Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim

Join Arvind Mohan, CEO of Kiavi (formerly LendingHome), as he peels back the curtain for a glimpse into the lending giant and delves into the industry. Discover Kiavi's ambitious plans for rehab projects and urban construction, their dedication to data-driven customer service, and their strategies for building a stronger lending portfolio. Hear from Arvind on the broader, ever-changing lending landscape, from the challenges posed by the Federal Reserve's unpredictability to the importance of technology in enhancing the customer experience. This episode wraps up by exploring issues such as pricing capital markets and housing affordability. Don't miss this captivating conversation with Arvind Mohan, a true lending industry titan, on Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim.   [00:00:55] Introduction to Arvind and a brief background [00:06:12] Kiavi's evolution from a multifaceted mortgage origination shop to focus on property investors [00:16:17] Arvind's journey from software to Wall Street to Kiavi [00:23:30] Kiavi's growing product suite, team, and growing popularity among brokers and direct customers [00:34:15] How strong partnerships with top-tier investment banks have bolstered Kiavi amidst disruptions [00:39:02] Federal Reserve's focus on lowering inflation before rate cuts, leading to higher rates [00:44:01] Kiavi's aim to grow in rehab loans, diversify acquisition channels, and utilize data advantage for customer property decisions [00:47:21] Rapid fire questions [00:50:12] What's next for Arvind and Kiavi?   Links Learn more about Kiavi at https://www.kiavi.com  Learn more about Geraci Law Firm at www.geracilawfirm.com Subscribe to the Lender Lounge newsletter for episode notifications and exclusive content at www.geracilawfirm.com/lender-lounge-podcast Subscribe to the Geraci Law Firm newsletter at www.geracilawfirm.com/sign-up Follow Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim on LinkedIn and YouTube

In the season 3 finale of Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim, Kevin interviewed Ben Fertig, the President and Co-Founder of Constructive Capital - a leading name in the private lending space and a reputable provider of DSCR loans. Ben shared about the genesis of Constructive and delved into his unique perspective on the private lending industry. With the current market experiencing significant volatility, Ben also provided valuable insights on how Constructive has managed to navigate and thrive in such turbulent times.

In this episode, Kevin sat down with Jeff Tesch, founder and CEO of RCN Capital, to discuss his professional journey and the growth of his company. From a local operation to a national lender, RCN has seen tremendous success over the years. Listen in to learn more about Jeff's story and the meaning behind the name "RCN."

In this special episode, we are joined by two of Geraci Law Firm's esteemed attorneys, Tom Hajda and Steven Ernest. Both men wear many hats (literally) in their roles as private lending attorneys and bring a wealth of experience and unique perspectives to the table. Tune in to hear their insights and advice.

For this episode, Kevin interviewed Tricia Mitchell, Archwest Capital's President and COO. Tricia dove into how she started as an intern fresh out of law school and worked her way up to becoming the President and COO of Archwest. She discussed the company's strategy of starting out small and focusing on methodical growth over the years and emphasized that Archwest's success stems from listening to its client's needs above all.

For this episode, Kevin interviewed Mark Jury with Sortis. Mark discussed the details of Sortis' business and how they are servicing private lenders as an advisor. He also gave perspective on the current market conditions and his take on institutional investors in private lending.

For this episode, Kevin interviewed Keith Lind, CEO of Acra Lending. Keith talked about working at Bear Stearns and his journey to becoming Acra's CEO. Keith also discussed his perspective on the private lending industry and how he views the housing market at large.

For this episode, Kevin interviewed Paul Rahimian, who has become a household name in the construction business, at Parkview Financials' headquarters in West Los Angeles. Paul emphasized how he has remained true to his original thesis of creativity and capital preservation, even as he now competes with institutional lenders across the U.S.

For this episode, Kevin interviewed Beth Johnson and Alex Breshears to talk about their newest book, Lend2Live, and the story behind the book. The three discussed the industry's dislocation, the importance of small, local lenders, and the difference between “private money lending” and “hard money lending / private lending."

For this episode, Kevin interviewed Eddie Wilson, CEO of AAPL and Think Realty. Kevin learned more about Eddie's personal life, such as his passion for operations, turning businesses around, and choosing businesses that serve a higher purpose. Eddie discussed what he has done to grow AAPL's footprint and how he installed the grassroots advocacy that allowed AAPL to defeat legislation such as the Florida licensing bill.

