Tag Archives: CMBS

In the fourth quarter of 2012, commercial and multifamily mortgage debt continued to grow, reaching the highest level in four years, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Commercial and multifamily mortgage debt 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, the MBA reported.

Two large loan modifications helped bring down the CMBS delinquency rate, which fell 30 basis points (bps) to 7.61 percent, down from 7.91 percent in January, according to Fitch Ratings. The dollar balance of delinquent loans also sank below the $30 billion mark, a first since February 2010, Fitch stated. The dollar balance of delinquent loans also sank below the $30 billion mark, a first since February 2010, Fitch stated.

When economic times were especially shaky, commercial and multifamily mortgages stood firmly in place compared to other loan types held by banks and thrifts, according to a DataNote from the Mortgage Bankers Association. For example, during the recession, the association noted the amount of commercial and multifamily mortgage debt extended and held by financial institutions remained steady. In addition, commercial and multifamily mortgages had the lowest charge-off rates compared to other loan types.

The volume of underperforming CMBS loans in the hands of special servicers fell to the lowest level since 2009, Fitch Ratings reported. At the end of 2012, the volume of specially serviced CMBS loans decreased to $70.6 billion after peaking at $91.7 billion in 2010, according to the rating agency. Fitch attributed the decrease to a significant drop in the number of loans transferred to special servicing in 2012 and the high number of loan resolutions.

In a blog post, a Freddie Mac executive revealed more than one-third of U.S. households are renters, the largest share since 1997, yet adequate, affordable rental housing is still out of reach for many. According to David Brickman, SVP of multifamily at Freddie Mac, the nation has seen 5.4 million new renter households between 2004 and 2011, and growth is expected to continue. At the same time, Brickman noted more than half of all renters in the country exhaust more than 30 percent of their income on housing.

The market is now poised for many banks to begin unloading nonperforming assets--particularly commercial real estate--in the form of bulk sales, according to Fitch Ratings. Tightening yield spreads in the commercial market, pressure from regulators regarding loss reserve positions, and limited financing will prompt banks to unload nonperforming commercial assets over the next 12 to 18 months, according to the ratings agency.

The national delinquency rate for commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) began the year with another decline, marking the eighth consecutive month of decreases, according to Fitch Ratings. The rating agency, however, noted regional struggles in Georgia. In January, the CMBS delinquency rate fell 8 basis points, ending the month at 7.91 percent. January's CMBS delinquency rate is now at the lowest level since October 2010, when the rate stood at 7.78 percent.

Fannie Mae maintained its position as the largest source for multifamily financing in 2012 after providing $33.8 billion to the sector. The figure translates into 560,000 multifamily units and represents the third highest acquisition year in the company's history. Meanwhile, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported commercial and multifamily lending volume increased by 49 percent on a quarterly and yearly basis in Q4 2012.

As the multifamily sector continues to flourish, Freddie Mac also announced it hit record volume for its multifamily business. In 2012, the GSE supported the multifamily sector with $28.8 billion. The figure represents a 42 percent increase from 20.3 billion in 2011 and is the highest level since 2008, when multifamily business activity reached a record $24 billion.

The delinquency rate for commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) managed to slip below 8 percent before the close of 2012, while the multifamily sector led with the biggest decline for the year, Fitch Ratings reported Friday. In December, the U.S. CMBS delinquency rate declined to 7.99 percent after falling 18 basis points (bps) from 8.17 percent in November, according to Fitch's index.