Article: In Booming Real Estate Market, Trusts Going Head-to-Head with Banks. (commercial real estate investment trusts originating commercial mortgages)

The red-hot real estate lending market is attracting a new competitor- commercial mortgage real estate investment trusts.

Commercial mortgage REITs fund themselves by buying commercial mortgage- backed securities, or CMBS. They then acquire mortgages on commercial buildings.

Many commercial REITs originate loans ranging from $5 million to $10 million on existing properties.

REITs have "clearly been a factor in terms of competition on the low end of bidding," said Breck Hanson, head of real estate lending at LaSalle National Bank, Chicago. "Yet we had our biggest production year ever."

The vibrant real estate market has provided enough business ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!