The Hotel Investor Playbook The 3 Distress Signals That Make the Next 12 Months a Buyer’s Market | Suraj Bhakta E61
Dec 9, 2025
Suraj Bhakta, CEO of NewGen Advisory, is a seasoned commercial real estate attorney with a wealth of hotel brokerage experience. He discusses the current market crisis, highlighting how the SBA shutdown is affecting transactions and creating a backlog. Suraj reveals crucial signs of distress that buyers should watch for, such as deferred maintenance and maturing loans. He emphasizes the importance of diligent underwriting, practical buyer strategies, and taking advantage of the upcoming buyer's market while cautioning against seller pricing mistakes. His advice? Build a focused team and be ready to act!
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Rates Are Not The Only Transaction Driver
- Interest rates haven't dropped enough to restart transaction volume significantly yet.
- Macro stability can require keeping rates higher despite investors wanting cheaper debt.
Plan For Government-Driven Closing Delays
- Expect SBA and government actions to create timing backlogs for deal closings.
- Communicate delays clearly to sellers and plan longer timelines when public agencies are involved.
2021–22 Performance Masks Current Weakness
- Sellers who bought in 2021–22 face pressure because those performance numbers inflated pricing.
- Long-term owners have more options but face rising maintenance and PIP costs.