter of 2013, according to CBRE Group, Inc. The latest analysis from the CRE services and investment firm shows vacancy levels dropping or remaining level across all commercial sectors as demand continues to rise. Retail locations and warehouse buildings had their best quarter in terms of vacancy/availability declines in several years "as a result of a more confident consumer," CBRE Group reports.

Banks with higher concentrations of commercial real estate (CRE) lending have higher failure rates, according to a report from the OCC.

Wells Fargo has another jewel to add to its crown: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) ranked the bank as the top commercial/multifamily mortgage originator for 2012. Among other categories: Bank of America Merrill Lynch was the top originator for commercial bank loans, while Red Mortgage Capital, LLC was No. 1 for loans guaranteed by Ginnie Mae or the Federal Housing Administration. Cohen Financial was the top originator for specialty finance.

The Real Estate Roundtable, a group of leaders representing real estate businesses and trade associations, published a release urging lawmakers to take a pro-growth approach to tax reform that considers the commercial real estate (CRE) sector's role in the larger economy. In a letter, the group says a restructuring of taxes should recognize "commercial real estate's vast economic contributions" and include "transition rules" to minimize disruptions to real estate.

The Census Bureau and HUD released the results of its new 2012 Rental Housing Finance Survey, revealing that one in five American households live in multifamily rental buildings. The survey, which was conducted in the winter and early spring of 2012, found that there are nearly 2.3 million multifamily rental properties in the United States, 67 percent of which are owned by households or individuals. Among other findings: 1,337, or 59.4 percent, of multifamily rental properties examined in the survey have at least one mortgage.

Los Angeles-based CBRE Group, Inc., once again earned top honors as the highest-ranked commercial real estate services and investment company in Fortune Magazine, the company announced. In addition, the firm was named the No. 1 commercial real estate brand in Lipsey Company's annual brand survey for the 12th consecutive occasion. The survey measures commercial real estate professionals' perceptions of the industry's leading brands.

Commercial and multifamily mortgage debt in Q4 was up by $21.8 billion, or 0.9 percent, from the previous quarter and up $29.7 billion, or 1.2 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2011.

Major commercial real estate (CRE) sectors continue to improve, albeit at a slow pace, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said in its latest quarterly CRE forecast. The outlook, published by NAR's Research Division, projects national vacancy rates to decline across all commercial sectors in the next year, with the largest drop hitting the office sector as "gradual economic improvement and job creation [drive] absorption of space." The multifamily market is forecast to see the smallest decline in vacancy rates as space remains tight.

Measuring the prices of loans sold through its platform, Boston-based DebtX? found commercial real estate (CRE) loan prices rose over the year in 2012 but ended the year with little change in December.

In a speaking engagement, Federal Reserve Governor Elizabeth A. Duke addressed the plight of community bankers and maintained "the future of community banking is bright."