Real-Estate Cap Rates Rise - WSJ.com

Real-Estate Cap Rates Rise - WSJ.com: "Capitalization rates, a calculation real-estate investors use to measure the annual return of income-producing properties, continue to rise. The average cap rate for office properties in central business districts jumped to 8.8% in December from 8.56% in November. The December number was the highest rate for that category since May 2003. Meanwhile, average cap rates for apartment buildings was 7.36% in December, up from 7.09% in November. The cap rate is rental income in the first year of ownership divided by the purchase price."

BofA Profits from CRE

BofA's Secret of Success: Real-Estate Banking - WSJ.com

Who knew? Certainly not the longsuffering shareholders who saw both their asset values and dividends evaporate last year.

Bank of America is a lead lender on $43 billion in outstanding credit facilities to 53 different real-estate investment trusts, or REITs, more than any other bank, according to SNL Financial Inc.

Hate The REIT, Love The Return - Forbes.com

Hate The REIT, Love The Return - Forbes.com: "The typical S&P 500 company borrows about a quarter for every dollar in equity. REITs borrow a dollar for each dollar in equity, roughly doubling losses and gains so that a 40% decline becomes a dangerous 80% swoon and leverage in the industry has been growing for years. (Compare that with the typical home buyer's leverage of four dollars for every one dollar down and it's easy to see why foreclosures are epidemic.)"

Many IPOs expected in 2010 - Business - NewsObserver.com

Many IPOs expected in 2010 - Business - NewsObserver.com

Facebook to lead busy IPO slate.