Peachtree Group Soars to 8th in 2024 U.S. CRE Lending Rankings
MBA ranked Peachtree seventh among U.S. hotel lenders for the fourth consecutive year
Peachtree Group is ranked the eighth-largest commercial real estate lender in the U.S., deploying $1.6 billion in credit investments, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s 2024 loan origination rankings.
Vishnu Rageev R is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience in business journalism. Before joining Asian Media Group in 2022, he worked with BW Businessworld, IMAGES Group, exchange4media Group, DC Books, and Dhanam Publications in India. His coverage includes industry analysis, market trends and corporate developments, focusing on retail, real estate and hospitality. As a senior journalist with Asian Hospitality, he covers the U.S. hospitality industry. He is from Kerala, a state in South India.
Peachtree Group Ranks 8th in U.S. CRE Lending for 2024
PEACHTREE GROUP IS the eighth-largest commercial real estate lender in the U.S., according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s 2024 loan origination rankings. The company deployed $1.6 billion in commercial real estate credit investments.
The MBA also ranked Peachtree seventh among U.S. CRE hotel lenders for the fourth consecutive year and recognized it across the office, multifamily, retail, and industrial sectors, Peachtree said in a statement.
“With a substantial volume of maturities on the horizon and trillions in debt coming due through 2028, the current environment favors private credit lenders like Peachtree,” said Greg Friedman, Peachtree’s managing principal and CEO. “We’re well-positioned to capitalize on these opportunities and help close the funding gap left by traditional capital sources.”
Atlanta-based Peachtree is led by Friedman, Managing Principal; CFO Jatin Desai; and Principal Mitul Patel.
Peachtree completed 22 CPACE transactions in 2024, totaling $316.6 million, setting a firm record, the statement said. The CPACE team also surpassed $1 billion in total transaction volume, expanding Peachtree’s lending platform.
Michael Harper, Peachtree’s president of hotel lending, said the hospitality sector remains resilient due to strong demand fundamentals.
“We remain committed to supporting owners and operators with expansion, renovation, and refinancing needs—leveraging our strategic capital deployment and adaptability to drive long-term value,” Harper said.
Amid market volatility, Peachtree deployed nearly $500 million in credit transactions during the first quarter and is on track to exceed its 2024 production targets.
Notable originations include:
$59 million bridge loan – AC/Element Hotel, San Antonio, Texas
$51.5 million bridge loan and CPACE financing – Reserve at Vinedo, Paso Robles, California
$48.3 million bridge loan and CPACE financing – Yorkshire Apartments, Tumwater, Washington
$43 million bridge loan – Home2 Suites/Tru Hotel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
$42.8 million bridge loan – The Jax Apartments, Monroe, Georgia
"Our fourth consecutive top-10 year underscores the strength of our credit platform and our ability to lend through business cycles," Harper said. "These results reflect our reputation for reliability and delivering certainty of execution, even in volatile market conditions."
Peachtree offers a range of financing solutions, including permanent loans, bridge loans, mezzanine financing, CPACE loans, and preferred equity investments. The firm expanded its capabilities last year by launching a Triple Net Lease financing program to support sponsors.
Announcement of $100,000 H-1B visa fee triggers panic among Indian professionals.
The fee applies only to new petitions.
IT companies are reportedly reviewing staffing and travel.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S announcement of a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions, effective Sept. 21, reportedly triggered panic among Indian H-1B holders. Many rushed to book last-minute flights, resulting in fully booked planes and higher fares.
The move caused anxiety among IT employees whose work depends on U.S. assignments, according to India Today.
However, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services later clarified that the fee applies only to new petitions, not existing visa holders, providing some relief but not ending widespread uncertainty.
Airports and travel agents reported a surge in cancellations and rescheduling requests, while families of visa holders faced disruptions during the festive season.
Friday’s announcement sparked further confusion, culminating in chaotic scenes aboard an Emirates flight from San Francisco to Dubai, AeroTime reported. The plane was held on the tarmac for three hours as H-1B holders tried to determine if they could re-enter the U.S. The policy change created confusion over who would be affected.
India’s external affairs ministry said the fee could have humanitarian consequences “by disrupting families.” The Indian government said it “hopes these disruptions can be addressed by U.S. authorities” and emphasized that the exchange of skilled workers has “contributed enormously” to both nations, The Guardian reported.
H-1B visas are valid for three years and can be renewed for another three. The Trump administration says the increased fee helps U.S. companies stay competitive and create more jobs. However, Indian stakeholders raised concerns about its impact on the IT sector, citing potential disruptions to operations and project timelines. IT companies are reportedly reviewing staffing and travel while managing higher compliance requirements.
“Service exports have finally been dragged into the global trade and tech war,” Madhavi Arora, chief economist at Emkay Global Financial Services, wrote in a note on Sunday, according to CNN.