For this episode, Kevin interviewed Justin Ehrlich, the founding partner at Churchill Real Estate. Kevin learned more about Churchill's history as an NPL buyer and how they came to be an asset manager and capital provider to the private lending industry. Justin also dove into the story behind Churchill's meteoric rise.

For this episode, Kevin interviewed Jennifer McGuinness, President of Invigorate Finance. Kevin had a great time learning about Jennifer and how her mortgage career was actually a series of "accidents." Invigorate Finance is a unique private lending business that serves both the consumer and business purpose lending arenas; Jennifer discusses the reasons for this strategy and her philosophy of diversification and pragmatism in approaching her business.

*NOTE: This episode was recorded in June 2022.* Kevin was delighted to finally interview Mark Roberts and Lisa Alberti from Western Alliance Bank, a company that has become an integral part of the private lending industry. In this episode, Kevin talks to Mark and Lisa about the bank's history, their backgrounds, and their bank's philosophy on lender finance and line of credit. Lisa also discusses the new networking group, Women in Private Lending, and the impact a group like this will have on women in this space.

For this episode, which was recorded during the market volatility of May 2022, Ray Sturm and Kevin sat down and discussed AlphaFlow's thesis from a technology standpoint, their philosophy when it comes to solving their customer's challenges, and having discipline when it comes to an ever-changing market.

We're dropping this mini episode in your feed to give some insight into Captivate, Geracicon's upcoming private lending event. Kevin is joined by Ruby Keys, Geraci's event extraordinaire, to discuss why it is a perfect opportunity for our listeners. Listen in to learn about the event's capital-raising theme, nationwide attendee presence, and success stories from past years (including Kevin's!).   Captivate will take place August 21-23, 2022 at the Encore at Wynn in Las Vegas, NV. For more information and registration, visit our website: https://geracicon.com/captivate If you have any questions about the event, reach out to Ruby Keys: r.keys@geracillp.com

*NOTE: This episode was recorded in May 2022.* For this episode, Kevin interviewed Ryan Craft, Founder and CEO of Saluda Grade. He learned about Saluda's investment philosophies when it comes to private lenders, their criteria when selecting portfolio companies, and Ryan's perspectives on where things are going and should go in the private lending space. His views on future success in private lending was especially enjoyable. Ryan stressed that diversification in strategy, obsession with customer service, and entrepreneurialism will be some of the key features of the private lenders that dominate in the coming years.

We are kicking off Season 3 with none other than Trixy Castro, founder and CEO of Aureus Finance Group. We were honored to sit down with this industry legend in person and learn more about Trixy and her history as an entrepreneur founding Genesis Capital and Hudson Marshall in the early days of private lending. We learned all about her new vision for Aureus, including how she approached her re-entry into the market after taking a few years off. Trixy has achieved so much in the industry yet maintains a level of entrepreneurialism and excitement about private lending and what it stands for.

*NOTE: This episode was recorded in May 2022.* We are kicking off Season 3 with none other than Trixy Castro, founder and CEO of Aureus Finance Group. We were honored to sit down with this industry legend in person and learn more about Trixy and her history as an entrepreneur founding Genesis Capital and Hudson Marshall in the early days of private lending. We learned all about her new vision for Aureus, including how she approached her re-entry into the market after taking a few years off. Trixy has achieved so much in the industry yet maintains a level of entrepreneurialism and excitement about private lending and what it stands for.

In this season's final episode, Kevin sits down with his partner Dennis Baranowski, aka The Beard, aka The Wise One. Although he's a partner in the Banking & Finance division of Geraci, Dennis' skills extend to litigation, foreclosure, TCPA, and even bankruptcy. Dennis ultimately led Kevin through his career journey that resulted in his partnership at the firm. They discussed his working at big law, in-house, and then with Geraci. As a bonus, Kevin asked Dennis questions sent in from some of Dennis' favorite clients. Please join us for another great episode to close out Season 2!

In this episode, Kevin sits down with Sharon Koh with 1839 Asset Management. We learned about the evolution of 1839's history in the space and Sharon's views on the industry's trend toward DSCR. We also learned about their long history in the industry working with lenders since before the “boom” in 2016. As an asset manager for life companies, Sharon's perspective on the industry is unique. Finally, we got to know Sharon's backstory coming from Singapore and transitioning from senior executive in Fortune 500 companies to RIA / Entrepreneur.

