# Scholar-in-Residence Gary Friedland is interviewed about the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

1 Faculty News May 11, 2017 ![The Economist logo](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/uat_025662.jpg?itok=1_MW1PTy)>

Excerpt from [The Economist](http://www.economist.com/news/business/21721951-eb-5-visas-come-under-scrutiny-donald-trumps-family-and-controversial-visa-scheme) -- "Investors, whose priority is usually citizenship rather than a financial reward, have shown themselves willing to accept returns of less than 1%. After intermediaries have taken their cut, the cost of capital to developers is typically 4-6%, about two thirds lower than conventional sources of finance for the industry, according to Gary Friedland, a real-estate expert at New York University. Kushner Companies will save $30m-40m by financing 15% of its new property with EB-5 visas, he estimates."

[Read more](http://www.economist.com/news/business/21721951-eb-5-visas-come-under-scrutiny-donald-trumps-family-and-controversial-visa-scheme)