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CREFC Set to Host Largest Gathering of Commercial Real Estate Finance Leaders Next Month in Miami

December 16, 2025

MIAMI, FL — December 16, 2025 — The CRE Finance Council (CREFC) will gather the commercial real estate finance industry's foremost leaders at its flagship CREFC Miami conference, January 11-14, 2026. Widely recognized as the largest and most influential event in commercial real estate finance, CREFC Miami brings together more than 4,000 industry leaders for four days of market insights, high-value connection-building, and forward-looking discussion. 

As the recognized voice of the commercial real estate finance industry, CREFC represents lenders, investors, servicers, issuers, and the full range of professionals powering the commercial real estate capital markets. CREFC plays a vital role in shaping industry standards, delivering trusted research and data, and advocating the policy and regulatory issues that matter most to market participants.

Renowned for its member-driven, content-focused programming, CREFC Miami is the one event that brings the entire CRE finance ecosystem together in one place. Whether attendees are focused on capital markets, CRE loan origination, credit, loan servicing, policy, or investment strategy, the conference offers an unmatched environment in which relationships are strengthened, ideas are exchanged, and the direction of the market comes into focus.

“Those in commercial real estate finance are entering 2026 with both caution and optimism, and CREFC Miami is where those perspectives come together,” said Lisa Pendergast, President and CEO of CREFC. “Our conference delivers candid, member-driven dialogue that reflects real market conditions. This is where industry leaders gain clarity on emerging trends, share what they’re seeing on the ground, and prepare for the year ahead.”

Chris Voss, former Lead International Hostage Negotiator for the FBI and bestselling author of Never Split the Difference, will kick off the conference with the keynote session ─ "Tactical Empathy: Negotiation Secrets from an FBI Negotiator." As CEO of The Black Swan Group, Voss brings battle-tested strategies that empower executives to transform high-stakes standoffs into collaborative victories, a critical skillset as the commercial real estate sector navigates complex restructurings, uncertain capital markets, and approaching debt maturities. 

Scott Galloway, renowned entrepreneur and NYU Stern School of Business marketing professor, will share his annual predictions in a keynote session examining consumer, tech, and business trends that will have the biggest impact in 2026. Using data-informed insights, he will share his vision for the trends and opportunities that will define the year ahead and reflect on his previous year’s predictions.

Pendergast added, "CREFC Miami 2026 delivers precisely what our industry needs: keynote visionaries like Chris Voss and Scott Galloway unveiling high-stakes negotiation frameworks and market trends, paired with deep-dive sessions on today's most pressing industry issues: private credit's evolution, global capital flows, and transformative approaches to distressed office assets. Other sessions will unpack portfolio rebalancing tactics, alternative housing finance models, and data center capital demands.”

Key sessions at CREFC Miami include:

• Private Credit Playbook: Evolving Players in the Debt Stack
• Global Capital Flows: Navigating International Investments in U.S. Real Estate
• Industry Leaders Roundtable
• Portfolio Rebalancing Strategies: Loan Sales, Modifications, and Enforcement
• From Vacancy to Value: Repositioning, Financing and Opportunities in Distressed Office
• Beyond Traditional Multifamily: Exploring Alternative and Affordable Housing
• Powering Digital Infrastructure: Growing Demand for Data Center Capital
• A comprehensive lineup of Forums representing the various market constituents addressing key issues and trends
• Updates on CREFC’s research, policy/regulatory issues, and initiatives supporting transparency and best practices in CRE finance

Event Details: 

• When: January 11-14, 2026
• Where: Loews Miami Beach Hotel | 1601 Collins Avenue | Miami Beach, FL 33139
• Conference Program
• Registration 

