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Favorable Volumes, Tighter Spreads Lead to Upbeat U.S. CRE Lending Market
Commercial real estate lending markets remained on the upswing in Q3 2017 with rising equity prices, limited volatility and tightening spreads, according to the latest research from CBRE. The CBRE Lending Momentum Index, which tracks the pace of U.S. commercial loan closings, declined slightly from the previous quarter, dropping by 4.7% in Q3 2017 to 226.
Despite this decline, Q3 2017 lending volume remained up year-over-year by 16.9%. While overall sales transaction volume is easing, high levels of maturing loans are creating demand for refinancing.
CMBS conduits continued its streak as top lender, leading all other major lenders in Q3 2017. CMBS origination activity accounted for 36% ($27.9 billion) of non-agency loans in the third quarter, matching their market share in Q2 and up 45.3% year-over-year ($19.2 billion in Q3 2016). This increase bumped year-to-date issuance to $66.6 billion, well ahead of 2016’s $49.9 billion pace. CMBS originations have been buoyed by stable pricing and the successful formation of capital to satisfy lender risk-retention requirements
Life companies maintained their standing as the second most popular lending group in Q3 (slightly more than 24%), remaining a stable source of funding for lower-leverage loans.
Bank originations stalled in Q3, accounting for 18% of loan volume—well below their 49% share a year ago. Banks have been increasingly cautious with their loan underwriting, especially on construction and transitional deals.
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- ◦Financing
