2010 U.S. commercial loan activity up 36%

U.S. commercial and multi-family lending climbed sharply in 2010, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Roughly $110 billion of commercial and multi-family loans were originated last year, up 36 percent from 2009. Lending activity climbed sharply toward the end of the year, with fourth-quarter originations up 63 percent from the third quarter. Hotel property loans saw the biggest quarter-over-quarter jump, climbing 333 percent between the third and fourth quarters of 2010. Jamie Woodwell, vice president of commercial real estate research with the MBA, called the overall commercial and multi-family mortgage origination increase a “symbolic change from last year.” TRD