Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Some see bargains but others warn about getting carried away

But are they being overly optimistic? After all, a typical REIT mutual-fund is down more than 7% so far this year. That makes it the worst performing domestic stock category in 2007 by a wide margin, according to Morningstar Inc.

"Opportunities for long-term investors who are underweight real estate have certainly opened in recent months," said Jim Trowbridge, co-manager of AIM Global Real Estate Fund. Bargains are relative, however. Even after this year's dismal performance, a typical REIT fund has produced an average annualized return close to 20% in the past five years. In the same amount of time, an average U.S. diversified large-cap core fund has generated only about half as much.
As a result, REIT funds aren't trading at the low end of their historic valuations. AIM's Trowbridge estimates that price-earnings ratios for the group are probably about midway between their long-term low and high valuations.

"We're seeing a disconnect now between long-term financial strength of some of these companies and how the market perceives their value," he said. "But we expect volatility to remain with us for awhile. It's probably going to continue to be a fluid situation."
In the short-term, credit worries are still a concern in real estate markets. As loan standards tighten and fewer speculators can borrow money to invest in commercial paper, some analysts caution that business-minded REIT investors could turn away in droves.
So far, the subprime meltdown has mainly spread to residential segments. David Copp, co-manager at TIAA-CREF Institutional Real Estate Fund points out that investing in commercial sectors is a lot different than investing in housing.

As a result, he doesn't expect panic among businesses tied to home buying to significantly depress commercial property markets.

"On the margins, some commercial real estate investors are highly leveraged and aren't going to be in the market looking for more properties," Copp said. "But those are mainly undercapitalized, short-term speculators."

The wild card is general macro economic conditions. If those slide faster than anticipated, commercial property demand could weaken.

Discounts to property values

A key metric with valuing real estate stocks is comparing price movements to changes in a firm's operating income. Right now, Copp estimates that those levels show a typical REIT fund's net asset value trading at about a 20% discount. That value is based on how much a portfolio would generate if liquidated on the open market today.

"After this year's sell-off, investors are essentially paying about 80 cents on every dollar for a high-quality REIT fund's underlying assets," Copp said.

Historical averages for the sector show such discounts have reached around 30% against present-day property valuations, he added. "Looking at past cycles, you might be able to buy shares of leading REITs for as low as 70 cents to 75 cents on the dollar. But that's about as low as we're used to seeing in this industry," Copp said.

That's why he believes that fund investors with underweight REIT positions according to their long-term asset allocation plans start considering wading back into the asset class.
So does Trowbridge. "This actually seems to be a pretty opportunistic point for long-term fund investors to selectively start dollar cost averaging into the market," he said.

But check your long-term asset allocation plan, Trowbridge emphasizes. "With the level of volatility in the market now, if you're overweight real estate, you might want to remain fairly cautious," he added.

Showing resilience
The sector has shown some resilience lately. When the crisis in residential lending erupted in July, the average REIT fund's tumble was roughly in line with financial stocks as a whole. But in the past month through last week, an average REIT-related fund has lost less than 1.5% in total returns, according to TrimTabs Investment Research. Stock funds as a group have dropped an average of 4%-plus.

Investors looking for a New York Hard Money Commercial Loan can still go to Five Stars Mortgage.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Commercial Hard money Loans

Hard money comes in many varieties; one of the most common is mortgage loans especially commercial loans. Using the owner’s equity in real estate, hard money lenders generally lend up to 65% - 70% of the value of real estate property. In general, hard money mortgage loans are used for commercial purposes. However, they can also be applied to residential properties. In this instance, the loan is generally referred to by its more politically correct name: a non-conforming mortgage.

Lending criteria for hard money mortgages are fairly simple. The loan is based on the value of the ‘subject property’ – either real estate owned or about to be purchased by a borrower. If the borrower is buying property, the "value" of the real estate is defined as the actual purchase price of the property. If the borrower needs hard money for a refinance situation, the ‘value’ is determined by a written real estate appraisal. If you are looking for a hard money refinance loan, the lender will want to know when you purchased the property and what you paid for it. If you bought a property a month ago for a specific sum, the lender will be disinclined to lend you more than that purchase price.

Once you own the property for about a year, especially if you have put some money, sweat equity, or both into the property, you can get a new appraisal and get a loan based on the new, improved value of the property. This is called ‘seasoning.’ Be sure you have seasoned your property before going out for a refinance mortgage at a significantly higher value figure than what you paid for it. It is possible to obtain a refinance or Hard Money Commercial loan without the standard seasoning requirments however.

