Economy

From interest rates to inflation, understand the impact of macroeconomic trends on the real estate capital markets.

The Beyond Insights series aims to deliver timely economic and market-driven insights to better inform your commercial real estate investment decisions.

Markets

From local market rents to cap rates, catch up on the latest capital markets insights.

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U.S. ECONOMIC MACRO COMMENTARY & INSIGHTS

The State of Borrowing Costs: Higher Rates, Tighter Spreads

August 28, 2026
  • Agency CMBS spreads have maintained a holding pattern for nearly 7 months
  • Inflation continues to linger above the Fed’s stated 2% goal
  • U.S. Treasury makes a play to drive interest rates tighter

There has been a lot of ink spilled recently about Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s announcement that the Treasury Department will increase its buybacks of longer-dated securities. But let’s not conflate the Treasury and the Fed. The Treasury’s job is to finance the government. The Fed’s job is to maintain price stability and employment. For years, investors have looked to the Fed when policymakers wanted to influence financial conditions or borrowing costs. Treasury’s recent actions don’t carry the same firepower.

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Trading Spreads Hold Tight

Source: Berkadia *Freddie Mac yet to report August totals*

2026 Multifamily Investor Sentiment Survey

In December 2025, we surveyed over 250 of our trusted clients from various companies, with most holding senior-level titles, for our second annual Multifamily Investor Sentiment Survey. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive view of current market sentiments to our clients, and we plan to share our findings in our detailed report.

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2026 Multifamily
Powerhouse Poll

In Berkadia’s Annual Multifamily Powerhouse Poll, we surveyed over 200 investment sales advisors and mortgage bankers to offer their unique perspectives on the state of the commercial real estate (CRE) industry.

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Insights

Powell Holds Rates Steady, Trump Nominates Replacement Chair

Recent headlines surrounding the Federal Reserve have varied. On the monetary policy front, macroeconomic conditions appear solid, with tariff-driven inflation concerns largely overstated and unemployment holding steady. Away from economic fundamentals, Chair Powell continues to face political pressure as his term as Fed Chair nears its conclusion. The Federal Reserve held its first meeting of…

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Insights

The State of the Union in Agency CMBS

Commercial real estate capital markets, particularly in the multifamily space, are taking the “new year, new me” mantra very seriously. Liquidity is bountiful in the space; trading spreads have tightened significantly; and a regime change is on the horizon at the Federal Reserve. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) increased agency multifamily loan purchase caps…

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Insights

December FOMC Meeting Notes

The Federal Reserve held its final meeting of the year on Wednesday. Committee members voted 9-3 to cut the benchmark rate by 25 basis points to a 3.50%–3.75% range. The move was the third consecutive rate cut from the Fed, and overnight rates are now 175 basis points lower than their peak of the cycle.…

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