NEW YORK CITY—While the sector outlook has been upgraded to positive, from a ratings standpoint REITs would need to reduce their leverage, according to Steven Marks at Fitch Ratings.

NEW YORK CITY—On a conference call late Monday afternoon, CEO Brian Harris said a REIT election would strike “the right balance between paying distributions and retaining capital” for seizing on opportunities

SAN FRANCISCO—“It's the better economic conditions that are generating the reason for interest rates to be higher,” Marcus &amp; Millichap's chief strategy officer said during a recent segment of CNBC's <i>Worldwide Exchange</i>.

NEW YORK CITY—Separating VNO's shopping center business from its core office and urban retail assets would create “two focused, pure-play REITs,” the company says in an SEC filing.

SAN FRANCISCO—With 62 Kimpton-managed properties across 28 US cities, the chain has “enormous potential for growth,” domestically and internationally, says CEO Mike Depatie.

NEW YORK CITY—Now the longest-lasting federal housing program, the low income housing tax credit “continues to generate solid investment and growth in this much needed segment of the marketplace,” says CohnReznick's Fred Copeman.

NEW YORK CITY—Lisa Beeson, the net lease REIT's president and COO, has also turned in her resignation, according to an SEC filing Monday.

BOSTON—October's pricing is up slightly from a year ago, “reflecting consistent improvement in the health of CMBS loans in general,” says DebtX's Will Mercer.