Orlando Hard Money Commercial Loan experts Five Stars Mortgage offering outstanding aggressive pricing and products.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Commercial Paper Market Still Not Working

In a subscription article on August 21, the Wall Street Journal takes a hard look at the commercial paper market, and why many experts feel the Fed's efforts of last week have not entirely resolved the issues at hand. According to the article:"The Fed on Friday cut its discount rate by half-percentage point in an attempt to alleviate the pressure on banks that found their access to the commercial paper market shut off amid a crisis of investor confidence."

Not seeing a quick fix in site, the commercial paper market is going to be something to keep a close watch on in the months ahead. The article adds, "As the asset-backed commercial paper market continues to reel from the credit crunch that has upended confidence throughout financial markets, investors have channeled their funds into short-term Treasurys that carry a maturity of six-months or less."Here at Five Stars Mortgage, our new Hard Money Commercial Loans are designed to help you make sense of the market changes and plan for your very best long term strategy in the commercial real estate market.

California Commercial Lender Five Stars Mortgage continues to offer leading edge financing solutions Nationwide.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Fitch Upgrades Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust

Fitch has upgraded Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2005-WHALE 5, commercial mortgage pass-through certificates, as follows: -- $7.9 million class J to 'AAA' from 'BBB+'; -- $11.3 million class K to 'AA+' from 'BBB'; -- $10.8 million class L to 'BBB+' from 'BBB-'. In addition, Fitch affirms the following classes: -- Interest-only class X-1B at 'AAA'; -- Interest-only class X-2 at 'AAA'. Classes A-1, A-2, X-1A, X-3, X-4, X-KHP1, X-KHP2, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, KHP-1, KHP-2, KHP-3, KHP-4, KHP-5, OKS, DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, and MS, and AG have been paid in full.

The upgrades are due to increased credit enhancement resulting from the repayment of two loans, Gallery at Fulton and the New Mexico Mall, since Fitch's last rating action in March 2007. As of the August 2007 distribution date, the pool's collateral balance has declined 97.7% to $30 million from $1.29 billion at issuance. Of the original 14 loans in the transaction, only the Lightstone Pool 2 remains. Fitch reviewed the servicer provided year-end (YE) 2006 operating statement analysis report for the Lightstone Pool 2 loan. Based on the loan's overall improved performance since issuance, due to repositioning efforts at both malls and renovations at the Brazos Mall, the loan maintains its investment grade credit assessment.

Five Stars Mortgage providing Apartment Building Commercial Loans throughout Florida and Nationwide today. All Florida No Doc Commercial Loans are underwritten with causion.

The YE 2006 Fitch stressed A-note debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) has improved to 2.15 times (x) from 1.53x at issuance. The loan matured on January 9, 2007 and is currently in the first of its three one-year extension options. At the time of maturity, the Brazos Mall was still undergoing renovations and both malls continue to be repositioned within their markets. The Lightstone Pool 2 loan (100%) is secured by two regional malls: the Shawnee Mall in Shawnee, OK, and the Brazos Mall in Jackson, TX. The Shawnee Mall is anchored by Sears and the Brazos Mall is anchored by JC Penney's and Sears. As of May 2007, occupancy at the Shawnee Mall is slightly down to 56% from 65% at YE 2006, but remains stable compared to 57% at issuance. As of May 2007, occupancy at the Brazos Mall has improved to 83% from 79% at YE 2006 and 73% at issuance. Fitch's rating definitions and the terms of use of such ratings are available on the agency's public site, www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies are available from this site, at all times. Fitch's code of conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, compliance and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the 'Code of Conduct' section of this site.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Commercial paper market doesn't have access to new liquidity

The Fed cut the discount rate in order to bolster confidence and kick-start trading in the stock market, but it has no meaningful action on the commercial paper market, said Michael Englund, principal director and chief economist with Action Economics LLC.

"A liquidity crisis is what's underlying the commercial paper crunch," Englund said, "and [commercial paper] doesn't have access to the discount loans."

Many large industrial companies, such as Dow Jones Industrial members Caterpillar Inc. and General Electric Co, often use commercial paper to help fund customers purchasing their equipment, as well as for day-to-day operations such as payroll.

Earth-moving equipment maker Caterpillar had about $4.58 billion in commercial loan paper debt as of its most recent Securities and Exchange filing, while General Electric which makes everything from turbines to power plants, has about $69.5 billion in U.S. commercial paper debt, and another $28.5 billion in non-U.S. debt, as of June 30.

