FAQ

Common questions and answers about Dealcharts.org, CMBS data, ABS analysis, and our financial visualization tools.

General Questions

What is Dealcharts.org?

Dealcharts.org is a comprehensive platform for analyzing commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and asset-backed securities (ABS). We provide data visualization tools, interactive charts, and AI-powered analysis capabilities to help investors, analysts, and researchers make informed decisions in the structured finance markets.

Who uses Dealcharts.org?

Our platform serves a diverse range of users including:

Institutional Investors - Pension funds, insurance companies, and asset managers
Investment Banks - Traders, structurers, and research analysts
Rating Agencies - Credit analysts and surveillance teams
Hedge Funds - Portfolio managers and quantitative researchers
Academic Researchers - Finance professors and graduate students
Regulatory Bodies - Banking supervisors and policy analysts

Is Dealcharts.org free to use?

Yes, the majority of our content and basic analytical tools are available at no cost. We believe in democratizing access to financial data and analysis. Premium features and advanced analytics may be available through subscription plans in the future.

Data Questions

Where does your data come from?

Our data is sourced from multiple authoritative sources including:

Rating Agencies - Moody's, S&P, Fitch, DBRS, Kroll
Trustees and Servicers - Monthly and quarterly reporting
Bloomberg and Reuters - Market data and pricing information
Government Sources - SEC filings, Federal Reserve data
Industry Organizations - CREFC, SIFMA, and other trade groups

How current is your data?

We update our data on different schedules depending on the source:

Deal Performance Data - Monthly updates (typically 30-45 days after month-end)
Market Pricing - Daily updates for actively traded securities
New Issuance - Real-time updates as deals are announced and priced
Rating Actions - Within 24 hours of public announcement

How do you ensure data quality?

We employ multiple quality assurance measures:

Cross-Source Validation - Verify data across multiple providers
Automated Checks - Flag anomalies and outliers for review
Historical Consistency - Track data revisions and corrections
Expert Review - Subject matter experts validate complex calculations
User Feedback - Community-driven error reporting and correction

Can I download your data?

Selected datasets are available for download in standard formats (CSV, Excel, JSON). We provide:

Deal Summary Data - Key metrics and performance indicators
Historical Performance - Time series data for trend analysis
Market Statistics - Aggregated market information
Custom Exports - Tailored data extracts for specific research needs

Technical Questions

What browsers do you support?

Dealcharts.org works best on modern browsers including:

Chrome (recommended) - Version 90+
Firefox - Version 88+
Safari - Version 14+
Edge - Version 90+

For optimal performance, we recommend keeping your browser updated to the latest version.

Why do some charts load slowly?

Chart loading speed can be affected by several factors:

Data Complexity - Deals with many loans or long histories require more processing
Internet Connection - Slow connections may delay data retrieval
Browser Performance - Older devices may process complex visualizations slowly
Peak Usage - High traffic periods may temporarily slow response times

Do you have a mobile app?

Currently, we focus on our web-based platform, which is optimized for mobile browsers. Our responsive design ensures full functionality on tablets and smartphones. A dedicated mobile app may be considered for future development based on user demand.

How do I report technical issues?

To report bugs or technical problems:

Contact Form - Use our contact page with detailed error descriptions
Email - Send technical issues to our support team
Browser Console - Include any error messages from your browser's console
Screenshots - Visual evidence helps us diagnose issues faster

CMBS and ABS Questions

What's the difference between CMBS and ABS?

CMBS (Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities) are backed by commercial real estate loans (office buildings, retail centers, hotels, etc.), while ABS (Asset-Backed Securities) are backed by various consumer assets like auto loans, credit cards, student loans, or residential mortgages.

How do you calculate key metrics?

We use industry-standard methodologies for all calculations:

DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) - Net Operating Income ÷ Debt Service
LTV (Loan-to-Value) - Loan Amount ÷ Property Value
Credit Enhancement - Sum of subordination, overcollateralization, and other protections
Weighted Average Life - Duration-based calculation considering prepayment assumptions

What do the risk ratings mean?

We display ratings from major rating agencies (Moody's, S&P, Fitch) using their standard scales:

Investment Grade - AAA/Aaa down to BBB-/Baa3
High Yield - BB+/Ba1 down to C/C
Default - D (S&P/Fitch) or Ca-C (Moody's)

Each agency has slightly different criteria and symbols, which we clearly identify in our displays.

How often do ratings change?

Rating changes occur based on:

Regular Surveillance - Ongoing monitoring by rating agencies
Performance Triggers - Predetermined metrics that trigger reviews
Market Conditions - Broad economic or sector-specific developments
Property Events - Major tenant changes, renovations, or refinancing

Account and Usage Questions

Do I need to create an account?

No account is required for basic access to our charts and analysis. However, creating a free account provides benefits like:

Saved Searches - Bookmark frequently accessed deals and charts
Custom Watchlists - Track specific deals or market segments
Download History - Access previously downloaded data
Personalized Alerts - Notifications about deals matching your criteria

How do you protect my privacy?

We take privacy seriously and follow industry best practices:

Minimal Data Collection - We only collect information necessary for site functionality
No Personal Financial Data - We never request or store personal financial information
Cookie Policy - Clear disclosure of cookie usage and opt-out options
Third-Party Sharing - We do not sell or share personal data with third parties

Can I use your charts in presentations?

Yes, our charts are designed to be presentation-ready. You may:

Screenshot or Export - Capture charts for use in reports and presentations
Attribution Required - Please credit "Dealcharts.org" as the source
Commercial Use - Permitted for business presentations and analysis
Modification - You may annotate or modify exported charts as needed

API and Integration Questions

Do you offer an API?

We're currently developing API access for institutional users. Planned features include:

Real-Time Data Feeds - Direct integration with your systems
Custom Queries - Flexible data retrieval based on your criteria
Bulk Downloads - Efficient transfer of large datasets
Authentication - Secure access controls and usage monitoring

Can I integrate your charts into my website?

Yes, we offer embed options for many of our charts:

Iframe Embedding - Simple HTML embedding for websites
JavaScript Widgets - Interactive charts for web applications
Custom Branding - White-label options for institutional clients
Responsive Design - Charts automatically adapt to different screen sizes

Educational Questions

Where can I learn more about CMBS?

We recommend these educational resources:

Our Blog - In-depth articles about CMBS analysis and market trends
CREFC - Commercial Real Estate Finance Council educational materials
CFA Institute - Professional education programs in structured finance
Academic Papers - Peer-reviewed research on CMBS markets
Rating Agency Reports - Methodology papers from Moody's, S&P, and Fitch

Do you offer training or webinars?

We periodically host educational webinars covering:

Platform Tutorials - How to use our tools effectively
Market Analysis - Current trends and developments in CMBS/ABS markets
Methodology Explanations - Deep dives into analytical techniques
Guest Speakers - Industry experts sharing insights and perspectives

Check our blog and community page for upcoming events.

Still Have Questions?

If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please don't hesitate to reach out:

Contact Form - Visit our contact page for direct inquiries
Community Discussion - Join conversations on our community page
Email - Send detailed questions to our support team
Social Media - Follow us on Twitter for updates and quick responses

We're committed to supporting our users and continuously improving our platform based on your feedback and needs.