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As we move deeper into 2025, the market remains defined by volatility, dislocation and uncertainty. At Peachtree Group, we don’t wait for clarity, we lead through complexity. Despite persistent interest rate headwinds and shifting investor dynamics, our senior leaders see not just challenges but opportunities to deploy capital with precision, creativity and discipline. Here they share candid insights on navigating this evolving landscape, uncovering value where others see risk and positioning Peachtree to emerge stronger on the other side of the cycle.
“The truth is, we’re not waiting for a storm—we’re already in it. In any storm, pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. For the past several years, we’ve operated in a market shaped by disruption: historic rate hikes, geopolitical shocks and policy uncertainty. We had hoped that we would have seen the darkest moments already, but this cycle had other plans. We’re navigating headwinds in real time, positioning ourselves to endure and emerge stronger. The next six months will likely bring continued volatility with persistent inflation, higher-for-longer interest rates and fragmented capital markets. Still, within that turbulence, signals of clarity are beginning to emerge. As visibility returns, whether through promised tax reform, trade resolution or regulatory recalibration, so too will stability. Our approach is simple. We don’t ignore the storm; we prepare for it. We position our portfolio not to avoid pain but to minimize unnecessary suffering. We are beginning to see the light and are positioned to lead as it returns.” — Greg Friedman, Managing Principal and CEO
“As a team, we’ve successfully navigated downturns, market volatility and shifting political and economic landscapes. Each disruption has only strengthened our resilience and sharpened our edge. While others view unpredictability as discomfort, we see it as an opportunity. It is the space where we thrive, uncovering opportunities to deploy capital and generate exceptional returns.” — Jatin Desai, Managing Principal and CFO
“Volatility continues to define the CRE landscape, disrupting early signs of recovery and forcing a rethink for many market participants. At Peachtree, we remain focused on fundamentals such as location, sponsorship, basis and demand drivers, which tend to outperform through cycles. With traditional lenders pulling back, we are actively financing high quality assets at a premium yield and expect continued opportunity in refinances, loan purchases and situations where execution, not momentum, is what matters.” — Michael Harper, President, Hotel Lending
“The uncertainty of the next 12 months isn’t just about the horizon; it’s about the volatility we face week to week. As transactions pick up, we’ll see the true impact of the value reset, prompting re-margining, recapitalizations or dispositions across the board. With investor liquidity constrained and borrowers under pressure, we expect a rise in structured equity solutions and accelerated asset sales, especially if employment softens and fundamentals weaken.” — Michael Ritz, Executive Vice President, Investments
“We’re operating in a higher-for-longer rate environment, but deals are still getting done—and the dislocation we're seeing now is creating actionable opportunities rather than road blocks. Broken capital stacks, rising distress, and general uncertainty are revealing compelling entry points for preferred equity and rescue capital, where we can participate in upside while preserving downside protection. At Peachtree, we thrive in moments like this—our creative structuring and execution strength allow us to play offense while others wait for clarity.” — Michael Bernath, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Dispositions
“Over the next 12 to 18 months, investors will find compelling opportunities to generate attractive, non-correlated alpha through private credit and special situations. Peachtree is actively capitalizing on market dislocation and mispriced risk with strategic, nimble allocations across the capital stack. This environment allows us to play selective offense and deliver strong performance for our LPs. — Daniel Savage, Senior Vice President, Investments & Strategy
“Capital markets volatility, especially in the CMBS and CRE CLO space, creates a unique advantage for lenders like Peachtree that do not rely on securitized executions. As banks are pressured to offload sub-performing loans, we see strong opportunities in the $20–75 million loan range, mainly through deeper stretch senior structures. We remain optimistic about exiting pre-COVID investments and expanding strategies that capitalize on today’s pricing dislocation and policy-driven market shifts.” — Jeremy Stoler, Executive Vice President, Debt Capital Markets
“Market dislocation will drive meaningful opportunities for Peachtree, particularly as refinancing challenges and reduced liquidity sideline many market participants. Sectors like hospitality, multifamily and land remain attractive, especially where bridge and construction lending can solve capital stack gaps. With fewer players in the space and distress beginning to surface, we’re well positioned to deploy capital where others can’t or won’t.” — Jared Schlosser, Executive Vice President, Hotel Originations and Head of CPACE
“Commercial real estate is navigating a uniquely complex moment, shaped by macro pressures like tariffs, inflation and geopolitical fragmentation, and micro realities such as capital expenditure burdens, labor inflation and localized demand shifts. In hotels where reinvestment is non-negotiable and operating costs are rising, the ability to underwrite location, efficiency and adaptive revenue strategies is critical. Today’s dislocation lies in broken capital stacks with unfinished developments, over-leveraged deals, and liquidity-starved sponsors, which are offering compelling opportunities for well-positioned credit investors who can move with precision and discipline.” — Sameer Nair, Senior Vice President, Equity Asset Management
“Uncertainty is sidelining many investors, but that’s precisely where opportunity emerges. We see the most actionable dislocation in debt today, with equity and preferred equity likely to follow. Bridge lending remains compelling, but flexibility across the capital stack is key. While others pause, we’re leaning into select development, knowing today’s starts will be tomorrow’s top assets. Peachtree has grown the most during disruption, and we believe this next cycle will be no different.” — Brian Waldman, Chief Investment Officer
Peachtree Group, in partnership with Paso Robles Hotel Partners, has opened The Ava Hotel in California’s Central Coast wine country. Part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, the upscale property is located in downtown Paso Robles next to the city’s historic town square and is managed by Azul Hospitality Group.
