The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced today that Fannie Mae will reward multifamily properties with a green building certification, such as LEED, with a lower interest rate. USGBC’s LEED green building rating system is one of several recognized certifications including Energy Star and Enterprise’s Green Communities Criteria.
For these certified properties, Fannie Mae is now granting a 10 basis point reduction in the interest rate of a multifamily refinance, acquisition or supplemental mortgage loan. For example, if the market interest rate is 4% on the multifamily loan, the new rate is 3.9% with this pricing break. On a $10 million dollar loan amortizing over 30 years, the owner would save $95,000 in interest payments over a 10-year term.
All loans financed under this lower interest rate will be also securitized as a Green MBS, growing the total volume of Green Bonds in the market for socially responsible investors to include in their portfolios. Fannie Mae is the leading provider of multifamily financing in the U.S., with a portfolio valued at more than $200 billion.
“This is a great demonstration of leadership from Fannie Mae, and the partnership between the multifamily finance industry and the green building industry,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “This is real money and an incentive to not only build green but also for existing buildings to achieve certification. For the first time, Fannie Mae multifamily lenders will be able to reward building owners for their better buildings.”
"Fannie Mae is leading the way in financing by offering new lower interest rates for green building certified multifamily properties,” says Jeffery Hayward, executive vice president for multifamily, Fannie Mae. “We clearly see the value in the triple-bottom line of certified green buildings: financial benefits of lower operating costs for owners and tenants; social benefits of better quality housing for renters; and environmental benefits for everyone. Our lenders are ready with financing solutions to help multifamily owners make their properties more energy and water efficient for today and for the future."
LEED buildings have been proven to have lower monthly energy and water costs, leaving more disposable income for families and creating healthier and more comfortable indoor environments for occupants. In a study from the U.S. Department of Energy it was reported that LEED buildings are estimated to consume 25% less energy and 11% less water, have 19 percent lower maintenance costs, 27 percent higher occupant satisfaction and 34 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information on Fannie Mae’s Multifamily Green Initiative, please see www.fanniemaegreeninitiative.com.
Related Stories
| Aug 25, 2014
Tall wood buildings: Surveying the early innovators
Timber has been largely abandoned as a structural solution in taller buildings during the last century, in favor of concrete and steel. Perkins+Will's Rebecca Holt writes about the firm's work in surveying the burgeoning tall wood buildings sector.
| Aug 25, 2014
'Vanity space' makes up large percentage of world's tallest buildings [infographic]
Large portions of some skyscrapers are useless space used to artificially enhance their height, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
| Aug 21, 2014
Apartment construction hits 25-year high
The boost to apartment construction suggests that job gains are encouraging the creation of households.
| Aug 19, 2014
Goettsch Partners unveils design for mega mixed-use development in Shenzhen [slideshow]
The overall design concept is of a complex of textured buildings that would differentiate from the surrounding blue-glass buildings of Shenzhen.
| Aug 18, 2014
Seaside luxury: Arquitectonica, Melo Group introduce Aria on the Bay condo tower in Miami
Melo Group has launched sales for Aria on the Bay, its new 647-unit luxury condominium in Miami. The bayfront condo will overlook Margaret Pace Park, Biscayne Bay and the Miami Beach skyline.
| Aug 11, 2014
Will Alsop's funky 'high-rise on stilts' will be built over an apartment building in London
South London's riverfront will soon be graced by one of Will Alsop's eccentric designs: a curved apartment tower on purple stilts.
| Aug 6, 2014
Multifamily Sector Giants: Younger consumers, Sunbelt renaissance energize multifamily housing [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Multifamily housing construction is expected to remain relatively strong throughout 2014. Starts picked up in 2013, with completions due to catch up this year, finally approaching pre-recession levels, according to BD+C's 2014 Giants 300 Report.
| Jul 30, 2014
German students design rooftop solar panels that double as housing
Students at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences designed a solar panel that can double as living space for the Solar Decathlon Europe.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction market benefits from improving economy, new technology [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Following years of fairly lackluster demand for commercial property remodeling, reconstruction revenue is improving, according to the 2014 Giants 300 report.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Construction Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Structure Tone, Turner, and Gilbane top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction contractor and construction management firms in the U.S.
