Frequently Asked Questions

H Equities is a dual-platform commercial real estate firm that operates both a bridge lending platform and a direct equity investment platform. On the debt side, we originate bridge loans, mezzanine financing, and preferred equity for transitional and value-add CRE assets. On the equity side, we invest alongside experienced sponsors as a Co-GP or direct equity partner. Based in Brooklyn, NY, we have completed $1B+ in aggregate transactions across 80+ deals, 6+ asset classes, and 10+ markets nationally.

Elliot Horowitz is the founder and Managing Member of H Equities. His career in commercial real estate progressed from brokerage to passive investing to building H Equities as a principal-led firm operating on both sides of the capital stack. This trajectory gives him a unique perspective. He has sat in the sponsor's seat, the lender's seat, and the asset manager's seat. Elliot is directly involved in every transaction and can be reached at elliot@hequities.com or (917) 748-1955.

H Equities is headquartered at 68 Jay Street, Suite 201, Brooklyn, NY 11201. While our office is in Brooklyn, we actively lend and invest in 10+ markets across the United States, including New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Georgia, and the broader Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

H Equities has participated in over $1 billion in aggregate commercial real estate transactions across more than 80 closed deals. This track record spans both our bridge lending platform and our direct equity investments, covering 6+ asset classes in 10+ markets nationally.

H Equities operates in 10+ markets across the United States. Our primary focus includes the New York metro area, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Georgia, and select markets in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. We evaluate opportunities nationally and are open to new markets where we can partner with experienced local sponsors who have strong track records.

No. H Equities is a private commercial real estate firm, not a bank or regulated financial institution. This is a significant advantage for borrowers and partners. Because we are not bound by bank regulations, we can move faster, structure more creatively, and close deals that traditional banks cannot. Our bridge loans typically close in three to six weeks versus the 60-90 days that banks often require.

H Equities offers several types of commercial real estate bridge financing: first mortgage bridge loans for acquisitions, recapitalizations, and refinancing; mezzanine loans that sit behind senior debt; preferred equity positions; and soft deposit financing for contract deposits. Each structure is tailored to the specific deal and sponsor needs. We specialize in transitional and value-add situations where traditional lenders are unable or unwilling to act.

H Equities originates bridge loans ranging from $5 million to $50 million. For deals above $50 million, we can participate as part of a broader capital stack through our capital partners program. The typical loan in our portfolio falls in the $5 million to $25 million range, which is a segment of the market often underserved by both large institutional lenders and smaller private lenders.

We can close bridge loans in as little as three to six weeks from term sheet execution. Speed is one of our core value propositions. Because Elliot Horowitz is directly involved in underwriting and all decisions are made in-house, there is no committee process or bureaucratic delay. For repeat borrowers with clean deals, closings can happen even faster. We understand that in CRE, timing often determines whether you win or lose a deal.

H Equities lends across 6+ commercial real estate asset classes, including multifamily, mixed-use, retail, office, industrial, and land. We also consider specialty asset types on a case-by-case basis. Our strongest focus is on multifamily and mixed-use properties in urban and suburban markets, but we evaluate every deal on its own merits, the sponsor, the basis, the business plan, and the exit strategy.

Most H Equities bridge loans carry an initial term of 12 to 24 months, with extension options available depending on the deal structure and business plan timeline. Bridge loans are designed to be short-term. They bridge the gap between acquisition or recapitalization and permanent financing or sale. We structure terms to align with the sponsor's realistic business plan execution timeline.

H Equities structures loans on a deal-by-deal basis. Many of our bridge loans include standard non-recourse carveouts (often called "bad boy" guarantees) that are typical in CRE lending. Full recourse, partial recourse, and non-recourse structures are all available depending on the loan-to-value ratio, asset quality, sponsor strength, and overall deal risk profile. We discuss recourse structure early in the process so there are no surprises.

To get started, we need the basics: a brief deal summary including property type, location, and loan amount; the business plan and exit strategy; a sponsor resume or track record; and preliminary financials. You do not need a formal application or lengthy package to start the conversation. Send the deal highlights to elliot@hequities.com or call (917) 748-1955, and you will receive a preliminary response as soon as possible.

Mezzanine financing is subordinate debt that sits behind the senior first mortgage in the capital stack. While a first mortgage is secured by the property itself, mezzanine debt is typically secured by a pledge of the borrower's equity interest in the property-owning entity. Mezzanine financing carries higher interest rates than senior debt because it absorbs losses before the first mortgage lender. H Equities provides mezzanine loans to fill the gap between senior debt proceeds and the sponsor's required equity, reducing the total cash equity a sponsor needs to bring to a deal.

Preferred equity is a position in the capital stack that sits below all debt but above common equity. Unlike mezzanine debt, preferred equity is structured as an equity investment rather than a loan, which means it does not create additional leverage on the property and does not trigger senior lender restrictions on subordinate debt. Sponsors use preferred equity when they need to reduce their cash equity requirement but their senior lender prohibits mezzanine financing, or when the deal structure benefits from an equity-like partner rather than a creditor.

Soft deposit financing provides capital for the earnest money deposit required when a buyer goes hard on a purchase contract. When a deposit goes "hard" (becomes non-refundable), the buyer is putting significant capital at risk before closing. H Equities provides short-term financing to cover these deposits, reducing the buyer's at-risk cash during the pre-closing period. This is particularly valuable for sponsors pursuing multiple acquisitions simultaneously who want to preserve liquidity.

