RE Debt Originations

I'm curious about hearing from those of you who are in the debt origination world, specifically working with larger institutional type deals where your loans are $40M+ (think Pru, Allianz, AIG, New York Life, MetLife) .

I recently moved from a more credit UW role where I completed the UW and presentation after a deal had a signed term sheet and helping them close. Now i'm more focused helping originate new deals on the debt side. I would appreciate any guidance on any of the following:

  • What is your typical process in terms of getting package and thinking through the deal/if you want to spend time on it?
  • How many deals are you often sifting through at a time/how do you get through it all?* Where do you focus your analysis efforts?
  • How much time do you spend on the UW?
  • When/how do you feel comfortable soft quoting a deal?
  • How did you develop in the origination world (helpful advice you've received, words of wisdom)
  • What is the approval process for your deals?
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  • What is your typical process in terms of getting package and thinking through the deal/if you want to spend time on it?
  • Is this deal coming from a source I know and trust?  (e.g. Repeat correspondent or repeat sponsor.)
  • Is the deal size within the current program min - max range?
  • Is it in a market I’m currently targeting?
  • What’s the purpose of the loan  -  (construction, C-loan take out, Acquisition, refi, bridge, perm, value-add, pre-stabilized etc.)
  • What’s the property type and age of improvements?  Pass if too old but there can be exceptions.
  • Discuss the opportunity with the source (broker or sponsor) and ask any questions I have.  Discuss the sponsor’s expectations.  Discuss loan structure.  Determine if there are any ways I can structure the loan to be more competitive. 
  • Will I be competitive based on my current pricing mandates and LTV/DY/DSCR restrictions?  Is it worth my time?  
  • How many deals are you often sifting through at a time/how do you get through it all?* Where do you focus your analysis efforts?  I'd guess around 5 deals are sent every dayI spend 10-30 min on my initial screen.
  • How much time do you spend on the UW?  10-30 minutes initially, another hour or two if i'm told my soft quote will be competitive
  • When/how do you feel comfortable soft quoting a deal?  I ask myself, is this worth my time and will committee like it?
  • How did you develop in the origination world (helpful advice you've received, words of wisdom).  Be a jack of all trades.  This job is a combination of Sales, negotiation and analysis (both financial and legal).  Also, you need to work fast but have amazing attention to detail.    
  • What is the approval process for your deals?  Pitch to MD initially then Pitch to committee once further along.  Committee Recommendation is a 10-20 page report that nobody reads.  We present it in person then get peppered with questions for 20 minutes.     
 

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