Commercial mortgage-backed security

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Securities
Securities Banknote Bond Debenture Derivative Stock
Markets Stock market Commodity market Foreign exchange market Futures exchange Over-the-counter market (OTC) Spot market
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Investment funds Mutual fund Closed-end fund Exchange-traded fund (ETF) Hedge fund Index fund Segregated fund
Structured finance Securitization Agency security Asset-backed security Mortgage-backed security Commercial mortgage-backed security Residential mortgage-backed security Tranche Collateralized debt obligation Collateralized fund obligation Collateralized mortgage obligation Credit-linked note Unsecured debt
Derivatives Forward Futures Option Swap Warrant Credit derivative Hybrid security
v t e

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) are a type of mortgage-backed security backed by commercial and multifamily mortgages rather than residential real estate. CMBS tend to be more complex and volatile than residential mortgage-backed securities due to the unique nature of the underlying property assets.^[1]

The typical structure for the securitization of commercial real estate loans is a real estate mortgage investment conduit (REMIC), a creation of the tax law that allows the trust to be a pass-through entity which is not subject to tax at the trust level.

Many American CMBS transactions carry less prepayment risk than other MBS types, thanks to the structure of commercial mortgages. Commercial mortgages often contain lockout provisions (typically a period of 1–5 years^[2] where there can be no prepayment of the loan) which they can be subject to defeasance, yield maintenance and prepayment penalties to protect bondholders. European CMBS issues typically have less prepayment protection. Interest on the bonds may be a fixed rate or a floating rate, i.e. based on a benchmark (like LIBOR/EURIBOR) plus a spread.