How to Invest in CMBS: A Review of Morgan Stanley's CMBS Primer Pdf 48
What is CMBS and why is it important?
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) are bonds backed by pools of commercial real estate loans. They are a type of asset-backed security (ABS) that allows lenders to transfer the risk and return of their loans to investors. CMBS are an important source of financing for commercial real estate (CRE) owners and developers, as well as a diversified and liquid investment option for institutional and retail investors.
Morgan Stanley Cmbs Primer Pdf 48
In this article, we will explain the basics of CMBS, how they work, and what benefits they offer. We will also provide a primer on the CMBS market and its products, how to analyze and invest in CMBS, and what trends and challenges are facing the market. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of CMBS and why they matter.
CMBS basics: definition, structure, and benefits
How CMBS works: origination, securitization, and distribution
The process of creating CMBS involves three main steps: origination, securitization, and distribution. Here is a simplified overview of how it works:
Origination: A lender (such as a bank or a mortgage company) originates a commercial real estate loan to a borrower (such as a property owner or a developer). The loan is secured by a lien on the property, which serves as collateral in case of default. The loan has a fixed or floating interest rate, a maturity date, and repayment terms.
Securitization: A sponsor (such as an investment bank or a mortgage REIT) purchases a portfolio of commercial real estate loans from one or more lenders. The sponsor then pools the loans into a trust (a special purpose vehicle or SPV) that issues bonds backed by the cash flows from the loans. The bonds are called commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS). The sponsor hires a servicer (such as a bank or a mortgage company) to collect payments from the borrowers and distribute them to the bondholders.
Distribution: An underwriter (such as an investment bank or a broker-dealer) sells the CMBS to investors (such as pension funds, insurance companies, hedge funds, or retail investors). The investors receive periodic interest payments (coupons) and principal repayments (amortization) from the servicer until the bonds mature or are prepaid. The investors also bear the credit risk of the underlying loans.
The following diagram illustrates the CMBS securitization process:
+----------+ +----------+ +----------+ Borrower ----> Lender ----> Sponsor +----------+ +----------+ +----------+ v v v +----------+ +----------+ +----------+ Trust Property
The advantages of CMBS for borrowers, lenders, and investors
CMBS offer several advantages for different parties involved in the commercial real estate market. Here are some of the main benefits:
For borrowers: CMBS provide access to long-term, fixed-rate, non-recourse financing for commercial real estate properties. Non-recourse means that the borrower is not personally liable for the loan in case of default, only the property is. CMBS also offer more flexibility and lower costs than traditional bank loans, as they can be tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of the property and the borrower.
For lenders: CMBS allow lenders to diversify their exposure to commercial real estate loans and free up their balance sheets and capital for other lending activities. By selling their loans to sponsors, lenders can reduce their credit risk and regulatory requirements, as well as generate fee income from origination and servicing. Lenders can also retain a portion of the CMBS as an investment or a hedge.
For investors: CMBS offer a diversified and liquid investment option that can enhance their portfolio returns and risk profiles. CMBS typically have higher yields than comparable corporate or government bonds, as they reflect the credit risk and prepayment risk of the underlying loans. CMBS also have lower correlation with other asset classes, as they are influenced by different factors such as property market conditions, interest rates, and economic cycles. Moreover, CMBS have various types and features that can suit different investor preferences and objectives.
CMBS primer: a guide to the market and its products
The evolution of CMBS: from simple pools to complex deals
The CMBS market has evolved significantly since its inception in the late 1980s. The first generation of CMBS consisted of simple pools of homogeneous loans backed by similar properties, such as multifamily or office buildings. These pools were divided into two or three tranches with different seniority and ratings, such as senior, mezzanine, and subordinated.
The second generation of CMBS emerged in the mid-1990s, as the market expanded and diversified. These deals involved more heterogeneous pools of loans backed by various types of properties, such as retail, hotel, industrial, or mixed-use. These pools were sliced into multiple tranches with different ratings, maturities, coupons, and prepayment characteristics, such as sequential, PAC, Z, IO, PO, or inverse floater.
The third generation of CMBS developed in the early 2000s, as the market became more sophisticated and innovative. These transactions involved more complex structures and products, such as conduit/fusion deals, single-asset/single-borrower (SASB) deals, floating-rate deals, large loan deals, interest-only (IO) deals, principal-only (PO) deals, credit tenant lease (CTL) deals, or commercial real estate collateralized debt obligations (CRE CDOs).
The following table summarizes the main features of each generation of CMBS:
Generation Time period Pool size Property type Tranche type Tranche number --- --- --- --- --- --- First Late 1980s - early 1990s Small (10) Third Early 2000s - present Large (> $1 billion) Various (conduit/fusion/SASB/floating-rate/large loan/IO/PO/CTL/CRE CDO) Various (A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I 71b2f0854b