Apartments Stage a Comeback as Renters Return in Surprising Numbers

Phoenix may not be quite there, but this looks good for the overall picture...read below...

After two years of rising vacancies and slumping rents, apartment owners have reason to be cheerier these days.

According to the latest survey of 169 markets across the U.S. by researcher Reis, the national apartment vacancy rate peaked at a record 8% in the fourth quarter of 2009 and remained unchanged in the first quarter of 2010. Asking rents increased by a scant 0.1% in the first quarter, but that was the first gain since the third quarter of 2008. [...more...]

CRE Prices Ticked Higher in April

The latest numbers from the Moodys/REAL Commercial Property Price Index (CPPI) show that prices continue to move sideways and that a bottom in pricing seems to have formed.

The CPPI shows a return of positive 1.7 percent in April for the all properties national database. The rise comes after a fall in the index in February and March. Ultimately, observers are projecting...[...more...]

Projecting the CMBS delinquency trajectory

More predictions and projections.....

"Because we live in the day-to-day analysis of the actual bricks and sticks — the collateral supporting these loans — and we see things deteriorating further before they get better, especially this year, my position has been that from now through the remainder of 2010 we will see the default rate continue to grow, potentially at a rapid pace," Innaurato said, pointing to "more and more borrowers not only having properties that are showing signs of distress but also more and more borrowers asking for debt release. And not every one of these borrowers is going to be able to negotiate or realize their hopes and expectations." [...more...]