The main risks associated with non-recourse loans are tied to the loan terms a borrower can receive. Because the risks to a lender are higher than with recourse debt, a lender will typically pass this on in the form of higher interest rates, or lower loan amounts relative to the property value to offset the risk. This typically makes non-recourse financing more expensive.
Another potential risk is tied to exceptions to the non-recourse clause in the loan. While it’s true that a lender generally cannot pursue a borrower’s personal assets or income outside of the property itself, most non-recourse loans include language for what are known as bad boy carve-outs. These provisions essentially state that, should the borrower misrepresent a property or themselves, or file fraudulent financial documents — like tax returns or financial statements — the borrower is no longer protected by the non-recourse clause and is fully responsible for the loan. They may also cover other acts, such as raising subordinate financing when it’s not allowed, or even paying real estate taxes late.