Commercial lending

Suffolk Bancorp said increased oversight of commercial real estate contributed to — and may have accelerated — its decision to sell to People's United. Other banks could make a similar choice.

In something of a cruel irony, homebuilders are finding constraints on construction financing easing, but little in the way of quality lots on which to put up their houses.

There's been plenty of speculation about insurance companies crowding out commercial mortgage bond investors this year.

American farmers who expanded production using rented land during the commodity boom a few years ago are now struggling to repay loans.

Small-business lenders are scrambling for financing to accommodate a possible real-estate-related borrowing surge once a key federal rule change takes effect next week.

The returns on private commercial mortgage investments held by life insurance companies are on the rise, according to the LifeComps Commercial Mortgage Index.

Banks are increasing their construction lending to builders but access to land acquisition and development loans remains tight.

The stock price of CBL & Associates Properties Inc. sank 13% in early trading after a published report said the U.S. retail landlord is being investigated for accounting fraud.

Paramount Group is closing a real estate debt fund that has $775 million in commitments.

Ares Capital, the publicly traded lender managed by alternative-investment firm Ares Management, will acquire American Capital Ltd. in a deal valued at $3.4 billion.