Origination Volume Reflects Industry's Strength

Sule Aygoren Carranza is managing editor of Real Estate Forum.

[IMGCAP(1)] WASHINGTON, DC-Reflecting tighter lending conditions, loan volume declined in the fourth quarter. But originations on apartment assets didn’t decrease as much as they did for other property types.

According to recently released data from the Mortgage Bankers Association, originations for commercial and multifamily properties in the final three months of 2007 were down by 16% compared to the same period the prior year. Still, apartment loans were down only 7% over the prior year, thanks to the availability of debt from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.