National
Economy Watch: FOMC Mulls Monetary Policy Normalization
Monetary policy hasn’t been normal for quite a while now, and investors, economists and other observers have been wondering out loud when that’s going to change.
TODAY’S DEALS: Newly Completed Austin Community Trades Hands
Oden Hughes sells a 2013-built asset in Austin; TD Bank funds a $17.3 million loan for the acquisition of apartment units; abd Boston Capital invests in a Texas LIHTC development.
Economy Watch: Negative Equity Continues to Drop
Zillow has released its latest Negative Equity Report, which says that the national negative equity rate was 18.8 percent in the first quarter of 2014 (that is, the percentage of mortgaged owner-occupied homes with negative equity).
TODAY’S DEALS: NorthMarq Refinances San Diego Apartment Asset
NorthMarq arranges a $52 million refinancing in San Diego; ARA brokers a Texas sale to a Montana buyer; and Dominium acquires an affordable housing community in Florida.
Economy Watch: E-Commerce Retail Continues to Expand
The Census Bureau reported that U.S. e-commerce retail sales for the first quarter of 2014, adjusted for seasonal variation, but not for price changes, was $71.2 billion, an increase of 2.8 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2013.
TODAY’S DEALS: Hamilton Zanze Sells 292-Units in Colorado Springs
ARA brokers a $40.5 million sale in Colorado; HFF arranges construction financing and joint venture equity for a mixed-use office and residential development in Houston; and Walker & Dunlop provides a three-year, cash-out, bridge loan for an assisted living facility.
Johnson-Crapo Housing Finance Reform Legislation Advances
The National Multifamily Housing Council and National Apartment Association have issued a joint statement from NMHC senior vice president of government affairs Cindy Chetti, hailing the Senate Banking Committee’s passage of housing finance reform legislation.
Selling Condo Hotels
New SEC regulations facilitate the sale of condominium hotel units.
Economy Watch: Housing Starts Gain Ground in April
The Census Bureau reported that private housing starts came in at an annualized rate of 1.072 million units in April, a sizable 13.2 percent upswing from March, when starts were an annualized 947,000 units.
TODAY’S DEALS: Milestone Completes $28M Apartment Acquisition in Atlanta
Toronto-based Milestone buys in Atlanta; NorthMarq completes a $27M refinancing and helps a borrower avert prepayment penalty; and Marcus & Millichap, IPA handle a Phoenix apartment sale.