Introducing CRE MBA—self-paced online courses taught by industry experts for CRE professionals.

Office Loan Delinquencies to Pass GFC Levels

Fitch forecasts soaring office loan delinquency rates as the sector battles rising interest rates and economic uncertainties.
Curved glass building with red accents, visible staircases, cloudy sky, and a tree. Featured in "Office Loan Delinquencies" article.
  • Higher delinquency rates point to potential strains on CRE values and loan portfolios.
  • Office sector vulnerability stems from rising rates, slow growth, and tight lending conditions.
  • Class B and Class C offices face prolonged recovery periods and potential value drops.
Key Takeaways

Fitch Ratings revised its projections for 2024 and 2025 office loan delinquencies higher, as reported by Bisnow. 

Delinquency Forecast

Fitch Ratings revised their U.S. CMBS office delinquency forecast upwards projecting an 8.4% delinquency rate for 2024 and 11% for 2025, surpassing the peak of the Global Financial Crisis (8.1%). Notably, the office delinquency rate was already up to 4.3% in April.

The office sector faces multi-year challenges like higher interest rates, slower economic growth, and declining office demand, making refinancing very difficult. Special servicing, here we come.

When Lower Rates?

The updated forecast arrives as the latter half of the year nears and anticipated rate drops have yet to arrive. Since last July, the Federal Reserve has maintained rates between 5.25–5.5%. But because inflation has eased, there remains hope for rate cuts later this year.

Office properties continue to be the most frequently affected type of commercial real estate when it comes to delinquencies and foreclosures. Bisnow reported that commercial foreclosures in March more than doubled compared to the same period in 2023.

Prolonged Recovery

The office sector’s recovery this cycle will likely be slower and more prolonged than after the GFC. This means office valuations, even after recovering, may not be at their pre-pandemic levels. They’ve already dropped around 40%. 

Why It Matters

Granted, this isn’t as bad as the 47% drop we suffered during the GFC. But it’s the lowest level in the last four years, and the market hasn’t bottomed out yet. The slow recovery is expected to lead to weaker performance and higher loan losses.

RECENT NEWSLETTERS
View All
90K Build-to-Rents Are Under Construction Nationwide
December 12, 2024
READ MORE
Industrial Pipeline Slows as New Construction Drops Nationwide
December 11, 2024
READ MORE
15% of Maturing CRE Loans Too Hard to Refinance
December 10, 2024
READ MORE
Assessing Trump’s Policy Impact on CRE Construction
December 9, 2024
READ MORE

podcast

No CAP by CRE Daily

No Cap by CRE Daily is a weekly podcast offering an unfiltered look into commercial real estate’s biggest trends and influential figures.

Join 65k+
  • operators
  • developers
  • brokers
  • owners
  • landlords
  • investors
  • lenders

who start their day with CRE Daily.

The latest news and trends in commercial real estate delivered to your inbox. Get smarter about what matters in just 5-minutes or less.