The Ava, Paso Robles’ first lifestyle-branded hotel, features 151 guestrooms and suites. Guests can choose from standard layouts including single king, double queen, and double king rooms, or opt for enhanced accommodations with Juliet balconies opening to floor-to-ceiling doors or poolside patios with direct access to the rooftop saltwater pool. For more space, one-bedroom and double queen suites include 1.5 bathrooms, living areas with fireplaces, powder rooms, and sofa sleepers.
Related Coverage: The Ava Hotel opens in Paso Robles, CA
Hotel Business, Asian Hospitality, Hotel News Resource, Lodging, HospitalityNet
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During the California Gold Rush, thousands rushed west in search of fortune. Few struck it rich. The real winners were those who sold the picks, shovels and other tools needed to sustain the miners’ efforts. They thrived not by chasing the frenzy, but by positioning themselves with strategy and discipline.
Today’s commercial real estate market presents a similar dynamic. The market continues to experience one of its most significant resets in more than a decade. While many assets remain operationally strong, capital structures are under pressure. Higher interest rates, constrained debt markets and a steady wave of loan maturities have created a liquidity gap that traditional lenders are unwilling or unable to fill. Those positioned to provide the tools, in this case, creative solutions, stand to benefit the most.
Private credit continues to be a critical source of capital in today’s market, and our credit team’s activity reflects that demand. As of mid-August, we’ve originated more than $1.3 billion in loans and expect that momentum to continue. Notable transactions include a $53 million bridge loan for a 270-acre mixed-use development in Mesa, Arizona; a $42 million bridge loan supporting the acquisition of the Atlanta Financial Center; $36 million in construction financing for a 179-unit Class A multifamily development in Oregon; and $67.5 million of bridge financing for the recapitalization of the newly opened 187-room Printing House – Tapestry Collection by Hilton property in Nashville. We are well on our way to another record year in originations.
While our private credit platform is meeting the immediate demand for financing, we’re also seeing opportunities that extend beyond traditional lending. Market dislocation is uncovering complex, transitional situations where capital solutions require a more opportunistic approach. Not in broad strokes but in carefully selected, well-structured transactions that require both creativity and discipline.
We are focused on opportunities where mispriced risk meets strong fundamentals, where we can structure downside protection and capture meaningful upside through preferred equity, recapitalizations and discounted acquisitions. Our underwriting process is rigorous, our execution repeatable and our orientation long term.
Across sectors, we are seeing the landscape shift. Hospitality is under pressure from deferred capital expenditures and near-term maturities. Multifamily faces valuation recalibration as cap rates rise and leverage recedes. Even in office, where secular headwinds persist, dislocation is beginning to yield selectively actionable opportunities. In each case, we are evaluating where structure, not just price, can drive durable, risk-adjusted returns.
This environment demands more than capital. It requires a stable, experienced team with the agility to work up and down the capital stack and the relationships to source deals early. That is what our platform was built for. With deep connectivity across lenders, owners and operators, we consistently uncover opportunities before they reach the broader market and execute with a clear philosophy, shared incentives and a team-based culture that rewards precision.
We are not chasing momentum or relying on market recovery to drive returns. We are focused on underwriting the business plan, aligning with operators and structuring for protection on the downside with the potential for asymmetric outcomes on the upside.
Like those who supplied the tools that built lasting fortunes during the Gold Rush, we are not chasing momentum or relying on chance. We are focused on providing the structure, discipline and alignment needed to uncover value where others see uncertainty. Cycles like this reward preparation and conviction, and we believe the months ahead will offer opportunities for those positioned to act with clarity and discipline.
We are ready to put the right tools to work.
The private markets landscape is experiencing unprecedented disruption, creating both challenges and opportunities for sophisticated investors. In a recent episode of Peachtree Point of View, Greg Friedman sat down with Brandon Sedloff, Chief Real Estate Officer at Juniper Square, to dissect the current state of alternative investments and reveal actionable strategies for navigating today's complex market environment.
The Great Private Markets Divide
The investment management industry is witnessing a dramatic polarization. As Sedloff explains, we're seeing a "barbell effect" where mega-managers with hundreds of billions in assets continue to grow alongside highly specialized niche players, while the "messy middle" becomes increasingly challenging territory.
This shift presents a critical decision point for investors: align with diversified mega-managers or partner with specialized firms that demonstrate deep expertise in specific market segments. As Sedloff puts it, "What the market needs, what the market wants is they need differentiation... people want groups that are specialists that have a niche that really deeply understand the markets that they're in."
For investors, this means reassessing current allocations and potentially reallocating capital from generalist managers to true specialists.
Emerging Opportunities in Market Dislocation
The prolonged market dislocation and deleveraging cycle has created unique opportunities for prepared investors. Three key trends are reshaping the landscape:
Liquidity-Focused Products: With traditional distributions slowing, investors are demanding more flexible investment structures. This has sparked innovation in semi-liquid and interval fund products that provide periodic liquidity without sacrificing private market returns.
Private Wealth Expansion: The rise of retail participation in private markets represents a massive capital allocation shift. Sophisticated GPs are expanding beyond traditional institutional channels into RIA networks, broker-dealers, and accredited individual investors.
Operational Excellence: Investment managers are leveraging AI and advanced technology to create "operational alpha" – generating additional value through superior data analytics, investor relations, and fund administration.
Three Key Takeaways for Investors
Position Yourself for the Future
Today's market environment rewards investors who move decisively while others remain paralyzed by uncertainty. The firms thriving in this cycle are those with specialized expertise, superior operational infrastructure, and clear differentiation strategies.
Ready to dive deeper into these market insights and learn how industry leaders are navigating current challenges? Listen to the full conversation on the Peachtree Point of View podcast to discover additional strategies for maximizing returns in today's dislocated markets.
