Houston EB5 Regional Center

10/01/2026

September 30 has passed without an extension of EB-5 grandfathering protection. So what comes next for the program?

Houston EB5 CEO Roberto Contreras IV shares what he heard in Washington, D.C. On September 14–15, he joined fellow IIUSA board members and industry leaders in meetings with more than 50 congressional offices.

Key takeaways:
🔹 Congress understands that certainty matters to prospective EB-5 investors.
🔹 There have been multiple indications that EB-5 should receive a long-term reauthorization in the federal spending bill due by December 11.
🔹 EB-5 has historically been reauthorized alongside annual spending bills, backed by strong bipartisan, bicameral support.
🔹 The minimum investment is set to rise from $800,000 to $900,000 on January 1, 2027

09/22/2026

Last week our CEO Roberto Contreras IV was in Washington, D.C. with IIUSA for its Leadership Summit and Capitol Hill fly-in.

As a member of the IIUSA Board of Directors, Roberto joined meetings with congressional offices focused on one goal: Reauthorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program.

These are the conversations that decide where EB-5 goes next, and Houston EB5 is proud to be part of them on behalf of our investors.

09/11/2026

Houston EB5 will be at the BAPS Charities Healthcare Professionals Conference 2026, September 18–20 in Stafford, TX.

Our Managing Director, Pardeep Kumar, will be attending all three days and welcomes the opportunity to connect with physicians, healthcare professionals, and students interested in learning how the EB-5 program works — including how concurrent filing allows those already in the U.S. on H-1B or other visas to pursue a green card without employer sponsorship.

If you'll be at the conference, stop by and say hello — or reach out in advance to schedule a time to meet with Pardeep on site.

📍 1150 Brand Lane, Stafford, TX 77477
📅 September 18–20, 2026

09/10/2026

179 years. That's the projected green card wait for an India-born professional entering the EB-2 line in 2026, China's projected wait: 25 years. The total employment-based backlog: 1.26 million people.

The reason is a 7% per-country cap on a fixed annual supply of visas — the more applicants a country sends, the longer its nationals wait.

EB-5 rural and high-unemployment set-aside visas draw from a separate, reserved pool that is current for every country in the latest Visa Bulletin, with priority processing for rural petitions.

Learn whether EB-5 fits your path. Visit houstoneb5.com to schedule a consultation.

09/08/2026

Chardon, the French bistro at the Thompson Hotel, was recently featured in Houston Restaurant Weeks for its menu, with Executive Chef E.J. Miller — a veteran of some of Houston's most respected kitchens — sharing how he brings Texas flavor to classic French cooking.

Since opening, The Allen has grown into one of Houston's premier mixed-use destinations, and its dining scene is a big part of that story.

When a development becomes a destination, everything around it benefits — residents, retailers, the hotel, and the surrounding community. That's what The Allen was designed to do.

Hear from Chef Miller on the inspiration behind his menu: https://bit.ly/4yrvhj8

09/03/2026

Construction Update: The Meuse, Fredericksburg, TX - Houston EB5's Rural TEA Project

The latest progress photos from the site — facade work is nearing completion, and interior buildout of the units is underway, with completion expected over the next six months.

For EB-5 investors, construction progress translates directly into job creation — the basis of each petition. The project has received 95+ I-526E approvals to date.

08/31/2026

Our CEO Roberto Contreras IV recently sat down with Capital Analytics Associate (CAA) to discuss the state of Houston real estate.

A few themes from the conversation:

Development remains challenging nationally, with construction costs 35–40% above pre-COVID levels and financing costs elevated. But Houston's medium- and long-term fundamentals are strong — a young population, a diversified economy, and continued major investment in manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare, and energy.

Mixed-use, walkable developments are key to how Houston competes for talent. Projects like Arabella, 4411 San Felipe, and The Allen have shown that boutique, well-located mixed-use environments perform — and helped pave the way for branded residences across the city.

International capital continues to play an important role, funding mixed-use and condominium projects that often fall outside traditional institutional investment criteria.

As Roberto puts it: the question is no longer whether Houston will grow, but how much.

Read the full interview: https://bit.ly/4y4lHT4

Roberto Contreras discusses Houston’s real estate outlook, mixed-use development, international capital, and the city’s long-term growth.

08/27/2026

Why is it harder to exit an EB-5 investment today than it was before 2020?

Before COVID, the playbook was straightforward: build in 2–2.5 years, stabilize for two more, then refinance or sell. That's where the typical five-year EB-5 timeline came from.

Today, three things have changed:

📈 Construction costs are up
📈 Operating costs are up
📈 Interest rates are up

The result is a double squeeze. Hotels and multifamily properties need MORE income to support a refinance at today's rates — while actually generating LESS income than projected because costs have risen. The same math limits what buyers can pay, which pushes asset values down.

That's why our investment thesis has shifted toward asset classes built for this environment:

🏙️ Condominiums — far less interest-rate sensitive, because repayment comes from unit sales, not ongoing operating income. In markets like Miami, many luxury buyers are international cash buyers who don't rely on financing at all.

🏗️ Repositioning existing assets — the structure, mechanical systems, and steel already exist. Renovation delivers a competitive product at a fraction of ground-up construction cost, with a faster turnaround.

Because getting an EB-5 project built is only half the job. What matters is a realistic path to returning investors' capital in TODAY'S market — not the market of five years ago.

08/17/2026

A closer look at ELLE Residences Miami, the first-ever residential development from the globally recognized ELLE brand.

Located in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood, the project brings together distinctive design, a highly desirable location, and a globally recognized brand — while offering qualified investors the opportunity to participate through the EB-5 program.

Take a look at what’s taking shape in Miami.

07/27/2026

We sat down with Joey Barnett, Partner at WR Immigration and one of the nation's leading EB-5 immigration attorneys, to discuss the upcoming increase in the EB-5 minimum investment — and what investors should understand about the timeline ahead.

On January 1, 2027, the EB-5 minimum investment amount is set to increase for the first time since the Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. The RIA is explicit on this point: an inflation-based adjustment takes effect on that date. While USCIS has not yet officially confirmed the figures, the projected new thresholds are:

· ~$1,050,000 for Rural / High Unemployment Area (TEA) projects (up from $800,000)
· ~$1,400,000 for non-TEA projects (up from $1,050,000)

Watch the full Podcast here: https://bit.ly/4yIBKaq