By David A. Sudeck —
This post is the fourth in a series presenting my current thoughts on the viability and timeliness of EB-5 financing for new hospitality construction. Each installment is published as a standalone piece and can be read independently of the others in the series.
- EB-5 and Hospitality Financing: A Structural Shift in Capital Markets
- EB-5 and Hospitality Financing: Rural TEAs—Still the Fast Lane
- EB-5 and Hospitality Financing: Urban EB-5 Is Still a Large-Scale Game
- EB-5 and Hospitality Financing: Leverage and Structure Matter More Than Price (this post)
- EB-5 and Hospitality Financing: Why EB-5 No Longer Slows Deals
- EB-5 and Hospitality Financing: How EB-5 Improves Equity Returns
- EB-5 and Hospitality Financing: Practical Steps for Developers
- EB-5 and Hospitality Financing: Why Now Is a Good Time
Developers evaluating whether to include EB-5 in their capital stacks often start by comparing rates, but that framing misses the point. EB-5-focused lenders are typically more cost-effective than debt funds and competitively priced with traditional banks. However, pricing is not their primary differentiator. The real distinction lies in how much leverage a developer can access and on what terms, and this is where EB-5 diverges sharply from both ends of the conventional lending spectrum.