Real Estate Isn't A Side Hustle, with Scott Ward
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Scott Ward, CEO of Think Realty, joins Kevin Kim to discuss how education, mentorship, and ethical business practices are shaping the future of private lending and real estate investing. Scott shares his journey from private lending into leading Think Realty and explains the organization's mission to provide practical education and meaningful connections for investors. Kevin and Scott examine the growing institutionalization of private lending, the importance of mentorship, underwriting discipline, fraud prevention, regional lending strategies, insurance education, and borrower expectations....
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Lender vs. Originator: Why Control of Capital Matters, with Ezra Dweck
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Ezra Dweck, President and Co-Founder of IceCap Group, joins Kevin Kim on this episode of Lender Lounge to discuss the evolution of private lending, the importance of disciplined underwriting, and the changing dynamics of the RTL and DSCR markets. Ezra shares how IceCap began as a family office deploying capital into real estate before transitioning into one of the Northeast’s established private lending platforms. The conversation covers the distinction between being an originator versus a true lender, the role of securitization in creating stable financing, and...
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The Long Game in Private Lending: Building Without Institutional Capital, with Chris Haddon & Jason Balin
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Chris Haddon and Jason Balin of Hard Money Bankers join Kevin Kim on this episode of Lender Lounge to discuss their nearly 20-year journey building a private lending business rooted in conservative underwriting and private capital. Starting in 2007 during the early stages of the financial crisis, they share how they scaled through disciplined deal structures, strong investor relationships, and a focus on long-term sustainability rather than rapid growth. The conversation examines the evolution of private lending, the rise of institutional capital, and...
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From Brokers to Balance Sheet Lenders: The Dynamo Capital Story
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Matt Medrano and Justin Rocheleau, co-founders of Dynamo Capital, join Kevin Kim live at Fortra Con in Las Vegas to discuss their rapid rise as a Midwest-based private lender. Starting from residential mortgage and brokerage backgrounds, the duo share how frustrations with traditional lending channels led them to launch their own fund and build a balance sheet lending business. They unpack their evolution from brokering deals to becoming a direct lender, the challenges of operating in overlooked Midwest markets, and their philosophy around autonomy,...
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The Rain City Way: How a Lifestyle Lender Became a National Platform
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Fred Rea, Founder of Rain City Capital, and Ian Morell, Partner since 2013, join Kevin Kim to trace Rain City’s path from courthouse-step hard money lending in Washington to becoming a national private lender. They discuss their early days funding foreclosure auctions, the decision during COVID to expand beyond the Pacific Northwest, and the push to access institutional capital through securitization. The conversation covers growth challenges, lessons learned in DSCR lending, culture-driven leadership, and how Rain City balances portfolio flexibility with scalable capital markets...
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Building The Future of Private Lending featuring Linda Hyde
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Linda Hyde, President of the American Association of Private Lenders (AAPL), joins Kevin Kim to kick off Season 6 of Lender Lounge. In this episode, Linda shares her journey from leading a call center to spearheading one of the most influential organizations in private lending. She reflects on transforming AAPL from a niche "good old boys club" into a national platform for ethics, education, and advocacy in the industry. The conversation explores the association’s evolution, grassroots legislative efforts, and its commitment to building a more inclusive, accountable private lending...
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2025 in Review with Kevin Kim: Defaults, Discipline, and What Comes Next
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
In this solo wrap-up episode, Kevin Kim reflects on key trends and challenges the private lending industry faced in 2025 while sharing predictions and recommendations for 2026. From increased borrower fraud and rising defaults in major markets to the growth of in-house servicing and securitization opportunities for independent lenders, Kevin explores how lenders can adapt to shifting conditions. He also emphasizes operational discipline, compliance, and technology adoption—including blockchain and AI—as essential strategies for staying competitive in the year ahead. Bullet...
