800.915.7015
info@rimarketplace.com
IN THIS ISSUE: Macro Tracker updates, where we see risks and opportunities, and a feature on anchored retail.
In this issue of the Capital Markets Update, we review current performance, delinquencies, and developments in the marketplace and compare our March framework to how things have played out over the last few months. While the general crisis around the COVID-19 pandemic, oil price and economic collapse, and resultant record unemployment continue to unfold, we can stop for a moment to make some general assessments:
The Good News:
The Bad News:
Catalysts As We Move Forward:
Assuming no vaccine or significant treatment in the near term.
We are tracking over 24,000 commercial mortgage loans securitized across some 774 CMBS 2.0/3.0 and SASB transactions. The overall delinquency/Specially Serviced rate increased to 14.68% as of this writing in June 2020. Comparatively, this level exceeds the highest levels (over 9%) during the financial crisis between 2007-2009.
Hotel and retail properties lead the way in distress with over 35% of all securitized hotels now in that category. Mixed-use properties (retail/office) have also seen a significant spike in distress rates. To date, Multifamily has seen lower levels of distress, however, certain subsectors (Student and Senior Housing) have (and are expected to continue to have) disproportionate levels relative to the category.
FIRST WAVE: HOSPITALITY
Leading into the pandemic, we had already noted some weaknesses in the hotel sector with significant overbuilding and competition in the sector. As in prior financial disruptions, hotels are typically the first commercial property type to be impacted in a crisis. We have seen this dynamic after September 11th, during the financial crisis, and now during the pandemic. Typically, resort and destination hotels, conference and business center hotels, travel hub hotels, and others experience drop-offs in demand. During this crisis, we have seen hotel occupancies drop into the single digits and several closings. One large hotel group CEO noted that things were starting to improve with open hotels seeing occupancies in the mid 20% area, still far from break-even operating levels.
SECOND WAVE: RETAIL
With the long-term trends of eCommerce, the decline of shopping malls, and massive overbuilding, retail also had issues coming into the pandemic. Notably, the current crisis seems to have accelerated those trends in a significant way, as opposed to the complete stop experienced by hotels. Although delinquencies are now near all-time levels, retail has experienced a more gradual build toward those levels. Our initial assessment was that Grocery and Pharmacy anchored centers may perform (as essential businesses), while non-essential retail would bear most of the impact from voluntary and mandatory closures.
Note the more gradual impact of specially serviced and delinquent loans.
Digging deeper into retail, we analyzed nearly 6,500 loans where we had enough information to match specific properties and tenants. No surprise that Malls lead the SS and Delinquency category, as well as among the highest percentages requesting some type of relief from the lender. Anchored retail, the largest classification of loans, had approximately 19% delinquent and Specially Serviced, with Shadow Anchored and Single Tenant performing somewhat better.
Again, our theory coming into the pandemic was that Grocery and Pharmacy anchored retail would outperform. To test the theory, we analyzed Anchored Retail to determine the type of anchor at each property, and whether that was indicative of performance. Further, we focused on anchors making up at least 35% of the GLA, as these would be most indicative of influence on the center.
Our findings appear to support our initial theory very well. Non-essential businesses are experiencing the highest default and delinquency rates (25%-45%), while Grocery and Pharmacy anchored centers experience almost the lowest (4%-7%).
Perhaps a few surprises in the list:
THIRD WAVE: MULTIFAMILY
Our initial theory was that multifamily will have a slower progression and impact related to the pandemic than other asset types. As job losses continue to mount, we could see collection issues, declining rents, and added stress on performance. With the exception of certain subsectors (i.e., Student Housing, Senior Housing, and small balance), we still believe this is correct.
We have seen little in the way of delinquency and relief requests in conduit multifamily (3% to 4%). For Agency collateral, experience has been similar with respect to forbearance requests:
STUDENT HOUSING
Student housing has been on our radar for quite some time. The main reasons have been overbuilding and what may have turned out to be overly optimistic enrollment forecasts by some universities and their push to build a new state of the art housing to meet that. We published a research piece on this topic in the 3rd quarter of 2018 noting the extremely heavy building pipeline (50,000 new beds every year since 2015).
Our main concern is around the economics of online education realized during this crisis, and the cost of education in the US relative to other countries. We may see a re-pricing and student decisions resulting in less wealthy schools losing many of their student body. Third tier schools could also suffer, with their housing along with it.
A mitigant at larger universities could end up being the COVID crisis itself. As universities are required to distance and adopt safety measures in historically crowded and densely populated dorms, capacity will be reduced. That reduction could result in increased demand at nearby privately-owned student housing properties.
As the pandemic and resultant unemployment crisis continues to evolve, we expect to write significantly more about the performance of multifamily in future editions of the Capital Markets Update.