Arora also suggested the policy could have an unexpected upside for India, potentially bringing talent back home. While it could concentrate top professionals within India’s largest tech firms, it could also “catalyze India’s transformation into a more powerful global innovation and delivery hub.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data for fiscal 2025, show Amazon as the top H-1B recipient, securing about 10,000 visas.
The recent 50 percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration on India was also met with backlash from the country.
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The H-2B visa program protects U.S. jobs and wages, according to AHLA citing a study.
It allows hotels and resorts to meet travelers’ needs while supporting the economy.
It provides foreign workers for seasonal jobs when domestic workers are unavailable.
THE H-2B VISA program does not harm U.S. jobs or wages but increases pay and supports the labor force, according to an Edgeworth Economics study. Citing that study, the American Hotel & Lodging Association said the program enables hotels and resorts to meet travelers’ needs while supporting the workforce and economy.
The Edgeworth study for the H-2B Workforce Coalition found the program allows businesses to hire foreign workers for seasonal jobs when domestic workers are unavailable. It showed no evidence that increases in H-2B visas reduce U.S. employment or wages. Instead, each H-2B worker supports three to five local jobs and areas with more H-2B workers saw wages grow 1.6 percent faster.
“Areas that hired more H-2B workers under the higher visa cap saw greater job and wage growth among U.S. workers,” said Steve Bronars, partner at Edgeworth Economics, citing findings consistent with an earlier analysis by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Ashley McNeil, AHLA’s vice president of federal government affairs and chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition, said the new analysis underscores the H-2B program’s clear value to local communities.
“The hotel industry, which is still 200,000 workers short compared to pre-pandemic levels, relies on legal guest worker programs to augment our workforce, particularly to address seasonal demands,” McNeil said. “Access to the H-2B visa program has been critical in allowing hotels and resorts of all sizes to meet travelers’ needs, while supporting the local workforce and economy.”
The program has also helped businesses manage peak-season labor shortages, easing the workload for full-time employees. Landscaping accounts for nearly 40 percent of certified H-2B workers. Hotels and motels account for 8.67 percent, support activities for forestry 6.3 percent and seafood processing and packaging 5.65 percent.
“This study reaffirms what our members have long recognized: despite extensive recruitment efforts, there remains a critical shortage of U.S. workers willing or available to fill temporary positions that are currently being filled by H-2B workers,” said Arnulfo Hinojosa, COO of the Federation of Workers and Employers of America and vice chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition. “H-2B workers allow seasonal businesses to operate at a higher capacity and create more U.S. jobs.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump recently signed a proclamation raising the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 annually, a move that could affect Indian professionals in the U.S.
More than 70 percent expect a RevPAR increase in Q4, according to HAMA survey.
Demand is the top concern, cited by 77.8 percent, up from 65 percent in spring.
Only 37 percent expect a U.S. recession in 2025, down from 49 percent earlier in the year.
MORE THAN 70 PERCENT of respondents to a Hospitality Asset Managers Association survey expect a 1 to 3 percent RevPAR increase in the fourth quarter. Demand is the top concern, cited by 77.8 percent of respondents, up from 65 percent in the spring survey.
HAMA’s “Fall 2025 Industry Outlook Survey” found that two-thirds of respondents are pursuing acquisitions, 80 percent plan renovations in the coming year and 57 percent are making or planning changes to brand affiliation or management strategies.
“With hopes high for a stronger fourth quarter, hotel asset managers continue to maintain an optimistic outlook,” said Chad Sorensen, HAMA president. “More than 70 percent of our members expect RevPAR to increase 1 to 3 percent and two-thirds are pursuing acquisitions. With 80 percent planning renovations in the coming year, we see an engaged community focused on performance.”
Conducted among 81 HAMA members, about one-third of the association, the survey reports expectations for revenue growth, property investments and acquisitions.
However, the top three most concerning issues were demand, ADR growth and tariffs, HAMA said.
RevPAR growth forecast
Looking into 2026, 72.8 percent expect 1 to 3 percent growth, 18.5 percent expect 4 to 6 percent, 7.4 percent anticipate flat results and 1.2 percent project a decline. Full-year RevPAR projections versus budget are more mixed: 49 percent expect 1 to 3 percent growth, 17 percent expect flat results, 12 percent expect 4 to 6 percent growth, 2 percent expect 7 percent or more and 19 percent expect declines.
Hotel asset managers note several market pressures, the report said. Other concerns include ADR growth at 51.9 percent, tariffs at 34.6 percent, wage increases at 33.3 percent and potential Federal Reserve rate changes at 32.1 percent. Management company performance at 25.9 percent, immigration and labor trends, union activity and insurance costs were also mentioned.
“The industry is at its highest level of concern around maintaining or increasing rates,” Sorensen said. “There’s pressure to build on the P&L going into 2026.”
Performance projections
Confidence in the broader economy has increased since spring, the survey found. Only 37 percent of respondents expect a U.S. recession in 2025, down from 49 percent earlier in the year.