About CREFC

The CRE Finance Council (CREFC) is the trade association for the nearly $6 trillion commercial real estate finance industry with a membership that includes approximately 400 companies and 19,000 individuals. Member firms include balance sheet and securitized lenders, loan and bond investors, private equity firms, servicers, rating agencies, and borrowers. For over 30 years, CREFC has promoted liquidity, transparency, and efficiency in the commercial real estate finance markets and acts as a legislative and regulatory advocate for the industry, playing a vital role in setting market standards and best practices and providing education for market participants. For more information visit www.crefc.org

Contact:
Mary Beth Ryan
Senior Director, Communications
646-884-7567
mryan@crefc.org

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CREFC Responds to CFPB 1071 Re-Proposal

December 16, 2025

On December 15, CREFC submitted a response to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) 1071 re-proposal. CREFC also signed onto a joint trade letter, also submitted on December 15.

The 1071 reporting requirements, via a final rule originally issued in 2023, prescribe the collection of data on loan applications and originations made to small businesses. 

• The 2023 rule largely exempted multifamily loans, which are reported separately under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
• However, it did not exempt loans secured by commercial real estate made to a small businesses.

The Re-proposal makes several helpful changes for CRE lenders, but still falls short of exempting commercial mortgages and similar credit from data collection. 

• Lower Revenue Threshold: The CFPB has proposed to lower the small business revenue threshold from $5 million to $1 million in gross annual revenue.
• Higher Institutional Loan Threshold: The CFPB has recommended making some changes to the definition of covered financial institution, including raising the origination threshold from 100 to 1,000 in each of the preceding two years.
• Multifamily loans continue to be excluded from 1071 reporting.

CREFC argues that as reflected in both the federal regulatory framework and industry practice, CRE finance is fundamentally different from small-business lending. 

• Bringing CRE loans within the scope of section 1071 would stretch the reporting regime beyond its intended focus on small-business credit.

We urge the CFPB, therefore, to exempt from section 1071 rulemaking credit secured by non-owner-occupied commercial real estate. 

• Like other investment properties, these loans are underwritten based on the property’s cash flow and collateral value rather than the operating revenues of a business. 
• The 1071 framework would be more coherent and targeted if it excluded CRE investment properties.

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CREFC Opposes NYC COPA Bill

December 16, 2025

Ahead of New York City Council action on legislation that would mandate a time window to allow qualified nonprofits the right of first refusal on multifamily properties, CREFC urged the council to reject the bill that could exacerbate affordability issues in the city. 

Why it matters: As originally drafted, the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) Int 0902-2024 would have applied an additional waiting period and processes to every multifamily building sale in the city. The updated version narrows the scope, but it could still have a negative impact.

By the numbers: The bill originally applied to all NYC multifamily with three or more units. The Commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development would have regulatory and administrative responsibility for the program.

The amended version made the following updates:

• Multifamily Building Criteria: The waiting periods would apply only to 4+ unit multifamily properties that also are experiencing distress or have expiring affordability protections. The bill lists the specific distress criteria (foreclosure, fine, or safety related), but the regulator would have the power to expand the criteria.
• Vacant Lots Included: The COPA timelines also would apply to vacant lots zoned for multifamily.
• Time Periods Adjusted: The time periods below can be extended by the commissioner. Overall, the minimum time could lengthen the sales timeline by at least six months.
  • Owners must file a notice of intent to sell at least five days before listing.
  • Nonprofits have 45 days to submit a statement of interest.
  • Interested nonprofits have 90 days to submit a bona fide offer.
  • The owner must act on the offer within 10 days. If accepted, the nonprofit has 30 days to execute a contract of sale.
  • If rejected, the owner must still notify the interested nonprofit if another buyer puts in an offer and then gives the interested nonprofit 15 days to execute a right of first refusal.
• Penalty Increased: Noncompliant sales would be charged a penalty of 3% of the sales price. The fine was originally $30,000.

The big picture: While the changes narrowing the scope indicate that the bill was not necessarily on a glide path to enactment, the original legislation has nearly enough councilmembers as sponsors to override a mayoral veto.

• The national conversation on housing affordability has also encouraged progressive advocates to work on advancing similar bills.
• CREFC will continue to monitor the situation and alert members on any further developments.

