Recap of the Financing Trends Panel at MEREDA 2025 Forecast Conference: Navigating the Future of Lending and Investment in Maine

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA) 2025 Forecast Conference, held on February 27th at the Holiday Inn By the Bay, brought together nearly 1,000 industry leaders to explore emerging trends shaping Maine’s commercial real estate landscape. One of the most anticipated sessions of the day was the Financing Trends panel, which offered expert insights into the evolving regulatory environment, lending practices, and future predictions for the state’s real estate sector.

The panel, moderated by Kim Twitchell, Senior Director of Affordable Housing at NBT Bank, featured three distinguished panelists: Andrew Silsby, President and CEO of Kennebec Savings Bank, Steve deCastro, CEO of Maine Community Bank, and David Hulit, Business Development Officer at Port 51 Lending. While Hulit opted out of contributing to the article, Silsby and deCastro shared valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in the current financing landscape.

The discussion began with an examination of the regulatory climate for banks under the new administration. Twitchell asked deCastro for his thoughts on how the regulatory environment might evolve, particularly with the incoming changes at the federal level. “Banks continue to lend, and credit standards remain consistent,” deCastro stated. “We see an increase in bank mergers and acquisitions in New England as institutions adjust to the new landscape.” He went on to emphasize that, despite the changing regulatory environment, banks in Maine remain committed to supporting local businesses and real estate ventures.

Andrew Silsby echoed similar sentiments about the adaptability of the banking sector. In response to a question from Twitchell about the impact of the inverted yield curve on banks’ margins, Silsby remarked, “The environment today still presents uncertainty, particularly as we navigate the inverted yield curve. However, the conventional bank market remains well-positioned to weather the challenges ahead.” Silsby pointed out that while many factors affect a bank’s ability to lend, the strength of Maine’s local institutions provides stability during times of economic flux.

The panelists also discussed the future outlook for the economy and how it will influence lending practices. Silsby shared his prediction for 2025: “Business investment is likely to be slower in the first half of 2025 due to uncertainty with changes in the governmental landscape. However, we expect to see a pickup in the second half of the year, with loan interest rates likely remaining unchanged for most of 2025.” He noted that while there are many unknowns, the resiliency of Maine’s financial institutions is a critical factor that will help sustain lending activity.

DeCastro also offered a positive outlook, saying, “Banks are continuing to lend, and credit standards have remained consistent. While we may see some volatility, we expect that lending will remain strong, particularly for projects with solid fundamentals.” He highlighted that banks in Maine are investing in building good relationships with clients, which bodes well for the state’s real estate sector.

As the panel wrapped up, both Silsby and deCastro expressed cautious optimism for 2025, predicting a slower start to the year but with hopes for a rebound as the economy stabilizes. Their insights into the financing trends and their predictions for the year ahead were a valuable part of the broader conversation at the MEREDA Forecast Conference, leaving attendees with a clearer understanding of what to expect in the coming months.

The MEREDA Forecast Conference continues to serve as a vital platform for industry professionals to connect, learn, and share knowledge that will shape the future of Maine’s real estate and development industries. With insights from leaders like Silsby and deCastro, the future of financing in Maine looks promising, even amidst the current economic uncertainties.

For more information about the MEREDA Forecast Conference or to access additional insights from the event, please contact Shelly R. Clark, Executive Director of MEREDA.