We’re excited to share that our very own President of Hillmount Capital, Yitz Levinson, recently joined Neal Andreino and Ryan MacNeil from Keystone Capital Group on Canada’s Private Lender’s Podcast for an in-depth conversation on private lending, market dynamics, and disciplined deal structuring.
With over 22 years of mortgage experience and $400M+ under administration, Yitz offers a thoughtful and highly practical perspective shaped by his background as a licensed insolvency trustee—a foundation that continues to influence how Hillmount Capital evaluates every opportunity.
“Exit First, Entry Second”
One of the standout themes from the discussion is Hillmount Capital’s underwriting philosophy: focus on the exit before the entry.
This principle, rooted in Yitz’s insolvency experience, drives a fundamentally different approach to risk management—ensuring every deal is structured with a clear and realistic path to repayment from the outset.
A Flexible Lending Platform
Yitz also dives into Hillmount Capital’s Mortgage Investment Fund (MFT) structure, explaining how it allows the team to remain nimble across asset classes. Rather than being confined to a single segment, Hillmount strategically allocates capital across:
- Residential
- Commercial
- Construction
This flexibility is especially critical in today’s shifting market, enabling them to pursue the most compelling risk-adjusted opportunities as conditions evolve.
Special Situations & Insolvency Lending
Drawing on his background, Yitz shares how Hillmount Capital approaches special situations lending, including deals involving financial stress or insolvency. This is where experience and judgment play an outsized role—understanding not only the collateral but also the broader context around each borrower situation.
Terms Over Rate in a Competitive Market
In an increasingly aggressive lending environment, Yitz emphasizes that Hillmount Capital is not chasing deals based on rate alone. Instead, the team remains disciplined, prioritizing:
- Strong deal structure
- Downside protection
- Clear exit strategies
It’s a philosophy centered on capital preservation first, even when competition intensifies.
A Must-Listen for Investors and Brokers
This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to better understand how a sophisticated, long-standing private lender navigates:
- Risk and underwriting discipline
- Market cycles and capital allocation
- Structuring deals in uncertain environments
Whether you’re an investor, developer, or industry professional, this conversation offers a rare look into how experience, discipline, and strategy come together in today’s lending landscape.
👉 Watch the full episode here.