Other companies with large commercial mortgage paper debt include Deere Co. The volatility of the credit market, particularly within commercial paper, will entice lenders to raise prices on their loans, and those costs will likely be passed on to companies borrowing to make large equipment purchases.

"The problem is the debt market and how it will have a broad affect on growth, in the long-term view, and industrial equipment [prices] will naturally rise in that kind of environment until the Fed lowers the fund rate," said Rob Goodman, director of investments for Fairpoint Asset Management in Cleveland, Ohio. Meanwhile, margins can expect to be squeezed, he said.
Earlier Friday the Fed lowered the discount rate to 5.75% from 6.25% in what analysts are calling a "symbolic gesture." The discount rate is primarily used by troubled banks, and allows the federal government to control the money supply and offer stability to financial markets

Florida Commercial Loan, Florida Hard Money Comercial Loans, and bridge financing are still being offered at reasonable rates via consultant Five Stars Mortgage in Florida.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

JPMorgan CMBS Classes Downgraded

Four classes of J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp. commercial mortgage pass-through certificates, series 2004-CIBC8, have been downgraded by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services. The downgrades were as follows: class J, from BB-plus to BB; class K, from BB-minus to B-plus; class L, from B to B-minus; and class M, from B-minus to CCC-plus. S&P also upgraded two classes and affirmed the ratings on 14 classes from the same transaction. The rating agency attributed the downgrades to a $13.9 million principal loss due to the liquidation of the Parkwoods Apartments loan secured by a multifamily property in Dallas. "The special servicer is attempting to recover additional proceeds on the liquidated asset by pursuing a breach of claim against the originator and claims against the former sponsor," S&P reported.

Texas Hard Money Commercial Loans still being offered Nationwide through Five Stars Mortgage.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

SBA breaks records in commercial financing loans

The Small Business Administration reports that the agency set records for SBA-backed commercial financing loans in fiscal 2006, with new highs in the number of loans to small businesses and their total value.

SBA Administrator Steven Preston said SBA had backed 100,197 loans worth $19.1 billion under its two primary small-business loan programs during the 12 months ending Sept. 30.
Both the number of loans and the dollar amount are single-year records for the agency, topping the previous records set in fiscal 2005, when SBA provided a net of 94,554 loans worth $18.1 billion under the same two programs. Preston said it was the sixth consecutive year of increased loan figures.

According to SBA, one-third of the loans in fiscal 2006 went to minority borrowers, 32 percent to start-up businesses, 22 percent to businesses owned by women and 21 percent to businesses located in rural areas.

Increases were recorded in loans to African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans.

“These numbers reflect the confidence American entrepreneurs have in the U.S. economy as well as in the SBA lending program that backs their loans,” Preston said. “I am thankful to our lenders and resource partners for their steadfast commitment to small businesses.”

California Commercial Loan to small businesses provided by Five Stars Mortgage are still available.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Commercial Mortgage Firm For Sale

Blackburne & Brown Mortgage Company, Incorporated (“the Company”) is a licensed California real estate brokerage company involved primarily in the hard money commercial mortgage business.

Our traditional niche is making long term, permanent loans to borrowers who cannot qualify for a bank loan. Normally their credit is too blemished, perhaps from a divorce, or their company is not making enough money on paper to qualify at the bank. It is a good market because our borrowers have significant equity in their commercial properties, and these buildings are already standing and completed. All of our loans are first mortgages.

The company can also make bridge loans, loans to renovate existing commercial buildings, or new construction loans. Nothing in our licensing prohibits the company from making home loans in the future.

We get our lending funds from accredited and near-accredited private investors residing in California. These loans are almost always fractionalized, meaning that we will usually place 10 to 30 different private investors per loan. By raising money is smaller denominations – typically $10,000 to $50,000 each – our cost of funds is lower. The private investors in our loans own their interests as tenants-in-common with each other. The company does not guarantee these investments in any way.

Our largest single investor is Blackburne & Brown Mortgage Fund I (“the Fund”), a $26 million blind mortgage pool operated as a limited partnership. The Fund has been in existence for over 12 years and has a perfect record of no principal losses. The Fund currently pays its investors 6.375%. The Company serves as the General Partner of the Fund. The Fund can easily be increased in size if a sufficient number of good loans can be found.

