Article Originally Featured in HotelBusiness.com
As the commercial real estate lending environment continues evolving in response to economic pressures and shifting borrower needs, CPACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing is becoming more prominent, with projections of it surpassing $10 billion in cumulative investments this year. According to Peachtree Group, a leading hospitality and commercial real estate financier, CPACE originations for the firm are expected to increase by 15–25% this year, marking another strong year for this creative financing solution.
This projected growth is fueled by legislative momentum, borrower demand for capital flexibility and gaps in traditional lending. CPACE programs, long supported by energy efficiency and sustainability goals, are seeing broader market adoption.
As more states implement or expand CPACE legislation, borrowers will have increasing access to a financing option—currently available in 40 states and the District of Columbia—that offers long-term, fixed-rate, fully assumable debt, a rare combination in today’s higher-rate environment.
Banks' tightening of construction lending has created a gap in the capital stack, and CPACE is emerging as a critical tool to bridge that gap with flexible, borrower-friendly terms. Hotel developers, in particular, are leveraging CPACE to offset rising construction costs and inflationary pressures. Whether for ground-up development or major renovations, the program provides a cost-effective alternative that aligns with the longer lifecycle of hospitality assets. Importantly, firms like Peachtree Group are now bundling CPACE with senior loans to provide a seamless financing solution that simplifies deal structures and accelerates timelines.
An emerging trend gaining traction among hotel owners is the use of retroactive CPACE financing.
While CPACE is typically arranged before construction begins, retroactive CPACE allows eligible property owners to secure this funding after a project is completed—sometimes even years later. The allowable "look-back" period varies by state but generally ranges from two to three years. This form of financing is proving especially valuable for owners by providing lower-cost liquidity and enhancing cash flow on projects that were initially funded through traditional means.
A recent example is the Hilton Garden Inn in Davis, Calif., which underwent a renovation in 2019. Peachtree Group originated the retroactive CPACE financing, and the proceeds were used to pay down the senior loan and fund the buildout of a fitness studio attached to the hotel.
As awareness of retroactive CPACE grows, more borrowers are expected to revisit previously completed projects to unlock capital, improve balance sheets or reinvest in future developments.
In a macroeconomic environment still marked by persistent high interest rates and cautious bank lending, CPACE's fixed-rate, non-recourse nature stands out. As more stakeholders, including municipalities, developers, and capital providers, embrace CPACE's flexibility and stability, its role in reshaping commercial real estate finance will only deepen. For hotel developers and owners looking to navigate today's complex capital markets, CPACE isn't just an option, it's a strategic advantage.
Peachtree Group is a direct balance sheet lender focused on funding first mortgage bridge loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity investments, and commercial property assessed clean energy (CPACE) financing. Jared Schlosser is responsible for Peachtree's hotel originations platform and its CPACE program.
Hotel Investment Today | Phoenix — Operators, brands, lenders talk about strategy, market conditions at the start of 4Q25.
Despite the myriad challenges facing owners, operators and developers in attendance at last week’s Lodging Conference, they are recently battled tested from the pandemic and big picture feel pretty good about the future of the hotel business.
Development is ongoing, management is resolute and there is hope for a rebound from negative RevPAR trends looking past the first quarter of 2026.
Hotel Investment Today held multiple interviews during the conference and here is a roundup of some of those newsworthy meetings:
Jared Schlosser, head of originations and C-PACE, Peachtree Group. With banks making a fundamental shift away from direct hotel real estate loans, according to Schlosser, this diversified commercial real estate investment firm, has completed more than $2 billion in private credit transactions through September 2025 across 77 deals, marking a record year.
Schlosser said the firm is on pace to approach $2.5 billion for the full year, a notable increase from 2024 that underscores the expanding role of private credit in commercial real estate as traditional lenders remain cautious in a market shaped by tighter liquidity and ongoing volatility.
ATLANTA (Oct. 13, 2025) – Peachtree Group (“Peachtree”), a diversified commercial real estate investment firm, has completed more than $2.0 billion in private credit transactions through September 2025 across 77 deals, marking a record year already. The firm is on pace to approach $2.5 billion for the full year, a notable increase from 2024 that underscores the expanding role of private credit in commercial real estate as traditional lenders remain cautious in a market shaped by tighter liquidity and ongoing volatility.
“Our ability to consistently execute at a high level is a direct function of the ecosystem we’ve built over the last 18 years,” said Greg Friedman, Peachtree’s managing principal and CEO. “Our vertically integrated credit platform that spans origination, underwriting, servicing and asset management enables us to be proactive where many are reactive, delivering certainty and stronger out comes for our borrowers and investors.”
Banks, which traditionally account for half of commercial real estate lending, have tightened credit standards or pulled back entirely. That shift has opened new opportunities for private credit lenders like Peachtree to offer flexible financing for acquisitions, construction, refinancings and recapitalizations.
“We are seeing strong demand from institutional-quality borrowers looking for certainty of execution in a disrupted lending market,” said Michael Harper, Peachtree’s president, hotel lending. “This year’s growth underscores our ability to deliver creative capital solutions across asset classes, including hotels, multifamily, industrial, office and land.”
Peachtree has originated approximately $1.1 billion in hotel loans this year, selectively leaning into multifamily, office and industrial, where dislocation or supply constraints are creating compelling opportunities for well-structured credit investments.
Notable transactions completed included:
· $68.2 million first mortgage loan for the AC hotel in Seattle, Wash.
· $59.0 million first mortgage loan for the AC/Element Riverwalk hotel in San Antonio, Texas
Private credit activity is expected to remain strong, driven by a wave of debt maturities, continued tighter bank lending and the need for refinancing or recapitalization of projects nearing stabilization.
“With nearly $3 trillion in U.S. commercial real estate debt maturing by 2028, private credit lenders are positioned to step into a market hungry for capital,” said Jared Schlosser, head of originations and CPACE at Peachtree. “Our ability to provide flexible capital at scale, even in complex situations, positions us as a trusted partner for borrowers navigating today’s market.”
In 2024, Peachtree deployed $1.6 billion in credit transactions, representing a 54% increase from the prior year, and making the firm one of the largest investor-driven commercial real estate lenders in the United States, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Peachtree offers a full range of financing options, including permanent loans, bridge loans, mezzanine financing, CPACE, preferred equity and triple net lease financing, providing tailored solutions across the capital stack.
“As we continue to scale our lending platform, we remain focused on serving borrowers with creativity, certainty and speed, which have long defined Peachtree’s approach to private credit,” Schlosser said.
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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.
