Finance Insight

Berkadia’s David Leopold on Tackling the Affordable Housing Crisis

by Sarah Daniels February 5, 2020

It’s no secret America is in a housing crisis, but the problem is easier to identify than it is to tackle. David Leopold, senior vice president and head of affordable housing for Berkadia, believes it can be tackled, however, if the industry’s best and brightest can collaborate on a nationwide strategy. Finance Insight (FI): What is your view on the affordable housing market? Leopold: It’s an exciting time in the affordable housing market. There’s massive demand for affordable housing nationwide, which means new opportunities for innovation and new needs to be fulfilled. There’s also a real sense of urgency and commitment galvanizing players across the industry to pursue innovative solutions that will result in decent, affordable and safe housing in every single community across the country. This extends to developers, lawmakers, real estate professionals and beyond. It’s a tall order, but this work is essential to the well-being of our communities. FI: Speaking of tall orders, what are some of the challenges facing the affordable housing industry? Leopold: Rent control is certainly a hot topic and will remain one in the year ahead. Last year was a significant chapter in the rent control debate, with comprehensive statewide reform enacted in …

February 5, 2020

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Millennials Move the Multifamily Market — But is Their Reign Almost Over?

by Sarah Daniels January 29, 2020

Gregg Gerken, head of U.S. Commercial Real Estate at TD Bank, appreciates what millennials have done for the nation’s multifamily market. Factors contributing to multifamily’s success in recent years include millennials’ desire to live close to where they work and play, their tendency to delay marriage and kids and their social preferences that often involve roommates or the sharing economy. However, millennials are growing up — and many are aging out of the rental market. For many, those delayed life milestones are upon them. Other generations are waiting in the wings, but will they be enough to sustain the current level of multifamily supply and demand? Gerken tackles all of this and more in the Q&A below. Finance Insight (FI): Multifamily has been a strong performer for a while now. Do you expect this to continue in 2020 and beyond, particularly as millennials start to enter their traditional marrying and childbearing years? Gerken: For 2020, multifamily will continue to be a strong performer. When you look at the long-term demographic trends, however, this activity will trail off a bit as the millennial generation starts to age out of the key renter cohort, which is between the ages of 25 and …

January 29, 2020

Jim Flynn, Hunt: Multifamily demand drivers have remained strong...

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Hunt: Multifamily Should Remain a Favored Product Type in 2020

by Jaime Lackey January 21, 2020

James P. Flynn, CEO of New York-headquartered Hunt Real Estate Capital, believes 2020 will continue to provide a strong environment for multifamily lending and transactions. Though this may be good news for borrowers, it does mean competition in the market will also remain strong. Flynn addresses these points and elaborates on ORIX USA’s acquisition of the Hunt Companies’ commercial real estate financing subsidiary in the Q&A below. Finance Insight: What commercial property sector will experience the most activity in 2020, and why? Flynn: Multifamily should continue to be the most active commercial real estate sector in terms of financing activity. The MBA forecasts that multifamily lending will top $395 billion in 2020, a 9 percent increase over 2019 activity. That figure represents nearly 60 percent of the total commercial real estate activity forecast for 2020. With the Fed signaling no change to borrower costs for the year, the consensus seems to be a continued period of interest rates near historic lows. Multifamily owners and operators will continue to take advantage of this environment to rehabilitate, refinance and refine their portfolios. Of course, the other side of the equation is the growth in multifamily demand drivers. These drivers have remained strong, …

January 21, 2020

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NorthMarq: Borrowers Get Creative While Lenders Get Conservative in this Elongated Cycle

by Jaime Lackey February 27, 2019

Jeff Weidell, president of NorthMarq, recognizes there is still plenty of money out there to sustain activity levels in 2019. He also recognizes, however, that lenders are becoming prudent in this extra-long real estate cycle. This has caused borrowers to flex their creative muscles as they fund their projects in the interim period between redevelopment and sale. Weidell notes that bridge financing is extremely active and popular, with many borrowers doing what they can to leverage the entire capital stack as we wait to see where this market is headed. Watch the video for more insights from Weidell about what 2019 will bring to the commercial real estate lending landscape.

