Market Watch: May 2009

Lending activity tightens in April; Seattle a bright spot for commercial real estate lending

As spring begins a fresh start for Mother Nature, we see the commercial real estate market continuing to deteriorate. Many lenders are tightening their underwriting standards and continuing the trend to lend conservatively, to proven borrowers, on well located and performing commercial real estate properties. Lenders are underwriting higher cap rates, or the ratio of net operating income to market value, cutting a property’s value and impacting loan amounts. Loan-to-value ratios today are commonly in the 60%-65% range, rather than the 75%-80% range of 24 months ago. Because many lenders have less money to lend than in previous periods, they are becoming more and more selective. Most deals that have any issues regarding vacancy, trending performance, or lease rollover are immediately getting kicked out. We continue to see loans that come due and refinancing is next to impossible due to perceived risks from the lender and an overleveraged existing loan.

The 10 year US Treasury, a benchmark for commercial real estate lending, climbed more than 45 basis points in April. As the government continues to increase the supply of treasuries in the market, we have seen this rate climb almost 90 basis points since the beginning of the year. Various sources report that the "target" for the 10 Year Treasury rate is about 3.0% to keep credit flowing through the economy. The Fed continues to purchase treasuries to keep rates low and combat inflation, but seems to be losing the battle given the recent rise in treasuries.

Though the capital markets have been challenging, we are still signing up and closing loans for well located and moderately leveraged deals all over the Northwest. Our correspondent Life Insurance Company lenders have money to lend and see the Pacific Northwest as one of the strongest markets in the country to invest in. Rates are still near historic lows for the right deal. Now is the time to talk with an NBS Finance Officer to secure financing for your apartment, office, retail, or industrial property.

April 2009 Treasury Highlights:
• April 10 Year Treasury High: 3.12% on April 30th
• April 10 Year Treasury Low: 2.66% on April 1st

1st Quarter ‘09 Local Market Vacancy by Property Type:
• Apartment: King Co. - 6.8%, Pierce Co. - 6.0%, Snohomish Co. - 6.8%
• Industrial: Seattle - 2.28%, So. King Co. - 4.21%, Snohomish Co. - 8.56%
• Retail: Seattle - 3.4%, Eastside - 4.9%, Southend - 6.1%
• Office: Seattle - 11.9%, Eastside - 14.1%

NBS Financial’s Wood Secures $2.725M for Fife Industrial Building

NBS Financial Services Executive Vice President Michael Wood has secured $2.725 million in financing for Fife Landing East – Building B in Fife, Washington.

The 84,740 sf building, in the Kent Valley industrial area in Pierce County, is fully occupied by a single tenant on a short-term lease, which can make it difficult to secure a loan, Wood said. But the overall stability of the industrial market, the quality of the building, and NBS Financial’s correspondent relationship with the lender, Symetra Life Insurance Company, made the loan possible.

“Even in these challenging financial markets, our correspondent life insurance company lenders still have capital available for deals like this, where you have institutional quality real estate, a strong real estate market and experienced sponsors with true equity in the property,” Wood said.

NBS Financial was Symetra’s top correspondent nationwide in 2008, and has a long-term working relationship with the company. Wood provided the original loan for Fife Landing East – Building B when it was built in 2001.

Griggs, Ryan Secure $1.8M for Salem Health & Rehab Center

NBS Financial Services' Ken Griggs and Paddy Ryan have secured $1.8 million in financing for the Evergreen Windsor Health & Rehabilitation Center in Salem, OR. The 20,720 sf senior living facility has 100 beds, is 20,720 sf and provides both short- and long-term care.

Griggs is an Executive Vice President and Ryan is an Associate Finance Officer in NBS Financial's Portland office. View their profiles here.

Hering, Jr. Garners $25M in Funding for Three Apartment Complexes

NBS Financial Services Executive Vice President Blake Hering, Jr. has secured $25 million in financing for three apartment communities in the Portland metropolitan area since the beginning of the year.

Lender State Farm Life Insurance Company provided $10.5 million for the 235-unit Squire’s Court Apartments in Clackamas, $10 million for the 240-unit Riverwood Heights Apartments in Tigard, and $4.5 million for the 124-unit Cedar Square Apartments in Cedar Hills.

State Farm is one of several active sources for NBS Financial Services.

“In a glacially slow-moving commercial debt market, this is a positive sign that some lenders have remained active and competitive for high quality assets with well-positioned ownership,” Hering, Jr. said.

Market Watch: April 2009

During late March, the supply of US Treasuries dramatically increased as $98 billion in five and seven year term notes were issued.

Shortly after the supply increase, the Fed began buying up treasuries in an attempt to control interest rates from skyrocketing. In recent days, approximately $15 billion has already been spent at treasury auctions for 3, 7, and 10 year notes. Showing some positive feedback, treasury rates trended downward toward the end of the month. In this historic low-rate environment, the Fed’s purchase of treasury notes is a key component to keeping inflation under control.

A toxic asset purchase plan was introduced in March to aid financial institutions with getting non-performing assets off their books to stave off future "mark to market" write-downs. According to the plan, the Treasury could spend up to $1 trillion removing these "toxic assets" from the company’s balance sheet. Government money would be coupled with private investment, sharing in the risk/reward as these loans mature. The market found comfort in the Fed’s plan as the Dow finished the month up almost 20% from recent lows.

In addition, there have been conversations regarding the modification of "mark to market" accounting rules. This could counteract the Fed’s asset purchase plan by making it more attractive for bankers to hold onto non-performing loans, however, it may also relieve financial institutions from taking future write-downs on their already heavily discounted portfolios.

Commercial mortgage rates have come in slightly for the month, thanks to sharp treasury declines, as US treasuries are used as a ‘benchmark’ for commercial mortgage pricing. Lenders continue to be conservative but are active in today’s market. We are currently closing 5, 7, & 10-year fixed-rate loans with correspondent life insurance company lenders as well as other sources including Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac.

March 2009 Treasury Highlights:
• March 10 Year Treasury High: 3.02% on March 1st
• March 10 Year Treasury Low: 2.54% on March 18th
• March 10 Year Treasury Month-End: 2.66%

Issues Affecting Commercial Mortgage Rates:
• Steep declines in US Treasury Rates even as Government increases supply
• Swap spreads holding steady after Treasury decline, keeping Interest Rates near all time lows
• Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac extremely competitive on Multi-Family financing with Rates for a 10 Year Fixed Rate Loan well under 6%
• Local banks feeling pressure as Fed’s issue "stress tests" on their real estate portfolios
• Stringent underwriting has Lenders trending rent and expense projections based on the economic outlook insuring against future portfolio defaults

NBS Releases First Quarter Reports for Portland Metropolitan Area

NBS has released First Quarter 2009 market reports. These reports cover the office, industrial, retail and multifamily product types, as well as a general overview of the economy. They can be found on our Web site here.