Please contact David McCarthy (dmccarthy@crefc.org) with questions.

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CREFC Forums: Driving Consensus, Shaping the Future of CRE Finance

December 16, 2025 

The CRE Finance Council Forums are the essential market constituencies that drive innovation, best practices, and advocacy across the commercial real estate finance industry.

Comprising key sectors—including Issuers, Servicers, Portfolio Lenders, GSE/Multifamily Lenders, Alternative Lenders/High Yield Investors, Investment-Grade (IG) Bondholders, and B-Piece Investors—our Forums serve as vital hubs for interaction, addressing issues critical to each business sector, and working collaboratively toward solutions that benefit the entire market.

Our Collaborative Mission

Through the collective power of these specialized Forums, CREFC is positioned to:

• Represent the diverse interests of all participants.
• Manage complex and converging market views.
• Advocate consensus positions directly to policymakers and lawmakers.
• Educate members on emerging trends and regulatory shifts.
• Develop market-leading best practices and standards.

Forum Leadership at CREFC Miami 2026

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Congressional Retirements

December 16, 2025

By the Numbers. A large and growing number of members of Congress will not seek reelection to their current seats in 2026. As of today, 50 members have announced retirement or a run for higher office. 

• To date, retirement announcements are outpacing congressional cycles going back to 2018, a year that saw mass retirements among Republicans and a blue wave in the subsequent November elections.
• Between the House and Senate, 27 Republicans have announced their retirement compared to 23 Democrats. Some are retiring outright, while others are running for Senate, Governor, or other offices. 

House

Of the 42 U.S. House incumbents who are not seeking re-election:

• Fifteen U.S. House incumbents — ten Democrats and five Republicans — are retiring from public office.
• Twenty- Seven U.S House incumbents- nine Democrats and eighteen Republicans are not seeking re-election to run for a mix of Senate, Governor, State Attorney General, and County Judge.

Senate

Of the eight U.S. Senate incumbents who are not seeking re-election:

• Seven—four Democrats and three Republicans—are retiring from public office.
• One Republican is running for governor.

The result is significant turnover across both chambers. Republicans account for a larger share of departures, driven heavily by House members running for higher office, while Democratic turnover skews more toward outright retirements among senior lawmakers. 

What's next: In the near future, Speaker Johnson has a different issue to deal with, and that is his current majority. 

• As Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation effective on January 5, 2026, the GOP will have a 219-213 majority, a two seat majority. 
• If any other members resign or die over the next year, Johnson’s math will get even tighter, making even procedural votes difficult.

Bottom line: There is a slim but real chance that Johnson could lose his speakership and the GOP could possibly lose the majority prior to the 2026 elections, as there are more retirements expected. 

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CREFC Supports House Financial Services Markup on Housing Supply 

December 16, 2025

Today and tomorrow, the House Financial Services Committee will conduct a two-day markup of various bills, including bipartisan housing supply legislation.

Why it matters: The Senate previously passed its own bipartisan housing legislation, but Republican House leaders rejected the bill as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). 

• Last week Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AR) and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which packages together dozens of bipartisan housing bills focused on supply. 

What they’re saying: The bipartisan House legislation on housing supply highlights the broad concerns on housing affordability and how boosting supply is essential. 

• CREFC submitted a letter of support to the committee ahead of the markup, and CREFC joined with 11 other real estate organizations in a broad industry letter of support for the effort. 

Go deeper: The Housing for the 21st Century Act focuses on boosting housing supply by reducing burdensome regulation, incentivizing local reforms that allow for greater housing production, and modernizes standards for housing production and support. 

• Click here for the text of the bill. Click here for a one-pager. Click here for a section-by-section.
• Click here for our coverage of last week’s housing markup, which covered many of bills included in the new legislation. 

What’s next: After the markup, the full House will likely consider the housing package in early 2026 as part of a continued focus on affordability. 

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