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Investors Bullish on Health Care Real Estate as Reform Showdown Draws Closer
With the mammoth health care reform package hanging in the balance, medical real estate companies will enter 2010 in the throes of debate over the legislation's potential impact on their business, especially those owning and occupying hospitals and hospital...

Developers Diversified, Goldman Sachs Put CMBS Deals Back in Action
The first new-issue commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS) supported by brick-and-mortar properties in nearly two years successfully sold this week. DDR Depositor LLC Trust 2009 Commercial Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, series 2009-DDR1...

Office Delinquencies Latest Driver of CMBS Troubles
Job losses and subsequent office loan defaults, coupled with continued hotel underperformance, resulted in another monthly increase in U.S. CMBS delinquencies. And new matured balloons and past due loans secured by interests in non-traditional assets...

Starwood Property Trust Begins Investing $900 Million Slowly, Selectively
In its first quarterly report as public entity, Starwood Property Trust posted a net loss of $1.9 million. The results were affected by the recognition of $800,000 of non-cash, stock-based compensation in the period. "We are generally pleased with...

Bank Watch: U.S. Steps Up Efforts To Seize Iran-Controlled Bank Melli's U.S. Properties
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York is looking to take over control of the 36-story, 336,000-square-foot 650 Fifth Ave. high-rise in Midtown Manhattan, as well as other properties across the country, together totaling hundreds...

Real Money (Nov. 19): Capital Raisings, Property Financings
Toys "R" Us Inc. priced $725 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2017 to be issued by Giraffe Properties LLC, which will be renamed Toys "R" Us Property Company II LLC, one of its indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. The notes...

Retail REIT Execs Encouraged By 3Q Leasing Activity
While still cautious and subdued, the commentary shared by retail REIT executives during the past few weeks of investor conference calls discussing third quarter financials was markedly more upbeat than in the previous two quarters. Overall, REIT...

Market Rally Feeds Optimism at Annual REIT Confab
Participants in last week's annual NAREIT convention in Phoenix described the mood in terms ranging from hopeful to full-on ebullience -- adjectives not often used for the past two years with respect to most gatherings of commercial real estate professionals...

Lease Up/Lease Down (Nov. 15-21): Bioscience, Cleantech Sectors Spur Job Growth
News of corporate expansions, relocations, extensions, closures, layoffs, lease cancellations and mergers has been consolidated into Lease Up/Lease Down. Look to Lease Up/Lease Down every week for valuable information that can be used as a source...

UPDATED: Simon Hires Advisers to Consider General Growth Acquisition Possibilities
The country's largest retail REIT, Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG), is considering a bid for its bankrupt competitor, General Growth Properties. Simon media representative, Les Morris, confirmed for CoStar Group this morning that Simon hired investment...