CPACE: An Affordable Solution for Mid-Construction Capital
CPACE financing is an innovative solution offering low-cost, long-term capital that can also be retrofitted.
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Atlanta Business Chronicle - Last month, Atlanta-based real estate investment firm Peachtree Group closed its largest-ever credit deal — a $176.5 million clean energy loan for a massive renovation aimed at restoring the glory of a Las Vegas hotel and casino.
In July, the firm demonstrated the breadth of its business with a $42 million loan to finance Banyan Street Capital’s purchase of Atlanta Financial Center, a Buckhead office property being considered for partial redevelopment.
The transaction is the latest in a series helping drive Peachtree toward another record year, even as commercial real estate faces ongoing volatility in debt markets — conditions that reward private lenders able to move quickly.
“Peachtree Group’s success comes from our team’s willingness to be creative, gritty and decisive in a volatile market,” Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree Group, told Atlanta Business Chronicle. “We aren’t afraid to lean in and make quick calls when others hesitate.”
He adds that such an approach doesn’t mean recklessness.
“Our discipline in the process gives us the conviction to act with confidence,” he said. “That balance has been the linchpin to our success, turning disruption into opportunity and allowing us to keep building an investment platform that delivers value through every cycle.”
Founded in 2007, Peachtree employs more than 3,000 people nationwide and is a regular on the Inc. 5000. It is widely recognized as a top player in hospitality and commercial real estate.
...“We are well on our way to another record year of originations,” Friedman wrote.
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Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) is an innovative financing program that is gaining popularity across the U.S., as it offers a low-cost, long-term capital solution that doesn't require upfront equity from property owners. The central appeal for using this program for energy-efficient upgrades and retrofits is that any level of C-PACE used will lower the overall cost of capital compared to mezzanine, third-party equity, or even many senior loans. This is impactful for commercial property developers.
In the current market, the cost of capital has increased significantly, along with higher interest rates and wider spreads from lenders. In addition, higher financing costs put pressure on loan-to-value (LTV), loan-to-cost (LTC) ratios, and the amount of capital lenders are willing to provide, reducing liquidity for new developments. Construction costs have also increased significantly with back-to-back years of double-digit increases, with further increases in 2023 as CBRE expects a growth of 5.4% for construction costs.
Low-Cost, Fixed-Rate Capital
C-PACE is in heavy demand because it's a fixed-rate product, starting in the mid-single digits. It also can be up to 35% of the capital stack. With a typical senior loan at 65% loan-to-value, providing C-PACE at 30% of the stack, the lender becomes below 40%, lessening its capital risk. As a result, it is helping development projects across all real estate sectors pencil to start construction and those in mid-construction reach get completed.
Mid-Construction Case Studies
Today we see more requests for this financing as budgets are blowing out with cost overruns. C-PACE provides the needed capital when the developer cannot offer additional equity or banks are unwilling. The following are examples of mid-construction projects that utilized C-PACE funding from Peachtree to bring projects across the finish line:
- C-PACE for Cost Overruns. A developer faced roughly $2 million in cost overruns for a five-story, 58-key hotel in Florida that was 65% complete. Peachtree provided the developer $4.5 million in C-PACE financing with a 30-year term of 6.82%.
- Can be Utilized Retroactively. One of the benefits of C-PACE for mid-construction projects is it can be used retroactively. Similar financing was utilized to construct a $32 million multifamily and retail project in Rehoboth, Delaware. Construction on the project began in January 2021 and was 40% completed. Peachtree provided the developer $4.8 million in C-PACE financing with a 25-year term at 7.25%. Most of the funds were used retroactively for the building envelope, HVAC, lighting, plumbing, elevator, seismic and other qualifying soft costs.
Learn More about C-PACE Financing
If you want to dive deeper into C-PACE, here are some resources:
- What is C-PACE Financing?
- How CPACE Differs from Mezzanine Financing and Preferred Equity
- Requirements for CPACE Loans
- Benefits of PACE Financing
- Types of CPACE Loans
- CPACE Financing Frequently Asked Questions