New York-based private real estate lender Urban Standard Capital has expanded its commercial real estate lending capacity with Western Alliance Bank to a combined $200 million across three funds. According to Commercial Observer, the two firms began working together in 2020. The lending relationship started at approximately $40 million, later increased to $125 million, and has now reached $200 million. Urban Standard plans to use the expanded capacity primarily for transition

Banks trying to reenter the commercial real estate lending game have found themselves in a Catch-22. Regulatory scrutiny and balance sheet issues effectively barred financial institutions from the market starting in 2023. Instead of disappearing completely, they lowered their exposure by lending to their new counterparts. "We've backlevered ourselves essentially by financing some debt funds and causing that margin compression," KeyBank Real Estate Capital Regional Executive A