About Us
Ethics are the building blocks of lasting relationships. We continue to build our business based on a simple slogan, “Help others achieve their goals and dreams.” We are not a traditional mortgage broker or intermediary, but a true loan consulting and services firm. We bring a huge value to the marketplace by providing in house processing and underwriting services. We stand apart from our competitors in our ability to consistently place hard money loans with an elite group of private investors and portfolio lenders. We understand the intricacies of private money deals, and, more importantly, the appetite our lender network has for these unique real estate loans. Our expert team has underwritten and placed more than $50 million in private money loans, and our network continues to grow. Our borrowers come from all walks, including real estate investors, home builders, rehabbers, contractors, and developers. We have an experienced team of processors, underwriters, and inspectors ready to serve you. Apply for a Hard Money Loan Now.
JP Newman, CEO
J.P. Newman’s track record consists of successfully funding and sponsoring over $75 million in equity capital, covering a variety of asset classes, including: 1,100 apartment units in California, Texas, and Louisiana; 1,400+ acres of land along Texas State Highway 130 (SH-130); the development of the largest self-storage project in Texas; and the acquisition and management of an 82,000 foot Hobby Lobby anchored neighborhood shopping center.
After a successful corporate career as Vice President of Family Entertainment at Sony Home Entertainment, Mr. Newman joined Principals Capital Funding in 2000 and began arranging equity capital.
In 2005, Mr. Newman expanded Principals Capital Funding’s presence to Austin, Texas from Los Angeles, California recognizing the strong fundamentals in the Central Texas economy. His first joint venture project in Austin was to arrange the Mezzanine financing and Guarantee for the development of one of the largest climatized storage projects in the U.S., Secured Climate Storage (www.securedclimatestorage.com). The project was named Austin Business Journal’s “Best Industrial Project for 2007″ and has achieved stabilized occupancy in Phase 1 in its first 18 months of operations.
In 2006, Mr. Newman assembled and led the largest land acquisition in Williamson County’s history with his partners, Glenmont Capital and Atlantic Coast Development. This 476 acre master planned, mixed-use tract is known as, The Crossings at Carmel Creek (www.crossingsofcarmelcreek.com) in Hutto, Texas. Mr. Newman and his partners successfully negotiated a $48 million PUD and economic incentive from the city of Hutto in 2008, and recently began its leasing and sales efforts in anticipation of a 2009 launch.
In 2007, Mr. Newman led the financing and purchasing of another large mixed-use development along a commercial intersection of the new SH-130, a 378-acre tract located in Lockhart, Texas. The overall plan calls for the entitlement and master planning of this mixed-use tract (Multi-Family, Retail, and Industrial) to be anchored by the development of key retail businesses along SH-130 (gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets and hotels are anticipated). The project is planning to open at the same time as SH-130, where it will connect Austin to San Antonio in late 2011.
Identifying the changing economic cycle, in 2006 Mr. Newman disposed of his entire apartment portfolio in Louisiana and Southern California. The eight projects yielded an average of 50%+ project return to the investors over a 24-36 month period. To extend Principals Capital Funding’s options for its investors within today’s tight credit market, First Capital Funding was created to arrange debt financing in addition to equity financing.
Mr. Newman is a licensed broker in California and an agent in the State of Texas. He is a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.) and is a member of CCIM, RECA, ICSC, ABOR and NAR. Mr. Newman is an avid mountain biker and boater. He and his wife, Janet, enjoy spending quality time with their two toddler boys.
Ray Walter, COO
Before joining First Capital Funding, LLC, Ray founded and built Walter Servicing Corp a private loan servicing company and Walter Capital Funding, LLC a Texas Mortgage Brokerage Company. Walter Servicing Corporation currently services a lending portfolio of over $20,000,000 for individual private lenders.
Ray began his professional lending career at Countrywide Home Loans and has since started two successful businesses all relating to real estate finance. After a very successful career with Countrywide, Ray quickly established himself as a top mortgage producer in the Austin/Round Rock area. Ray has been in real estate lending for over twelve years and has closed and funded over $250 million in both traditional and private lending transactions. These closings involved single family homes to apartment complexes including some land development. Ray is very involved in real estate investing and currently owns 27 rental units in the state of Texas.
Ray actively holds a Mortgage Brokers License #80845. Walter Capital Funding, LLC is also a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. Ray is a resident of Leander, Texas. He is married to Kayla and they are both proud parents of their two daughters, Ava & Avrielle.