In this episode filmed at Geraci's Irvine office, Kevin interviews Michael Schumacher and Chris Meinhardt from longtime client Enact Partners. He learned about Michael's unique perspective as a construction lender and how he utilizes his experience as a developer, city councilman, and lender to evaluate trends in the market and underwrite quality loans for his investors. Kevin also enjoyed getting to know Michael's newest partner, Chris, who is a former banker and U.S. Marine. This was a fun one, so be sure to listen in!

For this episode, Kevin sat down with Huy Do, managing partner at PrideCo Capital, during the California Mortgage Association Fall Seminar. Everybody in the industry knows Huy, but very few know the story behind PrideCo or Huy's background. They talked about PrideCo's decision to jump into the private lending sector, Huy's excitement about the industry, and Huy's philosophy regarding networking, family, and business.

For this episode, Kevin sat down with Dalton Elliott at Lima One Capital. Dalton shared the tale of the founding of Lima One, discussed its growth, and discussed its recent acquisition by MFA. This was a very informative episode on learning how to grow and scale quickly. Their focus on training and culture, combined with their obsession with growth has really taken them very far in such a short time. Another great part of this episode was hearing about how Dalton, like many of his colleagues, joined the firm fresh out of college, and remained loyal to the company thanks to these values and focus points. Tune in to learn more!

This time, Kevin sat down with the inimitable Beth O'Brien, Founder of CoreVest Finance. During this amazing episode, Kevin learned about Beth's “maniacal obsession” with being a true cradle-to-grave lender starting in 2011. Over the past ten years, CoreVest has achieved significant growth, $12B in origination, with multiple securitizations under their belt. Beth has ensured the firm's ability to scale the business through focusing on standardization. Their “Burgers, Fries, and Shakes” approach to their lending business was an intentional construct from Day 1 in 2011 and remains true to this day – why? It allows their business to scale but also prepares them for securitization at the origination stage. Listen in to learn more!

Eric from Roc360 joined Kevin for a great interview. They took a trip down memory lane, talking about the Private Lending Industry's evolution from Eric's perspective and how Roc has grown right alongside it. He learned about Roc's holistic approach and drive to be a full-service capital provider to the space. Kevin and Eric also talked about the challenges in operating a business during COVID in New York.

For this episode, Kevin had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the CEO and Founder of Temple View Capital and MCM Capital: Steve Trowern. They talked a lot about Temple View's history and growth over the years and discussed their focus on maintaining a startup mentality. Kevin and Steve also spent some time comparing the COVID-19 crisis to the global financial crisis of 2008 – and had some laughs around the TARP program of 2009.

This time, Kevin sat down with the man himself – Rocky Butani of Private Lender Link. Rocky visited Kevin in his office before the California Mortgage Association summer seminar. Together, they discussed the evolution of PLL and where it's headed. What Kevin found most interesting was learning about Rocky's love for the space and his deep understanding of its dynamics.

This episode was so much fun! Renee discussed Bloomfield's view on CRE finance and how they grew their business nationwide. Kevin learned about her disciplined approach as a partner at Bloomfield Capital as Renee explained their strong underwriting, utilization of data, and focused approach to capital used to build their national lending business. Kevin also learned about how Bloomfield expanded their business utilizing data and local intelligence.

For this episode, Kevin sat down with Chris Hanson with Hanson Capital. He learned a lot about Chris's story in building Hanson Capital since 2008! His inspiring bootstrap story was a true testament to adapting to the market. Chris also shared how he built their real estate investment business and what data drives his decision-making. Kevin also got to learn a little about the Hanson Capital team and how they built their flat, attitude-focused culture.

What's better than a podcast on the fly? Kevin enjoyed catching up with Michael Ramin – a long-time friend and much-loved industry leader – when they sat down for an impromptu interview during sponsor set-up at our Captivate event. Kevin got to learn more about Sharestates' history as a crowdfunding business and multi-disciplined lender.

