The lenders polled said that the total volume of commercial and multifamily loans at their firms increased by an average amount of 10.8 percent in 2011

Commercial Lending Climate Improves  

Commercial real estate development firms are looking forward to more improvement in the capital market as more banks and lending institutions grow comfortable with lending. Loan-to-value ratios are still down and many banks are still not lending, preferring instead to build capital, but experts believe signs of a recovery are clear. Low loan rates resulted in a strengthened level of transactions at the close of 2011 and many investors are interested in making deals; however, they are still being selective about where to shop for loans. Banks are still leading the lending pack with 77% of loan originations as insurance firms, private...   read more

• 
  Taxpayers Fund HAMP Enhancement
  The largely unsuccessful Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), which was designed to help ease the loan burdens of struggling homeowners, is getting yet another boost from American... read more
• 
  Citigroup Decision Cuts Lending Volume
  Citigroup is the latest lender among major banks to announce it will stop accepting broker-originated mortgages, meaning the bank will now only deal in loans it makes directly to homebuyers... read more
• 
  UK Cold Snap Causes Property Troubles
  Europe has been struck by cold weather and that means more burst pipes for landlords and tenants in the United Kingdom (UK). The Landlord Syndicate, an organization that provides support... read more
• 
  Australian Home Prices Show Market Promise
  New statistics from Australian Property Monitors indicates home prices in Melbourne edged up 1.1% in the final quarter of 2011, while prices in Sydney remained neutral. Analysts are... read more
• 
  Meaning of Low Long-Term Fed Rates
  Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has decided to provide more transparency in Fed decisions by announcing the long-term plan to keep interest rates low until 2014. Knowing ahead... read more
• 
  Hidden Mountain Retreat In Panama
  Santa Fe, Panama, is located a little over an hour away from the provincial capital of Santiago at an altitude that keeps the temperatures comparably mild, even at midday. The village... read more