Aaron Heth, VP Business Development
Mr. Heth is a seasoned professional in Commercial, International and Residential Real Estate Lending. Mr. Heth was recruited to First Capital Funding, LLC for his expertise in Brokering, Underwriting, Structuring Commercial Real Estate Equity, and his overall understanding of the Real Estate Financial Markets. He was added as Vice President of First Capital Funding, LLC; a Private Money direct lender based in Austin, TX. Mr. Heth is a member of the prestigious International Real Estate group FIABCI and a member of the International Society of Financiers.
Mr. Heth’s interest in Private Money and International Financing stems from his childhood experience of growing up overseas in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Educated in the finest International Schools in the Middle East, Mr. Heth gained an understanding and knowledge for all cultures and ways of life. Mr. Heth continues to educate himself in the financing industry and on the Local, State, and National Economy by attending many local, national, and international conferences on these subjects. This drive for gaining knowledge and understanding of the importance of personal relationships keeps Mr. Heth and First Capital Funding, LLC ahead of the curve and competition in today’s market.
Adrian Lufschanowski, Director of Investor Relations
Adrian’s career in raising capital started five years ago with a venture capital firm, Elevation Capital Partners. His focus was start-ups and real estate investments. His knowledge and expertise in financial markets and investments added to his aptitude to identify sound start ups and real estate ventures. His ability to communicate and create long-lasting relationships helped fund these deals. For these reasons Adrian was recruited to join First Capital Funding’s team to raise capital and create relationships with investors.
Adrian’s interest in joining First Capital Funding stems from his 10 years of trading equities and derivatives. During this time Adrian studied the financial markets in depth to identify sound investments, risk/reward, and capital preservation. First Capital Funding LLC’s model was the ideal conservative model to real estate that will flourish in today’s economic environment. Adrian obtained his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas, Austin. He then perused his Masters of Human Services in Business Administration (MBA) and Social Psychology at St. Edward’s University. He is a licensed Realtor in Texas and a member of ABOR, TAR, and NAR.
Melanie Miller, Executive Assistant
Melanie Miller’s experience encompasses a wide range of knowledge in banking, real estate investing, retail management, and executive administrative work. Her experience began in banking in the credit and loan area and eventually an executive secretary to the VP, which prepared her for management in retail. She soon became the Shop Director for a popular retail store and traveled throughout the region to oversee branch launches and facilitate the hiring and training process. After 5 years in retail management, she moved on to manage a 250 unit apartment complex. She also assisted in managing one of the region’s largest real estate offices in Santa Fe, New Mexico. After moving back to Texas, Melanie, along with her husband, began flipping houses and soon learned, hands on, how to remodel and prepare for sale. After being at home for a few years with her children, Melanie went to work at Walter Capital Funding, a private lending company, where she worked side by side with Ray Walter. Her experiences have given her great organizational skills and keenness for “attention-to-detail.”
Melanie attended SA Howard Jr. College majoring in Government. Currently, she also owns a party rental and party planning business. Melanie was recently voted by her children’s private school to be the 2010-2011 Treasurer for the PSO School Board. She spends most of her outside time volunteering and spending time with family. Melanie currently resides in Round Rock, Texas with her husband and three children.
Robert H. Newman
Robert H. Newman is President of Investor Relations at Principals Capital Funding, Inc. Since 1973, Robert Newman has been involved in Commercial Real Estate both as a Broker and a Principal. Since 1973, he has been involved in commercial real estate specializing in Joint Ventures, Equity Capital Formation and the buying and selling of apartments, office buildings and shopping centers. In 1995, Robert H. Newman founded Principals Capital Funding, Inc., a real estate investment company funded by a group of strong private investors. The company also engages in limited brokering of apartment buildings, retail centers and private lending under its affiliate, First Capital Realty Services.
For 18 years, Mr. Newman was a partner in Jones and Newman, a venture that bought and managed over 5,000 units of apartment buildings, shopping centers, as well as operated major office buildings in the western and southern regions of the United States (Georgia, Texas, California). One of their crowning achievements was the combined purchase of over 1,000 acres of land in Palm Springs, California from 1983-1986, which they sold at large profits to several major development companies. They retained 300 acres of land and in a joint venture partnership with Vista Development Company, developed this land into 186 homes within a master planned community. The venture successfully sold and repaid over $18 million in construction loans over a three year period.
Mr. Newman was nominated Businessman of the Year by the local chapter of the Republican party in 2005 and is an avid boater.
Janice Hochman
Janice Hochman is Director of Investor Relations and Underwriter for Principals Capital Funding, Inc. Janice is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles majoring in Psychology. She has worked with the company
for the past five years. She is licensed Real Estate Agent and worked in the mortgage business in Los Angeles for the past ten years. She has a dynamic personality and is very well liked and appreciated by investors. She has also invested with Principals Capital Funding, Inc.
