Commercial real estate lending volume jumps in 2014

US commercial real estate lending increased 15% in 2014, marking the fifth consecutive year of gains, according to the CBRE Lending Momentum Index. Loan closings were boosted by demand for acquisition financing, which accounted for close to one-half of lending volume. Retail, hotel and “specialty property types” saw the biggest gains as investors focused more attention on high-yielding property types and secondary markets.