Winthrop Town Private Money Lenders

Boston Private Money Insights from a Local Lender

Boston continues to be one of the most dynamic real estate markets in the country — not just for its historic charm and central location, but for the incredible transformation happening across its neighborhoods. From the South End to East Boston and beyond, Cardinal Capital Group is actively lending in areas where thoughtful redevelopment is driving long-term value. Below is a excerpt from our interview with their CEO, Briana Hildt.

South End is a standout focus. Home to Cardinal’s office, this neighborhood blends historic brick row houses with modern amenities, rooftop decks, and an unbeatable location near Back Bay and Beacon Hill. Many buildings in the area have stood untouched for decades, making them ideal candidates for thoughtful renovation and mixed-use conversion. The neighborhood’s walkability and urban appeal make it a prime area for fix & flip and small-scale condo development.

East Boston is another success story. Once considered off the radar, this area has become a redevelopment hotspot following a wave of successful condo conversion projects. What began as isolated rehabs has grown into a neighborhood-wide transformation, attracting both developers and end-buyers in search of value and waterfront views.

Boston’s commitment to housing expansion is also creating new lending opportunities through zoning reform and adaptive reuse. In areas like Cambridge, policy changes are allowing for increased density — turning 12-unit projects into 22-unit approvals practically overnight. Meanwhile, older commercial office spaces are being greenlit for residential conversion, unlocking high-potential properties in formerly inaccessible parts of the city.

Cardinal Capital Group embraces these shifts, offering flexible financing solutions for developers navigating Boston’s fast-evolving landscape. Whether you’re converting an old office building, modernizing a South End brownstone, or scaling up in East Boston, Cardinal understands the local market — and lends with creativity and confidence.

How Cardinal Became a Leading Private Lender in Boston

In this clip, Briana Hildt shares the origin story behind Cardinal Capital Group’s rapid ascent in the Boston private money lending space. Despite launching around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cardinal has grown into a high-volume lender with over $450 million in loan originations and more than 200 deals in 2024 alone — with 85% of those loans concentrated in the Boston metro area.

Hildt attributes much of this success to her local roots. Growing up in Massachusetts gave her an immediate edge in a state known for its strong local loyalty. “It’s such a patriot state — you’re either from here, or you’re not,” she notes, emphasizing how simply having a Massachusetts phone number made people more willing to pick up the phone. The market’s relationship-driven nature also worked in her favor; borrowers prioritize trust and execution over marginal rate differences, making reputation and reliability far more valuable than pricing gimmicks.

Cardinal’s growth has largely come through repeat business and referrals. As clients had positive experiences — impressed by the company’s speed, creativity, and structuring ability — they introduced new borrowers, creating a referral flywheel that drove sustained momentum. Hildt and her team leaned into that feedback loop, scaling by identifying what clients loved most and doubling down on those strengths.

Now, with a dedicated marketing team and additional sales staff in place, Cardinal is looking to expand beyond its referral-driven base and enter new markets more strategically. But at the core of it all, Hildt affirms, is the company’s commitment to relationships and client satisfaction — foundational values that have powered their rise to becoming one of Boston’s leading private lenders.

Cardinal Capital Group (CCG) has collectively facilitated over $900 million in funded loans and is one of the top private money lenders in New England. They offer a number of different loan products to serve the financing needs of real estate investors who focus on residential and multifamily properties: refinance bridge loans, fix & flip, rehab-to-rent, ground-up construction. Visit their profile to watch more short video clips, or watch the complete interview with Briana Hildt.

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Massachusetts Private Lending Loan Volume

According to SFR Analytics, here is the approximate quarterly volume of private mortgage loans secured by investment real estate in Massachusetts which were funded by private lenders from January 2025 to December 2025.

• Approximately $- of private money loans were funded in the 4th quarter of 2025 for - borrowers.
• Approximately $352,478,269 of private money loans were funded in the 3rd quarter of 2025 for 424 borrowers.
• Approximately $395,452,822 of private money loans were funded in the 2nd quarter of 2025 for 582 borrowers.
• Approximately $286,810,680 of private money loans were funded in the 1st quarter of 2025 for 490 borrowers.

Below are the approximate private money loan volume amounts for Massachusetts metropolitan areas:

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA

• 2025 Q4: $- for - borrowers
• 2025 Q3: $249,451,718 for 230 borrowers
• 2025 Q2: $281,161,025 for 306 borrowers
• 2025 Q1: $193,940,405 for 262 borrowers

Springfield, MA

• 2025 Q4: $- for - borrowers
• 2025 Q3: $13,563,303 for 42 borrowers
• 2025 Q2: $15,074,372 for 62 borrowers
• 2025 Q1: $22,069,157 for 65 borrowers

SFR Analytics provides advanced analytics for top-performing real estate investors and private lenders. Their platform provides nationwide, real-time property data, including market activity, ownership changes, and detailed buyer behavior insights. With custom dashboards and alerts, users can track active investor and lender activity, access rental market information, and analyze geographic and demographic trends. Their Private Lender Radar product gives lenders deep insights into borrower portfolios, lending activity, and verified contact details. For those needing bulk data, they supply updated daily records, including deeds, rental listings, demographic data, and building permits, to support informed decision-making across the residential real estate market..