Ep.98 | Starting a Private Lending Business from Scratch: Lessons, Pitfalls, and Proven Strategies

In Episode 98, hosts Ryan and Neal dive deep into a thought experiment: what would they do if they had to start a private lending business all over again, with $0 in the bank?

From building a business plan and securing the right licenses, to scaling smart, sticking to underwriting criteria, and leveraging marketing for deal flow, this episode breaks down the fundamentals and real-world lessons they wish they had known earlier.

They also unpack Halifax’s record-breaking surge in apartment construction, explore the impact of shifting housing trends on private lenders, and debate whether the Canadian market is heading toward a true rental economy.

Whether you’re an aspiring lender, broker, investor, or just curious about how private mortgage businesses are built, this episode offers actionable insights, hard truths, and practical strategies from two industry veterans.

Show Notes:

00:00 Intro & Halifax housing market update

01:14 Apartment boom, vacancies & rental pressures

06:13 Long-term outlook: family-run developers & rental economy shift

12:41 Policy, homeownership & income as retention drivers

14:00 Starting a private lending business: business plan, capital & partners

19:46 Licensing requirements across provinces

22:53 Scaling smart & building systems

28:44 Marketing, brand building & sticking to underwriting criteria

32:23 Lessons learned & advice for new lenders

34:37 Recap, key takeaways & closing

Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: ryan@keycap.ca