Being last in line doesn’t always mean getting the worst seats. Buyers of the most subordinated tranche of a commercial mortgage-backed securities deal, for example, get a front-row view of the debt they hold, and those seats have become increasingly valuable.

The U.S. real estate market is at the top of the list for the world’s investors, as a rate roller-coaster ride could stabilize in the coming year.

Compressing yields and a rising number of RE debt players have led to fears that the debt opportunity is over. The real issue is how far managers will go to hit their target returns.

There are opportunities in commercial real estate debt, particularly vintages, Robert Lieber of C-III Capital Partners tells PrivcapRE

Three experts give PrivcapRE their thoughts on the state of commercial RE debt investing as asset values continue to improve, yields tighten, and rising interest rates loom

David Rose of Hewitt EnnisKnupp on the role of commercial real estate debt in the institutional portfolio.

LPs regained their appetite for debt funds in 2013. The outlook for the market remains strong. But the funds are not without risk.

Talmage LLC’s Chief Executive Officer Ed Shugrue looks at what lies ahead for the real estate debt market.

Jeff Friedman of Mesa West Capital talks about the mentality needed to be a real estate lender.

It’s twice as good to be a real estate lender today than at the peak of the market. Jeff Friedman of Mesa West Capital talks about the opportunities for value-added transitional loans and the challenges of borrower NOI assumptions.

Europe has hit bottom. Colony Capital CEO Tom Barrack compares the real estate market in Europe to the US in 2008, but warns it’s much more difficult to hunt for deals.