Tag: Chip Rodgers

RECPAC Meeting Examines Market Shifts, AI’s Impact, and Fed Uncertainty

Posted on by abigail_grenadier

The Real Estate Roundtable’s Real Estate Capital Policy Advisory Committee (RECPAC) convened this week in New York to discuss market conditions, the evolving political and regulatory landscape, and emerging trends reshaping commercial real estate—including artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and the Federal Reserve’s policy trajectory.

Fall RECPAC Meeting

  • RECPAC met Thursday, under the leadership of RECPAC Co-Chairs Bryan McDonnell (Head of U.S. Debt and Chair of Global Debt, PGIM Real Estate), Rex Rudy (EVP, Head of Commercial Real Estate, US Bank), Miriam Wheeler (Global Head Real Estate Finance, Goldman Sachs Asset Management), and Working Group Chair Eric Wu (Sr. Managing Director, Real Estate, Blackstone) to discuss top policy issues heading into 2026.
  • RER Chair Kathleen McCarthy (Global Co-Head, Blackstone Real Estate) kicked off the meeting by welcoming RECPAC members and sharing her insights on real estate credit and capital markets. Other discussions included:
  • Roundtable Senior Vice President Chip Rodgers moderated a fireside chat with Alex Katz (Sr. Managing Director of Government Relations, Blackstone) and discussed the political environment, the recent elections, and issues affecting financial services policy, credit capacity, and capital formation.
  • Trey Morsbach (JLL Capital Markets) moderated a roundtable discussion with Kwasi Benneh (Morgan Stanley), Dan Mullinger (PNC Real Estate), Joel Traut (KKR), and Michael Lavipour (Affinius Capital) on real estate credit markets, liquidity, pricing, and financing.
  • Frank Long (Goldman Sachs) hosted a fireside chat with Eric Wu (Blackstone), followed by a discussion with Brian Baker (J.P. Morgan), Quynh Tran (SMBC), and Andrew Winchall (Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies) on the economics and energy demands of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is reshaping commercial real estate, as the massive energy demands and high costs of data centers redefine investment and financing metrics.

Interest Rates & The Fed

Tom Barkin
  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its September jobs report this week, but due to the government shutdown, it will not publish October or November payroll data until Dec. 16—a week after the Federal Reserve’s Dec. 9-10 policy meeting. (Axios, Nov. 20)
  • The absence of timely data is compounding internal divisions, as minutes show policymakers split over further rate cuts amid high inflation and weakening labor indicators. (Axios, Nov. 19)
  • Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin noted the economy is in an “unattractive” balance and said upcoming data will be essential to determining the path forward. (Reuters, Nov. 18)
  • On Monday, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said a December cut was needed to stem further job-market deterioration. (NBC News, Nov. 20)
  • Speaking at the Central Bank of Chile Centennial Conference this morning, New York Fed president John Williams said, “I still see room for further adjustment in the near term to the target range for the federal funds rate to move the stance of policy closer to the range of neutral.” (Axios, Nov. 21)

Roundtable on the Road

  • RER Senior Vice President & Counsel Ryan McCormick spoke at NYU’s Institute on Federal Taxation in San Francisco this week, outlining key One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) Act implementation priorities, prospects for future real estate tax legislation, and major litigation and guidance affecting partnerships and real estate transactions.
  • Also this week, RER President & CEO Jeffrey DeBoer participated in Commercial Property Executive’s 2026 CRE Outlook webinar, highlighting interest rates, energy and housing affordability, immigration reforms, TRIA reauthorization, and capital-access challenges as key issues for the year ahead. He added that, despite uncertainty around tariff policy, “betting against the U.S. is a bad bet.” (Commercial Property Executive, Nov. 19)

Next on RER’s meeting calendar is the all-member State of the Industry (SOI) Meeting, which will include policy advisory committee sessions, on January 21-22, 2026, in Washington, DC.

Roundtable SOI Meeting Spotlights Monetary Policy, Liquidity, and Capital

Posted on by Trey Jackson

The Roundtable’s State of the Industry (SOI) meeting this week explored monetary policy, international capital flows, commercial real estate market sector updates, and other national capital and credit issues included in RER’s 2024 Capital and Credit Policy Priorities.

Policy and CRE Markets

Debra Cafaro (Ventas) with former Fed Vice Chairman Randal Quarles
  • Debra Cafaro (Chairman & CEO, Ventas, Inc. | Immediate Past Chair, The Real Estate Roundtable) led a policy discussion with former Fed Vice Chairman Randal Quarles (Chairman, The Cynosure Group) on the “Basel III Endgame“ regulatory proposal to increase banks’ capital requirements; CRE loan exposure to the financial system; and the importance of retaining Fed independence from the political landscape.
  • CRE industry leaders offered market sector reports, including Roundtable Board Member Jodie McLean (Chief Executive Officer, EDENS) on retail; Thomas Toomey (Chairman and CEO, UDR) on multifamily; Dan Letter (President, Prologis) on industrial; Roundtable Board Member Owen Thomas (Chairman & CEO, BXP) on office; and Michael Lowe (Co-CEO, Lowe) on hospitality.
Foreign Investment panel during The Real Estate Roundtable's 2024 State of the Industry Meeting
  • Roundtable members also discussed market liquidity and international investment in U.S. real estate, including the negative impact of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) of 1980. A panel of experts included (left to right) David Friedline (Partner, Deloitte Tax LLP); Steve Hason (Managing Director, Head of Americas Real Assets, APG Asset Management US Inc.); Adam Gallistel (Managing Director, GIC Real Estate); and Max O’Neill (Managing Director, Blackstone). 
  • A presentation by Roundtable Senior Vice President Clifton E. (Chip) Rodgers, Jr. about the major capital and credit issues facing the industry can be downloaded here.

The Roundtable’s Real Estate Capital Policy Advisory Committee (RECPAC) plans to meet next in New York this spring.  Details on date, time and venue will be provided soon.

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