How has your outlook of the private lending industry changed in light of the new normal?
My outlook in the light of “the new normal” hasn’t changed much. I have been in private lending industry for 5 years already and “the new normal” is how it used to be when I joined LBC Capital. The LTV’s were capped at 65%, points and rates were high. The “new normal” is a déjà vu for me.
What are you doing differently today to move your company forward than you were 6 months ago?
We have tightened up our geographical area and only lend in Primary and Secondary markets now. We are also looking at borrower qualifications more tightly. We are very flexible and always look for solutions in any situation. As Charles Darwin said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
How has your company evolved since its inception? (ie: new products, new divisions, grown, merged, etc?)
I joined LBC Capital in December 2015. The company was already very established. Currently, our fund manager is working on opening a new higher-yield fund and we are all very excited about our new fund.
What is something most people don’t know about your company?
Most people don’t know that we have been in business since 2003 and still have same 3 friends/partners as we did in 2003. Our company underwrites primarily on “feel good” underwriting guidelines, so sometimes for best borrowers, best locations, and best properties we can go very aggressive. We approach each and every loan scenario individually and come up with possible ways or creative structures of closing the loans. In addition, we are currently working on creating a new higher yielding fund (12%+ return. Our current fund targets 8% ROI)
What has been the highlight so far in your career?
To be featured in Geraci’s Originate Report and to be nominated to Rising Star at AAPL.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Save more, invest in real estate, and believe in yourself.
What piece of advice did you personally receive early in your career that has helped shaped decisions you’ve made?
Well, I can remember couple of them: “Be consistent”, “Do what is right, not what is easy”.
Tell us about a person or organization you admire. How have they made an important impact on you, the industry, or the world?
I can think of a few people who made an impact on me, but I will mention one of them. I work with this person very closely and he has guided me and made me into a true professional. He always gives the right advice at the right time and he is my mentor. This person is our fund manager, Boris Dorfman.
How have you turned a career mistake or failure into success in your career?
I have grown quite a bit over the past 5 years. Mistakes and failures were part of my growth. Today, I look at the mistakes as an opportunity for growth, to be better. The main thing to remember is to stay the course and not to get discouraged. It’s not the mistakes themselves; it’s how you react, adapt, and move forward.
What do you predict for the future in private lending throughout the end of this year and beyond?
I see “new normal” being here for another year. Institutional investors will adapt, adjust, and get back to lending and buying loans, creating more money supply. I am very optimistic about the future.
If you had a clean slate to start over and do anything you wanted to do, what would that be?
I would join LBC Capital sooner ?
How do you want to be remembered? What have you done to cultivate that feeling from others?
As a friend, I want to be remembered as someone who was kind and respectful. As a professional, I want to be remembered as someone who went above and beyond her job responsibilities. I want to be remembered as a team member who helped others through hard work and dedication; as someone who made a difference in private lending industry.
