MEMPHIS and ATLANTA—The combined company will have 105,000 apartment units located primarily in the Southeast and Southwest, with a market cap of about $17 billion.

SEATTLE—Faced with high prices and low inventory, "first-time homebuyers are renting longer than ever before even if they are qualified to buy," says Svenja Gudell, Zillow's chief economist.

FAIRFIELD, CT—Along with the pending sale of GE Money Bank France to Cerberus Capital Management, the prime mortgage transaction "would represent GE Capital's exit from French consumer finance," says Keith Sherin, CEO of GE Capital.

LOS ANGELES—Eiji Sakaguchi brings more than 26 years' real estate experience and an extensive financial background to his new role.

NEW YORK CITY—As the payoff rate for maturing CMBS continues to decline, Morningstar sees troubles continuing for securitized loans that were underwritten with overly optimistic cash flow assumptions in 2006 and 2007.

CINCINNATI—CEO Terry Lundgren says that moving forward in a fast-changing world "involves doing things differently and making tough decisions as we position ourselves to serve customers who have high expectations of their favorite stores, online sites and apps."

LOS ANGELES—Reports from Avison Young and Lee & Associates note that a handful of the largest office markets account for the lion's share of new construction.

NEW YORK CITY—Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, a perpetual-life fund, will invest primarily in income-producing properties across the US, and may also target real estate-related securities.