H Equities makes direct equity investments in commercial real estate through two primary structures: Co-GP equity, where we invest alongside an operating sponsor as a co-general partner; and direct equity, where we provide common equity capital for acquisitions and recapitalizations. We focus on value-add and opportunistic strategies where active asset management drives returns. Our equity investments typically range from $1 million to $15 million per deal.

The Co-GP equity program allows experienced sponsors to partner with H Equities as a co-general partner. Instead of simply providing passive LP capital, we invest at the GP level, sharing in the promote and aligning our interests directly with the operating sponsor. This program is designed for sponsors who have strong track records and operational capabilities but need additional GP capital to meet minimum co-invest requirements or to scale their portfolio without diluting their existing investor base.

Our equity platform targets the same 10+ markets as our lending platform, with particular focus on high-growth markets in the Southeast, Texas, Florida, and the New York metro area. We follow our sponsors into markets where they have deep local expertise and established operating infrastructure. Market selection for equity is driven by population growth, employment trends, rent growth fundamentals, and the strength of the local sponsor team.

For equity investments, H Equities focuses primarily on multifamily, mixed-use, and select industrial assets. We also consider opportunistic plays in retail and land when the basis and business plan are compelling. Multifamily remains our largest equity allocation due to its defensive characteristics, consistent demand fundamentals, and the depth of the financing market for stabilized exits.

We evaluate equity partners based on four criteria: track record of execution in the target asset class and market; operational infrastructure including property management capabilities; alignment of interests and transparency in reporting; and a realistic, defensible business plan. We are not a passive capital source. We actively participate in asset-level decisions and expect regular communication. The best partnerships are with sponsors who value a hands-on capital partner rather than simply seeking a check.

A capital partnership with H Equities refers to our work with banks, credit unions, and senior lenders who need subordinate capital to complete their loan structures. When a senior lender can only fund 60-65% of a deal's capital stack, H Equities provides the additional subordinate capital, as a B-piece participant, mezzanine lender, or preferred equity provider, to fill the gap. This allows the senior lender to win the deal while maintaining their credit parameters.

We work directly with banks and senior lenders as a subordinate capital partner. When a bank has a borrower relationship they want to maintain but cannot provide the full capital stack, H Equities steps in to provide the subordinate piece. We understand bank intercreditor requirements, regulatory considerations, and the documentation standards that institutional lenders expect. This collaborative approach allows banks to say "yes" to deals they would otherwise have to decline.

A B-piece participation is a structure where H Equities purchases the subordinate tranche of a loan originated by a senior lender. The senior lender retains the A-piece (the lower-risk, lower-return senior portion) and sells the B-piece (the higher-risk, higher-return junior portion) to H Equities. This structure allows the senior lender to reduce their exposure on a single credit while still providing a competitive loan to their borrower. B-piece participations are common in CRE lending as a way to manage risk and regulatory capital requirements.

Banks face regulatory constraints on loan-to-value ratios, concentration limits, and risk-weighted capital requirements that often prevent them from providing 75-80% leverage on transitional assets. A subordinate capital partner like H Equities fills the gap between what the bank can lend (typically 55-65% LTV) and what the borrower needs. Without subordinate capital, many viable CRE transactions would not close because borrowers would need to contribute more equity than the deal economics support.

In certain situations, H Equities can provide capital across multiple positions in the same capital stack, for example, mezzanine debt combined with a Co-GP equity investment. This dual-position approach simplifies the capital raise for the sponsor by reducing the number of parties at the table and streamlining negotiations. Whether this structure makes sense depends on the deal size, risk profile, and the alignment of interests across all capital stack participants.

Submitting a deal is simple. Send a brief summary of your transaction to elliot@hequities.com or call (917) 748-1955. Include the property type, location, requested loan amount or equity need, and a short description of the business plan. There is no formal application form or lengthy intake process. Elliot reviews every submission personally and you will receive an initial response as soon as possible.

For an initial review, we need: property type and location; loan amount or equity requested; purchase price or current value; the business plan (acquisition, refinance, value-add renovation, etc.); sponsor background and relevant track record; and a preliminary operating budget or pro forma. You do not need a full underwriting package to start the conversation. We will tell you what additional information we need after the initial review.

Initial review depends on the completeness of the deal summary. A term sheet follows preliminary review where the opportunity fits. Full underwriting and closing depend on deal complexity, third-party reports and legal documentation. Share your required closing date at the outset so the process and dependencies can be discussed.

After submission, Elliot personally reviews the deal summary. After reviewing the details, you will receive either preliminary terms or specific follow-up questions. If both sides want to proceed, we issue a formal term sheet. Once the term sheet is executed, we move into full underwriting, ordering appraisals, environmental reports, and legal documentation. Throughout the process, you communicate directly with Elliot, not a junior analyst or a call center.

Yes. One of the defining characteristics of H Equities is direct access to the principal. Elliot Horowitz can be reached by email at elliot@hequities.com or by phone at (917) 748-1955. There is no gatekeeper, no automated phone tree, and no intake form. Whether you are a borrower, broker, senior lender, or potential equity partner, you speak directly with the person who makes the decisions.