National

TODAY’S DEALS: Beech Street Closes $22.1M for Orlando Community

Beech Street Capital closes acquisition financing for a 348-unit asset; CBRE Group Inc. secured $23 million for a Fort Worth community; and NorthMarq Capital arranges a $23.85 million mortgage for a fully leased seniors housing property.

USGBC to Offer Free LEED Certification to Groundbreaking Projects in New Markets

In an effort to accelerate sustainable development around the world, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the LEED green building program, announced a new campaign offering free LEED certification to the first projects to certify in the 112 countries where LEED has yet to take root.

Economy Watch: Another Positive Home Price Report

According to CoreLogic, which released its house price index for April, U.S. home prices were up 12.1 percent this April compared with last April.

TODAY’S DEALS: Griffis Residential Enters Las Vegas Market with $41.1M Buy

ARA brokers Griffis Residential’s first Vegas acquisition; Marcus & Millichap arranges the sale of a 696-unit portfolio in Ohio; and Centerline Capital Group completes a $7 million refinance of a Brooklyn, community.

Most Commercial/Multifamily Delinquency Rates Decline in Q1

Delinquency rates for commercial and multifamily mortgage loans generally declined in the first quarter of 2013, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Commercial/Multifamily Delinquency Report.

Economy Watch: Construction Spending Ekes Out Gain

The Census Bureau reported that U.S. construction spending edged up in April by 0.4 percent compared with March, to an annualized rate of $860.8 billion.

TODAY’S DEALS: MAA and Colonial Properties Trust to Merge

MAA & Colonial Properties to merge in an 85,000-unit REIT; Post Properties closes on a $48.6 million buy in Orlando, Fla.; and Meridian Capital negotiates financing for mixed-use and multifamily properties in New York.

Economy Watch: Income Drops Slightly in April

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that personal income was down $5.6 billion, or a bit less than 0.1 percent, in April.

TODAY’S DEALS: Milestone Acquires 346-Unit Apartment in Atlanta

Milestone Apartments REIT invests $46 million in Atlanta; Marcus & Millichap secures a buyer for a Saint Paul community; and Gebroe-Hammer completes Pennsylvania multifamily sales totaling $4.94 million.

Economy Watch: Foreclosures Continue to Drop

CoreLogic reported that there were about 52,000 completed residential foreclosures in the United States in April 2013, down from about 62,000 in April 2012, for a year-over-year decrease of 16 percent.