Private lending expertise ‘a non-negotiable’

IN Partnership with

Amid growing demand for alternative solutions and evolving regulatory requirements, a growing community of brokers is partnering with CMI as the private mortgage lending partner of choice. Find out why you should join them

COMING OFF a decline in house prices following a historic surge, facing changing immigration policies, and grappling with the impact of ever-shifting rules and regulations, brokers, lenders, and borrowers alike know this is no longer their grandparents’ real estate market. With growing demand for alternative solutions, private lending has become an increasingly valuable tool in a broker’s arsenal. And it’s driving a significant shift in the market, prompting brokers who focus exclusively on prime deals to explore alternatives in response to evolving client needs. “We’re hearing that private lending is more and more of a go-to option,” says Taylor Lewis, AVP originations and strategic partnerships at CMI Canadian Mortgages (CMI). “Expertise in this area is a non-negotiable for brokers who want to be equipped to offer suitable solutions to clients.”

CMI Canadian Mortgages Inc. (CMI) is a broker-focused private mortgage lender, known for its commitment to transparency, ethical lending, and exceptional service. Leveraging its brokerage roots, CMI takes a practical, common-sense approach to serving a wide range of borrowers, ensuring accessible solutions. As a tech-forward, innovative industry leader, CMI is one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies, with over $3 billion in lifetime mortgage fundings.

“What we provide is the gold standard, and we never settle for less… From pre-submission discussing a deal, to submission, approval, documentation, and funding – we join forces with the broker each step of the way”

Taylor Lewis, CMI

The first lesson is that private lending has evolved significantly in recent years, moving beyond a simplistic approach of relying on rising property values and basic exit strategies. The current approach emphasizes thoroughness while maintaining flexibility. With more rigorous underwriting, enhanced document checking, and a greater emphasis on exit strategies, private lending has become a more solid and reliable solution. Thanks to tech innovations, this extra due diligence doesn’t come at the cost of speed – an area where CMI has consistently set the bar for the rest of the industry. “As a leading private lender in Canada, we create the standard,” Lewis says, noting that the private lending process has become more sophisticated than simply appraising a house that was almost guaranteed to rise in value, with an exit strategy as simple as “let’s refinance in a year when the value rises.”

To that end, Lewis urges brokers to seize the opportunity to equip themselves with the expertise needed to grow their business in today’s climate. There’s never been a better time to learn about expanded offerings and broaden your shelf. “Private lending expertise is no longer a ‘nice to have’ – it’s a ‘must have.’ It’s about discerning what’s possible, what’s not, and trusting that if a solution exists, we’ll find it,” Lewis says, adding he sees this doggedness in emails and meetings where the CMI team is constantly looking for ways to structure deals to get them over the line. “We have extensive experience navigating complex client scenarios.”

Across the industry, brokers are increasingly turning to more formal sales and advice education, such as the mortgage agent level 2 course, with many brokerages taking up the torch to deliver extra training components to their agents. Brokers – especially those who recognize the growing need for alternative solutions – are actively seeking ways to better serve their clients. This commitment to improvement is something Lewis appreciates and sees reflected in CMI’s approach. “We’re proud of what we’ve done, but we’re always striving to do more – we’re all about perpetual improvement and being better than the day before,” he says. “We want to partner with brokers in mutual evolution and that’s what sets us apart. We’re in it with you.”

Joining forces with Canada’s leading private lender

Published Feb 10, 2025

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“Private lending expertise is no longer a ‘nice to have’ – it’s a ‘must have.’ It’s about discerning what’s possible, what’s not, and trusting that if a solution exists, we’ll find it”

Taylor Lewis, CMI

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“As the real estate market and the industry evolves, private lending also has to evolve to maintain its integrity and cement its place in the mortgage world,” he adds. CMI excels at not just keeping pace with change but anticipating it, always staying a step ahead. It has the track record to prove it, with $3 billion of mortgages funded since its inception. Standing on two decades of industry experience, brokerage roots, and a deeply held belief in education, CMI has built its business on understanding and meeting the needs of its broker partners. CMI lends nationally, from major urban cities to more remote towns across the country, and works exclusively through the broker channel, which means it doesn’t compete for clients. CMI also has the appetite to tackle complex client

scenarios, taking a case-by-case approach and exemplifying the mindset of “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” While the answer might not always be a yes, if there’s a way to get to the end goal, the CMI team will find it, Lewis stresses. There’s a reason why the service provided by its experienced, diverse, and dedicated team is industry renowned. The CMI team supports brokers from deal submission to funding in one seamless process, which ties directly into the broker relationship manager (BRM) model. Providing a one-stop shop, the BRM is a sales and underwriter hybrid who serves as the broker’s person throughout. Answers are more immediate, advice is more thorough, the steps are more streamlined, and there’s no hand-off or disconnect in the broker experience. “What happens doesn’t change, but how the broker feels does. What we provide is the gold standard, and we never settle for less than meeting or exceeding that CMI calibre,” Lewis explains. “We want to be there throughout. From pre-submission discussing a deal, to submission, approval, documentation, and funding – we join forces with the broker each step of the way.”

At its core, the CMI difference lies in its personalized approach – there’s no cookie-cutter solution and no “set it and forget it” mentality. Beyond the deal process, CMI goes the extra mile by hosting seminars and webinars, delivering presentations at industry events, and holding informal meetings – both one on one with brokers and in small groups. CMI also keeps brokers informed through its regular blog series and weekly market commentary, providing timely insights and valuable knowledge on everything from rate forecasts and how to position private lending options with clients to understanding private mortgages – what they are, how they work, and how to exit them. Education is essential to helping brokers get a yes for clients they once thought they’d have to say no to – not because they didn’t want to help but because they didn’t think they could. For Lewis, whose career has taken him from the prime side to the broker network and, finally, to the private sphere, it’s the latter that’s the most rewarding.

Seizing opportunities in a shifting landscape

“I enjoy the problem solving of the private side of the business,” he says. “You interact with brokers who are dealing with clients that have been told no several times and need a solution. Finding that solution for those who otherwise have no options is the best feeling. We help people leave in a better situation than when they came in, which is very fulfilling.”