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From Regulation to Resilience: How CMA Champions California Lenders
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
In this episode of Lender Lounge, host Kevin Kim sits down with Brad Laddusaw of SNL Capital Group and Brock VandenBerg of Talamar Financial for a dynamic discussion on the realities of private lending in California. Both guests bring unique perspectives—Brad as the President of the California Mortgage Association (CMA) and Brock as a seasoned fund manager. They explore topics such as the complexities of lending regulation in California, the role and value of CMA in advocacy and education, the evolution of loan products, and the importance of industry collaboration. The episode offers...
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S5E11 | The Benefits of Balance Sheet Lending featuring Wes Carpenter
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
Wes Carpenter, Managing Partner at Stormfield Capital, joins Kevin Kim in this episode of Lender Lounge. With a background in multifamily investing and over a decade in private lending, Wes shares the unique story of building Stormfield into a contrarian, institutional-grade lender. Unlike many of its peers, Stormfield operates as a true balance sheet lender with no structural leverage or loan sales, holding over $750 million in AUM. Wes discusses the evolution from syndicating hard money deals to launching a fully audited, institutional fund, highlighting their focus on durability,...
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S5E10 | From Fighting to Funding with “Sam” Sarkis Chivitchian
Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim
“Sam” Sarkis Chivitchian is the founder and CEO of Secured Capital Lending, a direct private lending firm specializing in private money and hard money loan products — including fix and flip, construction loans, DSCR, commercial bridge, land loans, and asset-based financing. With over 20 years of experience in real estate and finance and more than 1,200+ transactions closed, Sam has become a recognized voice in the private lending industry. He frequently shares his expertise as a guest speaker at national conferences, podcasts, and industry events. Beyond lending, Sam is a real estate...
info_outlineKevin Kim hosts a live episode of Lender Lounge from the Captivate Conference at the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas. Joining him are industry veterans Evan Stone, CEO of Champions Funding and Chairman of Community Savings, Dustin Wells, President of Dominion Financial Services Wholesale, and Dave Orloff, CEO of American Heritage Lending. This discussion explores the evolving landscape of private lending, particularly the intersections of consumer and business-purpose lending. The panelists dive into their experiences transitioning from consumer to business-purpose lending, the distinct challenges of each, and the nuances of RTL and DSCR products. The conversation also highlights the importance of understanding credit risk, borrower psychology, and the growing role of brokers in non-agency lending. The episode provides valuable insights into market trends, capital strategies, and the future of private lending in a rapidly changing economic environment.
Bullet Points:
[00:00:57] Kevin introduces the Captivate Conference and the episode’s panel.
[00:03:02] Discussion on the difference between consumer and business-purpose lending.
[00:05:03] Panelists share their preferences between consumer and BPL.
[00:09:01] The evolution of liquidity and secondary markets in BPL since 2018.
[00:12:03] Dominion’s unique approach to RTL and partnership with life insurance companies.
[00:16:05] The role of banks in BPL and managing liquidity through term financing.
[00:20:02] Initial reactions of consumer lenders entering BPL and adapting to its unique challenges.
[00:25:04] The critical role of understanding credit risk and the differences in underwriting BPL versus consumer loans.
[00:33:07] Exploring borrower profiles and their impact on RTL underwriting decisions.
[00:39:10] DSCR as a growing product category and its current market conditions.
[00:45:12] The psychology of borrowers and the impact of rate fluctuations on market behavior.
[00:50:06] Discussion on the potential long-term stability of rates and borrower expectations.
[00:55:05] Concerns about commoditization and standardization in the RTL sector.
[01:00:09] Champions Funding’s focus on staying specialized and cautious about market overextension.
[01:05:07] Insights into the factors that contribute to the success or failure of consumer shops entering the BPL space.
Links:
Learn more about Champions Funding at https://www.champstpo.com/
Learn more about Dominion Financial Services at https://www.dominionfinancialservices.com
Learn more about American Heritage Lending at https://ahlend.com/
Learn more about Geraci Law Firm at https://www.geracilawfirm.com
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