Commercial, Multifamily Mortgage Delinquencies Remain Low in U.S.

The Mortgage Bankers Association's latest Commercial/Multifamily Delinquency Report is showing this week that U.S. commercial and multifamily mortgage delinquencies remained low in the fourth quarter of 2019.

"Commercial and multifamily mortgages ended the fourth quarter of 2019 much the way they started the year - at or near record low delinquency rates," said Jamie Woodwell, MBA's Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Research. "The key drivers - solid property fundamentals, strong property values and low interest rates - continue to support the market. It is too early to tell if and how concerns tied to the coronavirus and the related global slowdown will affect commercial real estate loan performance, but the corresponding drop in financing costs are providing additional near-term support."

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

Based on the unpaid principal balance (UPB) of loans, delinquency rates for each group at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019 were as follows:

• Banks and thrifts (90 or more days delinquent or in non-accrual): 0.42 percent, a decrease of 0.03 percentage points from the third quarter of 2019;

• Life company portfolios (60 or more days delinquent): 0.04 percent, an increase of 0.01 from the third quarter;

• Fannie Mae (60 or more days delinquent): 0.04 percent, a decrease of 0.02 percentage points from the third quarter;

• Freddie Mac (60 or more days delinquent): 0.08 percent, an increase of 0.04 from the third quarter; and

• CMBS (30 or more days delinquent or in REO): 2.07 percent, a decrease of 0.22 percentage points from the third quarter.