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As U.S. home prices have bounced back, activists, advocates, and community developers have struggled to make housing more affordable.

A central courtyard—and a mix of unit sizes—create community on a small site.

Despite healthy real estate market conditions, investors are pricing an anticipated market slowdown into REIT share values. This situation generally occurs late in the real estate cycle and is spurring REIT privatizations and share buybacks. Plus, interest rate survey results from Trepp.

Underlying real estate property fundamentals are healthy and asset valuations are high. However, interest rates are moving higher and a market misalignment has been created where many real estate investment trusts are trading below net asset value. Tax, policy, and legislative changes also are helping set the stage for REIT activity this year. Plus, interest rate survey data from Trepp.

Stock market volatility is raising questions about the strength of U.S. commercial real estate markets. Retail availability stood at 8 percent in the third quarter of 2015, according to CBRE—100 basis points above the low reached in 2006. Market fundamentals have been strong, but will negative headwinds change the outlook for the retail sector this year? Plus, interest rate survey data from Trepp.

The Case for Open Space, a new report from the ULI Center for Sustainability and Economic Performance, makes the business case for real estate investments in parks and open spaces. Case studies highlighted in the report were drawn from 30 open-space projects across the United States supported by the private sector, with five compelling projects that incorporate open space.

The designer of West Philadelphia’s Cira Centre, architect Cesar Pelli talked about the role of place making in two of his current projects at a recent ULI conference in Philadelphia.

Spreads reported by Trepp LLC remain “range-bound” at an average spread of 207 basis points over 10-year Treasuries. The Cushman & Wakefield Sonnenblick-Goldman Survey shows rates coming in slightly with lenders seemingly ready to lend at attractive spreads if the right deal comes their way.

The Commercial Mortgage Alert Trepp weekly survey of 15 active portfolio lenders remained basically unchanged with an all-in cost of 5.50% remaining very attractive.

The Commercial Mortgage Alert Trepp weekly survey of 15 active portfolio lenders widened 5 basis points (0.05%) while Treasuries narrowed. Net, net: financing remains available at attractive rates (5.25%+/-).