The Company earns its money through two methods – loans fees of typically 2.5 points per loan and from loan servicing fee. The Company earns on average a whopping 190 basis points on a portfolio of around $45 million. Therefore the company enjoys a passive loan servicing revenue of $800,000 or so per year, plus management fees on any REO’s and a management fee of one-half percent on the Fund.

Florida commercial loan and florida hard money loans are available to all business in the area.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Broker Commercial Large Learn Loan

The rate of interest however may be a minor higher for such corporate family. This can be in the form of occupational equipment or stock, subjective or further properties, busy technology, or any skill with a substantial value. Weeks go by, opportunities are lost, and still the outcome remains unknown. Business relations be sure to do late disbursement, arrears, recompense nonattendance or district patio judgments against their famous person are approved commercial commercial loans if they have a settlement plan in home. So a business persona can take commercial professional loans for procurement a shop, roadhouse, pub, physical condition lavatory, bar, retail passage etc. So loans are to be expected part of any corporate, remarkably if commercial purpose is elaborate. Compare different lenders much for individual interest tax to find out a apposite lender. When this happens, the applicant has no new high-quality than to commencement the mind-numbing commercial home equity loan loan approval process over yet again. US commercial bridging loan use guidelines similar to those used when concern for a suburban loan. The lender takes the hopeful information, runs it assumed their guidelines and cliché and after in the making many donkey's years, a evaluation is made to each certify or deny the loan. If you've ever everyday for a loan, you're usual with the mountain of form-filling you are required to complete during the method.

Whats the most economical way to secure a US Commercial Mortgage' Work with a mortgage dealer who dedicate yourself to in this area. Commercial commercial loans are specifically crafted loans that are as long as to occupational individuals who are mien for ordering some property for commercial use. So you had better have a fit and persuasive professional plan to show as to where and how you are obtainable to finance the loan expanse and how you are to settle up the loan. The property must have an adequate appraised value. It is evenhandedness in the property placed as precautions that determines the loan sum. The applicant must be responsible for a good intelligence for needing the loan. But even the most cautiously ready and well-documented commercial loan solicitation can be fall.

Usually Commercial business loan are offered against the business general public commercial or domestic property as huge amount is at winnings. The way to achieve this goal is to work with an experienced and upright US commercial advance negotiator. If denied, the applicant has to begin the route all over once again. So if you chose to recompense the loan in larger duration of say 25 an age, you can save lot of change per week towards the loan installments. Generally are complimentary up to 75 of the value of the property as Commercial commercial loan.
If you are allowed as bad prestige, still commercial occupational loans are vacant to you. A broker takes your one completed commercial debt use and bow to it to many different commercial lenders, all at the same time, which importantly proliferation your likelihood of approval and saves you a considerable volume of time. Ensure that the loan installments are recurrently paid off for evading arrears or also for repairing your credit groove. The location of the property is also considered. The character times past of the applicant, including the fiscal order of the corporate is thoroughly reconnoiter. How many times do you want to go through this procedure'Most aspirant concur the correct remedy is only once. You are also offered a repayment period of your prime.

Business nation are all the time in need of funds for meeting insistent or regular professional incidentals. In addition, commercial mortgages entail knowing indemnity to fastened the loan.
One help of secured Commercial business loan is that the professional anybody can get the loan at lower interest rate. You can mine commercial corporate loans from any lending institutions like shore, financial companies or from an on lender. If approved, the transaction can continue. However lower interest rate depends on lot of aspect also such as good praise annal and payment capacity of the defaulter.

Five Stars Mortgage is a provider of Hard Money Loans throughout all 50 states.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Residential Mortgage Market Troubles Continue

Standards are tightening while some mortgage companies are going under reports an insightful article in today's WSJ Online.

Perhaps the most impressive news is that several residential & commercial mortgage companies have all but closed their doors for business. American Home Mortgage Investment Corp., which stopped making loans earlier this week, said late yesterday it would cease most operations, slashing its work force to about 750 from more than 7,000.

Less shocking but still noteworthy is the rate jump seen in the residential markets where Wells Fargo & Co. is charging 8% for a prime jumbo 30-year fixed-rate loan that carried a 6 7/8% rate late last week.

The fright among investors is forcing lenders to go back to more-conservative practices that were the norm before the housing boom of the first half of this decade. Many now are focusing on loans to borrowers who are willing to document their income, can make a down payment of at least 5% and have a history of paying bills on time.

Florida Commercial Loan are still available. Five Stars Mortgage provides hard money purchase or refinance commercial loans in Florida and Nationwide.