The Federal Reserve’s proposal to loosen the handcuffs placed on banks in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis marks a major shift in oversight that could unlock up to $175B in new capital for commercial real estate — should lenders choose to spend it. 
The central bank’s proposed reforms would lower capital requirements, cutting the amount of equity institutions have to hold against their assets, giving banks more space to lend. Fed officials say the policy shift is meant to encourage lenders to push more money into the economy, and banks have already been warming back up to commercial real estate lending.
But…