“Act with Honor” is more than a catchphrase for the team at Civic Financial Services. In this episode, Kevin sat down with William Tessar and Whit McCarthy to discuss the company's history, the backstory behind their recent merger, and their unwavering dedication to company culture.

On the road in Texas, Kevin visited with Zack Lofton with Loan Ranger Capital. He got to learn about their “garage band debt fund” and how Loan Ranger has grown rapidly in a short period of time in the central Texas market. Kevin and Zack also talked about building the brand, staying lean and mean, and growing a great company culture. He also got to learn about Zack's background as a Chartered Financial Analyst and learn how he grew the business from a solo operation. You don't want to miss this episode!

For this episode, Kevin took a trip to visit with Vincent Balagia at Stallion Capital's headquarters in Austin, Texas. Vincent shared more about the history of Stallion Capital and discussed his perspective on leadership and culture. They also had a lively discussion about the local market conditions in central Texas. Listen in to learn more.

For this episode, Kevin interviewed Peter Steigedler, the best-dressed man in Hard Money! Listen in to learn more about Peter's career path at the German consulate, to real estate broker, to principal at Fidelity Mortgage Lenders – one of the oldest shops in private lending. Kevin got know Peter as a person as well as they discussed his work with the Guardians of Los Angeles Jewish Home.

Geraci's Innovate Conference for 2021 was a massive success. While we were there with all of our wonderful clients and friends, Kevin had the opportunity to interview Kristina Sawyer with Arixa Capital, Ruben Izgelov with WeLend, and Vincent Balagia with Stallion Capital. The purpose of this episode was to get a better understanding of their local markets. All three individuals have immense expertise of their local and surrounding geographies and shared their insights in where the market was headed. One interesting point was how popular ADUs are in all three markets. Listen in and learn more!

For this episode, Kevin interviewed Kevin Werner with Renovo Financial. The Kevin's discussed the history of Renovo, its values, and its steady growth over its 10-year life cycle. They went into a pretty deep discussion on this episode, talking about their expansion philosophy, their internal culture, and their obsession with customer service. Listen in to learn more.

For this episode, Scott Rerucha, CEO and founder of Legacy Group Capital in Washington state, joined Kevin to discuss the unique way the firm built their business and avoided a single foreclosure in their 10-year history. Scott discussed his background as a banker, investor, and private lender Scott and how that has affected his ideas about the firm's growth, the Legacy team, and values as a company.

A partner at Armanino who leads the Real Estate Investment Fund practice, Jason Gilbert and Kevin go way back. Listen in to learn more about Jason's story coming up at Armanino, serving the private lending industry, and becoming partner.

In this episode, Kevin sat down with Melissa Martorella, Geraci LLP's newest partner. As the department head for Geraci's banking & finance team, Melissa shared the journey that brought her to embrace her new role. Listen in to learn more about Melissa as a person and her role at the firm.

For episode 6, Kevin interviewed Curt Altig, founding principal of Builders Capital, a national private lender focused on construction lending. Listen in to learn how Curt started Builders Capital and grew the company with the help of his world-class leadership team.

In this episode, Kevin sat down with Greg Hebner, the managing director and portfolio manager at Arixa Capital. With over 20 years of experience in real estate, Greg has been on all sides of the private lending business from origination, loss mitigation, accounting, and asset management. Listen in to learn more about Greg as a person, professional, and industry leader.

In this unscripted episode, Kevin interviewed fellow Geraci partners Anthony Geraci, Esq., and Nema Daghbandan, Esq. Kevin, Nema, and Anthony shared war stories, personal histories, and perspectives on various aspects of the private lending industry.

In this episode, Kevin interviewed client and friend, Noah Brocious, to learn more about Capital Fund 1, its history, and its secrets to success. Listen in to find out more about Capital Fund 1 and why they are one of many successful funds in the industry.

In the podcast's second episode, Kevin interviewed Romney Navarro with Noble Capital. This interview took place at the peak of the pandemic lockdown and gives an interesting flashback into Kevin and Romney's thoughts at the time. Kevin and Romney also talked about life, business, Noble Capital's history, and Romney's career in the private lending space.

In this inaugural episode of Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim, Kevin interviews Dr. Steve Pollack, Co-Founder of Anchor Loans, the nation's largest fix & flip lender. Learn more about Steve, his story as an entrepreneur and professional poker player, and the history of Anchor Loans.