Originally published on July 12, 2021, by Michael Tucker for MBANewslink.

Consumer retail spending now exceeds pre-COVID levels; investor confidence in retail real estate is also growing, reported JLL, Chicago.

The retail sector–especially non-essentials goods and services–was among the hardest-hit CRE sectors early in the pandemic, but as vaccinations increase and restrictions ease, investor interest is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. The sector captured an 11-percent share of transaction volume year-to-date in 2021, nearly where it was before the 2020 lockdowns.

“Consumer shopping patterns have bounced back due to pent-up demand over the past 12 months,” said Danny Finkle, JLL Senior Managing Director. “People are spending money across the spectrum of retail locations.”

Finkle noted this increased spending goes “hand-in-hand” with investor sentiment, “so as consumers spend more on food and beverage, apparel and other non-essentials and spend time in malls, departments stores and lifestyle centers, capital will follow,” he said.

Originally published on July 12, 2021 by The Economic & Housing Research Group for Freddie Mac.

As we noted in a previous report, there was an observed shift of home purchases in the last decade, even before the onset of COVID-19, from urban areas to suburbs and rural towns. We went on to link several possible socioeconomic factors driving the ongoing trend of household migration away from urban areas. The present study extends those findings using MLS data collected from January 2000 to May 2021 to address additional changes taking place pre- and post-COVID in the residential environmental preferences of households. While the rising trend of suburbanization and movement to rural areas still holds true, the new data also refutes the notion that urban revival is over—at least not in all cities—by illustrating the heterogeneity of the U.S. housing market across its regions.

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Originally published on July 15, 2021 by Michael Tucker for Mortgage Bankers Association.

CRE executives’ market sentiment has improved dramatically from a year ago, reported RCLCO, Washington, D.C.

Originally published midyear 2021 by Marcus & Millichap.

Broader recovery fortifies a positive outlook. Resilient during the health crisis, the medical office segment is in a position of strength. Demographic trends and an anticipated boost in health services are positioned to foster long-term tenant demand that will bolster investor confidence in the sector. Shorter-term, the full-scale reopening of most states’ economies and widespread vaccination efforts have laid the foundation for a broad economic recovery that will fuel continued employment growth in the second half of this year. The expiration of enhanced unemployment benefits in September and many states’ plans to terminate the allowance prior to the deadline have the potential to motivate more individuals to obtain work. Furthermore, the reopening of schools this fall should further aid employers when filling open positions during the final third of the year. The resulting employment growth will raise the number of commercially insured households, lifting health spending and the number of medical visits. Together these factors will fuel health-related hiring and supplement demand for medical office space.

Originally published on July 6, 2021 by Beth Mattson-Teig for WealthManagement.com.

Although the pandemic caused tenants in other real estate sectors to hit the brakes on a new leasing, that was not the case in industrial. The industrial market saw a robust year of leasing activity in 2020 that has carried over into 2021. According to Cushman & Wakefield, net absorption for 2020 reached 268.4 million sq. ft., surpassing the 240.9 million sq. ft. reported at year-end 2019 by 11.4 percent. Demand roared into the first quarter with 82.3 million sq. ft. of net absorption—a record high for the first quarter. Cushman & Wakefield also reported a healthy national average vacancy rate of 4.9 percent and annual rent growth of 7.8 percent.

Originally published on July 1, 2021, for Freddie Mac.

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), showing that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 2.98 percent.

Originally published on June 30, 2021 for Freddie Mac.

A new white paper pdf from Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) Multifamily studies the impact of the end of eviction moratoriums and role of rental assistance as the nation recovers from the economic impact of COVID-19. As eviction moratoriums and renter protections lapse, Freddie Mac is encouraging renters and property owners to proactively understand and seek available rental assistance to help mitigate the remaining economic challenges as the country emerges from the pandemic.

Originally published on June 28, 2021, by Ben Unglesbee for The Retail Dive.

Dive Brief:

• For the first time in 2021, store closures have declined year over year, according to an emailed report from Coresight Research.
• The firm tracked 4,626 closures so far this year, 5.7% fewer than last year at this time. Leading retailers in closures so far is Christopher & Banks, which liquidated its physical footprint in bankruptcy this year. Another recent retail bankruptcy, Francesca's, closed 342 stores, a significant chunk of its footprint.
• Openings to date stand at 4,311, a 41.8% increase over the same period in 2020. The runaway leader in openings is Dollar General, with 1,035 new stores this year, followed by Dollar Tree with 393 openings.

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Originally published on June 24, 2021, by Rebecca Hersher for NPR.org.

More than half of the buildings in the contiguous U.S. are in disaster hotspots, a new study finds. Tens of millions of homes, businesses and other buildings are concentrated in areas with the most risk from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes and earthquakes.

Originally published on June 16, 2021, by Michael Tucker for the Mortgage Bankers Association.

U.S. companies have scaled back their plans to make big cuts to their office portfolios and many now expect their offices to support “collaborative” work in person rather than remotely, said CBRE, Dallas.

Originally published on June 16, 2021, by Michael Tucker for Mortgage Bankers Association.

U.S. commercial real estate investment increased in April, but not all pandemic-related problems are in the rearview mirror, reported Real Capital Analytics, New York.

Originally published on June 16, 2021, by Wesley Shaw for the National Association of Realtors.

Originally published on June 17, 2021, by Erin Osgood for Redfin.

Originally published  on June 10, 2021, by Freddie Mac.

MCLEAN, Va., June 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 2.96 percent.

Originally published on June 8, 2021, by Michael Tucker on the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Originally published on June 8, 2021, by Tom Acitelli for The Commercial Observer.

Call it another benefit of education. 

The Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) is evaluating changes that would make virtual education delivery a permanent option for continuing education. The AQB released a second exposure draft for qualification criteria on June 3. Distance Education Requirements, Section III D (page 4) defines synchronous education and allows for synchronous education to be used in the same manner as on-site classroom courses. The AQB is accepting commits on the exposure draft until July 30. To submit comments, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AQBComments. You may also send comments to [email protected].

Originally published on June 3, 2021 by Rachel Conner for Realtor.com.

Realtor.com® Housing Report: Home Prices Reach New High at $380,000 in May

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Originally published on June 2, 2021, by John Gittelsohn for Bloomberg.

(Bloomberg)—Even as the remote-work era clouds the future for offices, one segment of the business is drawing cash from investors including Blackstone Group Inc. and KKR & Co.

Originally published on May 20, 2021 by Freddie Mac.

MCLEAN, Va., May 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.00 percent.