February 27, 2019

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TD Bank: Construction Delays have Bolstered the Multifamily Market

by Jaime Lackey February 23, 2019

It may sound counterintuitive, but Gregg Gerken, head of U.S. commercial real estate at TD Bank, believes some of the challenges the multifamily development market has faced have actually benefited the market. He specifically references labor shortages and construction delays. There were concerns in some areas that too much product might come online too fast, hampering absorption and rent growth. But the recent speedbumps have allowed the pipeline to even out a bit, staggering the delivery of new units and preventing overbuilding. Demand still outpaces supply in many markets, which has led to average vacancy rates of around 5 percent and healthy rent growth. Both developers and renters can look forward to new product delivering at a steady pace in 2019. Watch the video to hear takeaways from MBA CREF and 2019 predictions from Gerken.

February 23, 2019

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Bellwether: Borrowing Continues as Confidence Continues

by Jaime Lackey February 21, 2019

There may be uncertainties within the market and larger economy, but Tom Turnage, vice president of Bellwether Enterprise, believes much of the activity on which 2018 hung its hat will continue. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are coming off record years, as are companies like Bellwether. Turnage believes the multifamily and industrial markets will remain active…but so will competition. This means borrowers and lenders must approach this year with creativity and flexibility. Both will be key to success in this lending environment. Watch the video for insights from Turnage on the lending landscape in the coming year.

February 21, 2019

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Berkadia: 2019 Will be a Year of Growth, Resilience

by Jaime Lackey February 21, 2019

Ernie Katai, executive vice president and head of production, and Christopher Philipps, head of small loan originations at Berkadia, believe commercial real estate lending activity will continue with steady momentum through 2019. Katai was admittedly nervous about last year’s interest rate increases, but was happy to see his worry was for naught as the commercial market took it in stride. In Katai’s experience, investors have remained active. Most are willing to accept lower returns, which won’t keep them from buying in 2019. Philipps is focused on future growth. He notes Berkadia’s intention to utilize new small balance loan programs from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to offer a wider spectrum of resources to current clients, while introducing a new pool of borrowers to the firm. Watch the video for more insights from Katai and Philipps.

February 21, 2019

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Hunt: Evolution is the Solution to Today’s Lending Success

by Jaime Lackey February 21, 2019

Chad Thomas Hagwood, senior managing director and Southeast regional manager at Hunt Real Estate Capital, believes times are changing. Hagwood asserts a change in perception is what originally made multifamily such a popular investment years ago. He believes another change is necessary to address our nation’s housing and affordability crises. Hagwood sees manufactured housing as being a partial solution to these challenges. Like the broader multifamily market, this specialty product has suffered from an image problem in the past. While lenders have been willing, borrowers haven’t always been sold on the product. Hagwood is confident that the industry will come around, however, as increased competition leads to creativity — and an opportunity may be staring investors right in the face. Watch the video to hear more about Hagwood’s predictions for 2019.

February 21, 2019

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M&T Realty: Seniors Housing will be a Bright Spot for Lending for Years to Come

by Jaime Lackey February 19, 2019

Seniors housing seemed to rule the roost among attendees at MBA’s CREF 2019. Mark Gould, national production manager at M&T Realty Capital Corporation, thinks he knows why. The obvious answer would be the aging Boomer population, which will continue to require additional services for some time. However, Gould believes it’s more than demographics. He asserts that a tangible evolution has taken place among seniors housing operators that has made these dwellings more attractive to the elderly and their children. As demand shifts, opportunity abounds. Gould believes construction and permanent financing will remain active as these operators continue to perfect their communities. Watch the video for more insights on seniors housing finance from Gould.

February 19, 2019

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Alliant: Communication is a Commodity in Today’s Lending Environment

by Jaime Lackey February 19, 2019

Communication and transparency are always top priorities for commercial lenders and borrowers. Paul Letourneau, manager of commercial lending at Alliant Credit Union, believes these are the true skills lenders should leverage in today’s market. Letourneau knows we’re long in this cycle — and he says that’s not a bad thing. There is still a great need for capital, but with that demand comes the competition among suppliers. This, Letourneau asserts, has caused lenders like credit unions to make sure their relationships with mortgage brokers and sponsors are as strong as possible. The ability to remain competitive while disciplined is no easy task. Letourneau believes this starts with strong communication between all parties. Watch the video for more insights from Letourneau. Alliant Credit Union is a content partner of REBusinessOnline. Click here to view articles written in conjunction with Alliant.

February 19, 2019

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