Lender activity in commercial real estate has been robust as ever. Even at this point in the cycle, activity is strong among life insurers, banks, the GSEs as well as other alternative providers such as REITs and debt funds.
Just how robust has been this lending activity? The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that the momentum seen in 2018's record year of borrowing and lending continued in the first quarter of this year with volumes higher for nearly every property type. Industrial (73%), health care (41%), hotels (14%), retail (9%) and multifamily (9%) all saw year-over-year gains by dollar volume.
Strong economic and CRE fundamentals have been driving much of this activity. But so too have the efforts of the lenders themselves. Most notably, lenders have kept their underwriting at conservative levels in this cycle, with LTVs and debt service ratios remaining at moderate levels.
For the next installment of GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum’s Influencers series, we are looking to shine a spotlight on lenders of CRE capital. We will profile not only the pioneers who have made an impact with their individual efforts, but also teams and groups within these lender organizations and as well as entire companies or entities that have become critical to the industry.
Be it through their contributions to the industry, the vast successes they’ve racked up in completing deals, or the innovations and best practices they’ve introduced to the business, these are Commercial Real Estate’s LENDER INFLUENCERS in FINANCE.