When asked about properties exceeding gross operating profit forecasts, 59 percent of managers expect 0 to 25 percent of their hotels to surpass targets, 25 percent expect 26 to 50 percent, 10 percent expect 51 to 75 percent and 6 percent expect 76 to 100 percent. Additionally, 20 percent reported returning hotels to lenders or entering forced sales since the spring survey.
Peachtree launched new DST with 131,040‑square foot industrial facility in Mansfield, Texas.
The property was acquired at $180 per square foot.
Peachtree completed $320M in debt-free transactions across multiple markets since 2022.
PEACHTREE GROUP LAUNCHED its latest Delaware Statutory Trust with the acquisition of a newly built 131,040-square-foot industrial facility in Mansfield, Texas. The company has completed about $320 million in debt-free transactions since launching its DST program in 2022, according to its statement.
The rear-load building, completed in 2025, features 36-foot clear heights, a three-acre outdoor storage yard and room for future expansion. The property was acquired for $180 per square foot, below market comparables, and is fully leased to Ferguson, a distributor for professional contractors in North America, Peachtree said in a statement.
“In today's higher-rate environment, where tighter credit and volatile valuations challenge traditional ownership, DSTs have emerged as a compelling alternative,” said Greg Friedman, Peachtree’s managing principal and CEO. “They deliver attractive cash flows backed by institutional-quality assets, while also offering tax advantages, professional management and diversification.”
Ferguson signed a 10-year corporate lease beginning in March, with 3 percent annual rent escalations, two five-year extension options and limited landlord obligations, the statement said. With investment-grade credit ratings from S&P BBB+ and Moody’s Baa1, the tenant supports the trust’s income stability and risk profile.
Peachtree’s DSTs, Opportunity Zones and REIT structures form a platform aimed at tax efficiency, compounding benefits and risk-adjusted returns, supported by Peachtree’s integrated asset management.
“Expanding into the industrial sector is a step toward building a diversified DST platform that can perform across cycles,” said Tim Witt, Peachtree’s president of 1031 Exchange and DST Products. “DSTs turn a looming tax bill into compounding wealth, keeping money in commercial real estate, but their true strength is pairing tax efficiency with investments that stand on their own merits.”
Atlanta-based Peachtree is led by Friedman; managing principal and CFO Jatin Desai and principal Mitul Patel. In July, Peachtree added the 128-key SpringHill Suites Phoenix West Avondale in Arizona as its ninth Delaware Statutory Trust offering since launching the program in 2022.
House introduces AFA to boost franchise model and hotel operations.
The act establishes a joint employer standard.
AHLA backs the bill, urging swift adoption.
THE HOUSE Of Representatives introduced the American Franchise Act, aimed at supporting the U.S. franchising sector, including 36,000 franchised hotels and 3 million workers nationwide. The American Hotel & Lodging Association, backed the bill, urging swift adoption to boost the franchise model and clarify joint employer standards.
The AFA amends the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act, which since 2015 have created uncertainty for franchisors and franchisees, AHLA said in a statement.
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Oklahoma) and Don Davis (D-North Carolina) introduced the AFA.
“Hotel franchising is a pathway to the American Dream for many entrepreneurs,” said Rosanna Maietta, AHLA president and CEO. “It is a proven win-win business model that enables partnerships between franchisees and franchisors. The American Franchise Act codifies a clear joint employer definition and is essential to protecting this framework.”
AFA aims to protect the franchise model, which has long enabled women and minority entrepreneurs to run their own businesses with support from larger brands, the statement said. It will clarify the employment relationship by establishing a joint employer standard that protects workers and preserves franchisee autonomy.
Mitch Patel, AHLA board chair and Vision Hospitality Group CEO, said that as a hotel franchisee, he has seen how the model enabled him and others to achieve the American Dream.
“Throughout my career, my hotel business has employed thousands of people who have built lifelong careers in our industry,” he said. “The American Franchise Act is essential to preserving this foundation. For the benefit of both employers and employees, we strongly encourage the swift passage of this critical legislation.”
"As one of the few franchisees in Congress, I understand how damaging an ever-changing joint-employer rule is to the franchise business model,” said Hern. “I'm pleased that we were able to come together in a bipartisan effort to create legislation that safeguards small businesses and individuals working to achieve the American Dream across the country."
Davis said changes to joint-employer rules have created prolonged uncertainty in the industry.
“The American Franchise Act aims to restore stability by clarifying that franchisors and franchisees operate as independent employers while safeguarding workers through established labor standards,” he said.
Separately, a petition for a referendum on Los Angeles’s “Olympic Wage” ordinance, which sets a $30 minimum wage for hospitality workers by the 2028 Games, fell short of signatures. The ordinance will take effect, raising hotel wages from $22.50 to $25 next year, $27.50 in 2027 and $30 in 2028.