Anderson

Archstone-Smith Trust's

While such deals are still a good bet, not for the near term, and Richard Anderson, a REIT analyst at BMO Capital Markets, tells GlobeSt.com not to expect to see a handshake of this size for a while. "There is too much uncertainty in the market right now for this type of large scale activity," he says. "When things settle down, potential multifamily borrowers will start thinking about making deals this size, but I project they will be in pause mode well into 2008."

The $22-billion transaction he is referring to was "all about timing," he noted. It is the largest public-to-private M&A transaction in the multifamily REIT sector as of yet and "buyers had to really go to the earth to get it done."

Anthony Paolone, an analyst with JP Morgan Securities, agrees with Anderson and explains that it doesn't seem likely that a deal this size would happen again in the near future, however things could change. "All indications are that the debt availability is a lot harder to get," he says, which is causing a shift in valuation. "In multifamily as well as other property types, the pace of deals has slowed."

Instant Insights /

Experts: $22B M&A Deal Could Happen Again

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