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Why many banks are preparing for an uptick of bad loans

Oct 14, 2024
Throughout the last year, a lot of big banks have been stocking away more cash to cover bad loans. But even though banks are concerned about the broader economy, they're still trying to make loans where they can.
Many banks are nervous about commercial real estate loans, with vacancies stubbornly up. They're also keeping an eye on rising credit card debt.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

When it comes to office space, some firms find better is better — but bigger is not

Jul 31, 2024
As workers settle into hybrid work routines, some employers are upgrading to nicer spaces with a smaller footprint.
Some employers are opting to trade in older, larger offices for smaller ones with more amenities, said commercial real estate broker Scott Wimbrow.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images

Coworking spaces are trying to put a new lease on the WeWork business model

Jun 5, 2024
A former church. A motorcycle repair garage. Some coworking space companies are eschewing the WeWork business model and are opting for a more local approach.
Forming positive connections with coworkers is important, but can be much harder to do in the era of remote work.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Construction spending slowed in April, continuing this year's trend

Jun 3, 2024
The construction flatline stems from interest rate hikes — new projects are less affordable, and that's starting to affect builders.
Transportation infrastructure construction has taken off, thanks in part to recent federal legislation.
Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

Smaller banks reveal ripple effects of commercial real estate woes

Apr 18, 2024
Some types of CRE are hurting more than others. A steep downturn could cause pain to regional banks as well as property owners.
Small, local banks might have up to 50% of their portfolios in CRE, says Suri Sharma of  Morningstar. But some subsectors of the field, like industrial property, are strong.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Movie theaters aren't going anywhere, and it's partially due to their weird architecture

Apr 17, 2024
With sloping, concrete floors and huge, windowless rooms, movie theaters are not the easiest properties to convert.
Ticket sales at movie theaters are still down from pre-pandemic times.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Commercial construction has hit a brick wall. Why?

Mar 13, 2024
Factors like high interest rates, tight credit and workers continuing to work from home are all hitting commercial construction demand.
Factors like high interest rates, tight credit and continued remote work are all hitting commercial construction demand.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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How worried should we be about regional banks and commercial real estate?

A report from Moody’s Analytics finds there's trouble ahead, but it's more nuanced than a banking collapse due to empty offices.
New York Community Bancorp is only the latest regional bank to raise concerns about ties to commercial real estate.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Vacant office buildings create a tax revenue problem for cities

Feb 16, 2024
Take Boston. Over the next five years, that city could face a tax revenue shortfall to the tune of $1.2 to $1.5 billion, according to a new study from the Boston Policy Institute.
Over the next five years, Boston could face a tax revenue shortfall of up to $1.5 billion.
Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images

Foreign investors are cooling on U.S. commercial real estate

Feb 9, 2024
Some of the drop is due to high interest rates and economic problems back home. Office buildings continue a slow burn, one expert says.
The height of foreign purchases of U.S. real estate was in 2017.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images