Commercial Mortgage Delinquencies Continue to Decline in U.S.

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According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Commercial-Multifamily Delinquency Report, delinquency rates for commercial and multifamily mortgage loans continued to decline in the fourth quarter of 2014.

During the fourth quarter of 2014, the 30+ day delinquency rate for loans held in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) decreased 0.50 percentage points to 5.11 percent.  The 60+ day delinquency rate for multifamily loans held or insured by Fannie Mae decreased 0.04 percentage points to 0.05 percent.  The 60+ day delinquency rate for multifamily loans held or insured by Freddie Mac increased 0.01 percentage points to 0.04 percent.  The 60+ day delinquency rate for commercial and multifamily mortgages held in life company portfolios increased 0.03 percentage points to 0.08 percent.  The 90+ day delinquency rate for loans held by FDIC-insured banks and thrifts decreased 0.15 percentage points to 1.14 percent.

"The performance of commercial and multifamily mortgages continues to improve," said Jamie Woodwell, MBA's Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Research.  "Mortgages held by life insurance companies, and held and guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac all have 60+ day delinquency rates below one-tenth-of-one-percent.  And delinquency rates for commercial and multifamily mortgages held on bank balance sheets and in CMBS continue to decline."

Based on the unpaid principal balance (UPB) of loans, delinquency rates for each group at the end of the fourth quarter were as follows:

• Life company portfolios: 0.08 percent (60 or more days delinquent);
• Freddie Mac: 0.04 percent (60 or more days delinquent);
• Fannie Mae: 0.05 percent (60 or more days delinquent);
• Banks and thrifts: 1.14 percent (90 or more days delinquent or in non-accrual);
• CMBS: 5.11 percent (30 or more days delinquent or in REO).

The fourth quarter 2014 delinquency rate for commercial and multifamily mortgages held in life insurance company portfolios was 7.45 percentage points lower than the series high (7.53 percent, reached during the second quarter of 1992).  The delinquency rate for multifamily loans held by Freddie Mac was 6.77 percentage points lower than the series high (6.81 percent, reached in the fourth quarter of 1992).  The delinquency rate for multifamily loans held by Fannie Mae was 3.57 percentage points below the series high (3.62 percent, reached during the fourth quarter of 1991).  The rate for commercial and multifamily mortgages held by banks and thrifts was 5.44 percentage points lower than the series high (6.58 percent, reached in the second quarter of 1991).  The rate for loans held in CMBS was 3.79 percentage points below the series high (8.90 percent, reached in the second quarter of 2011).

Construction and development loans are not included in the numbers presented here, but are included in many regulatory definitions of 'commercial real estate' despite the fact they are often backed by single-family residential development projects rather than by office buildings, apartment buildings, shopping centers, or other income-producing properties.  The FDIC delinquency rates for bank and thrift held mortgages reported here do include loans backed by owner-occupied commercial properties.

The MBA analysis looks at commercial/multifamily delinquency rates for five of the largest investor-groups: commercial banks and thrifts, commercial mortgage-backed securities, life insurance companies, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac.  Together these groups hold more than 80 percent of commercial/multifamily mortgage debt outstanding.