A Conversation with Beth O’Brien, Encore Finance

Lender Lounge with Kevin Kim

Beth O'Brien, a dynamic leader and innovator in the private lending industry, joins Kevin Kim on this episode of Lender Lounge. With her rich background in law, real estate, and securitization, Beth currently spearheads Encore Finance Capital. Her journey encompasses an impressive trajectory from working at renowned institutions like Goldman Sachs and Citi to pioneering her own private lending ventures. Beth's strategic insight and deep understanding of the residential and commercial real estate sectors empower her vision at Encore. This conversation expands on the nuances of private lending, the challenges of market volatility, and the evolution of securitization in private lending. Beth O’Brien is the founder and CEO of Encore Finance. She has over 30 years of experience in almost every aspect of the mortgage industry, as both a principal and an advisor. She has overseen more than $25 billion in transactions and has won numerous industry awards. Beth previously founded CoreVest, serving as CEO and growing the company into the nation’s premier private real estate lender. Before that, Beth was Executive Vice President at Auction.com, where she ran residential capital markets, and was President and Co-Founder of AuctionFinance.co. Beth also held prior positions in RMBS trading and securitization at Citigroup and in Real Estate Private Equity at Goldman Sachs. Beth holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University Law Center.

Key Points

[00:01:00] Beth's journey from lawyer to private lender

[00:03:35] Pioneering institutionalization in private lending and the evolution of the market

[00:05:59] Encore's approach to lending

[00:07:09] The importance of discipline and consistency in lending practices

[00:10:06] Encore's involvement in construction lending, especially in the build-to-rent space

[00:14:01] Beth's motivation for re-entering the private lending market

[00:16:16] The challenges and strategies in securing the right capital partners

[00:20:38] Insights into the entrepreneurial mindset and the decision-making process

[00:22:35] Finding alignment with capital partners rather than focusing solely on control

[00:29:30] The current state of capital sourcing in private lending

[00:33:46] Anticipation and impact of rated securitizations in private lending

[00:37:10] Potential benefits of rated securitizations for the investor base

[00:39:32] Market trends and the resurgence of specific loan types

[00:44:13] Future outlook of the private lending market

[00:47:07] The growing interest in workforce housing and revitalization of neighborhoods

[00:51:28] Challenges in financing multifamily properties and the current state of the market

Links

Learn more about Encore Finance at https://www.encorefinance.com/

Learn more about Geraci Law Firm at www.geracilawfirm.com

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