After an almost record-setting pace of commercial real estate loan originations and sales in 2015, the first three quarters of 2016 saw a significant decrease in new sales activity, and large portfolio sales transactions are down 32 percent through the third quarter year over year. However, many earlier headwinds have dissipated, and the pace with which investors have purchased single-asset properties has declined only 4 percent compared to 2015. A robust pipeline, particularly from national and regional banks, should drive loan originations higher in the fourth quarter and may revive larger sales, but we are anticipating a significant decrease in final volume of sales and originations for this year compared to last. While overall sales are down, the rate of foreign investment in properties has been significantly higher this year at 32 percent of overall sales to date in the U.S., compared to 20 percent in 2015, so we expect the fourth quarter to see its typical year-end increase in property sales and originations but below last year’s nearrecord pace.
The NCREIF National Property Index (NPI) rose 1.77 percent in the third quarter 2016, down from 2.03 percent last quarter and 3.09 percent in the third quarter 2015. Cap rates nudged lower across property types during the third quarter, with industrial and apartment cap rates falling the most (nearly 35 and 40 basis points, respectively). With the exception of retail, cap rates across property types are at or very near historic lows, with cap rates in major markets continuing to be lower than either secondary or tertiary markets, although U.S. cap rates are relatively attractive compared to global markets. Falling cap rates are consistent with the property appreciation we saw during the quarter.
The fourth quarter is usually a time when lenders are rewarded for their patience if they still have capital to deploy. Many of the life companies have hit their allocations for the year and are slowing down their pace of originations through year end. At the same time, the CMBS market is still recovering. This combination will provide for wider spreads for high-quality permanent loans, and should reward lenders willing to increase loan to value on senior financings between 70–75 percent.
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