Commercial lending

CIT Group, the commercial lender run by John Thain, found a material weakness in the accounting of a mortgage business, causing the company to delay the filing of its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has agreed to acquire Apollo Residential Mortgage.

Fannie Mae touted its financial support to the small multifamily loan market last year, saying it provided $1.6 billion in financing to the sector.

There is concern that a decline in condo pricing could create loan problems similar to those that cropped up before the financial crisis. Bankers in the area, however, believe foreign investors would take the biggest hit.

The Chicago, Des Moines and Cincinnati FHLBs have grown their life insurance company membership the most in recent years.

American International Group is expanding bets on property lending and safe fixed-income securities after hedge funds investments soured.

Strong demand for rentals will keep pace with new construction over the next few years, the government-sponsored enterprise says.

Redwood Trust said it will stop originating commercial mortgages for securitization and focus solely on investing in bonds backed by commercial mortgages originated by others.

The price of the loans underlying commercial mortgage-backed securities declined 210 basis points during 2015, amid a broad rise in interest rates, according to DebtX.

Funding needed to construct houses is fairly plentiful, but homebuilders are still having trouble lining up financing to purchase and develop land. As a result, buildable lots are in short supply — and far more expensive.

Hotel property owners will discover that interest rates have climbed, if they try to refinance loans this year, Fitch Ratings said.

A number of bankers used quarterly earnings calls to assure investors that they are carefully monitoring their exposure to commercial real estate at a time when regulators are expressed concern about eroding underwriting standards.

Loan originations for commercial and multifamily properties climbed in the fourth quarter compared to last year, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Fourth-quarter profit improved at Investors Bancorp, as the Short Hills, N.J., company originated more multifamily, business and commercial real estate loans

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is reducing the mortgage insurance premiums it charges on Federal Housing Administration multifamily loans to encourage the renovation of affordable housing units and promote energy-efficient upgrades.

Umpqua Holdings in Portland, Ore., posted stronger quarterly earnings because of an increase in mortgage banking fees and lower costs.

Barclays Plc is exiting residential mortgage and commercial mortgage backed securities trading and asset-backed derivative in the U.S., according to a memo seen by Bloomberg. Operations will be focused on origination-led ABS and primary CMBS.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts in Arlington, Va., has formed a partnership with Hospitality Funding to provide financing for hotel development projects.

Life insurance companies posted a higher return on their private commercial mortgage investments in the third quarter of 2015, compared to the second quarter, according to LifeComps.

The availability of debt and equity financing declined during the most recent quarter, according to the National Multifamily Housing Council.