Mar 26 2025 54 mins
What does it take to succeed in Ontario’s competitive private lending market? In this episode of The Canadian Private Lenders Podcast Ryan and Neal are joined by James Grantis, Co-Founder and Director of Investments at Hosper Mortgage. James shares his journey from banking to private lending, offering insights into building a strong business.
He discusses the value of broker relationships, effective branding, and focusing on smaller residential loans for long-term growth. James also highlights how technology and automation can streamline operations, manage risk, and drive efficiency. Tune in to learn key strategies for scaling a private lending business and staying resilient in the ever-changing mortgage industry.
Show notes:
02:10 – James’s transition from TD Bank to private lending career.
04:10 – How James’s early exposure to real estate shaped his career.
06:00 – The value of relationships in private lending and trust.
08:20 – The decision to go all-in on private lending full-time.
10:10 – Initial challenges and growing pains faced when starting Hosper Mortgage.
12:30 – Importance of not betting the business to protect stability.
14:50 – How branding evolved and the importance of rebranding Hosper.
16:00 – Overcoming legal challenges, including trademark issues with the company's name.
18:10 – How starting as a syndicate helped prove the concept.
21:00 – Using a Mortgage Investment Corporation (MIC) for long-term growth.
23:30 – Focus on residential single-family homes as core lending strategy.
26:00 – Why loans under $1.5M are central to their business.
30:00 – Balancing larger loans with smaller, high-volume residential deals.
35:00 – Managing risk through diversified but smaller loan sizes.
40:30 – The value of working with brokers to source consistent deals.
45:00 – Technology and automation transforming how private lenders operate.
52:50 – Why mortgages are still an exciting industry despite being a “commodity”
Resources:
- Keystone Capital Group
- CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
- Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup
Find James on:
Linked - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-grantis/
Website - https://hospermortgage.com/
Find Neal On:
- Instagram - @neal.andreino
Find Ryan On:
- E-mail - [email protected]