Commercial and multifamily mortgage originations will rise to $515 billion in 2017, up 5 % from 2016, according to projections from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). MBA expects volumes to remain around this level in 2018.

Multifamily mortgages originations alone are expected to reach $235 billion in 2017, with total multifamily lending at $271 billion. After steady growth this year, multifamily originations are expected to slow slightly in 2018.

“Commercial and multifamily markets remain strong, even as many growth measures are exhibiting a bit of a downshift,” said Jamie Woodwell, MBA’s Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Research. “Property values are up 6 percent through the first 8 months of this year. Despite a decline in property sales transactions, commercial and multifamily mortgage originations were 15 percent higher during the first half of this year than a year earlier. We expect stable property markets and strong capital availability to continue to support mortgage borrowing and lending in 2018.”

Commercial and multifamily mortgage debt outstanding is expected to continue growing this year, ending 2017 about 6% higher than 2016.

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