July 23, 2025 – Corte Madera, CA – Avila Real Estate Capital (AREC), a private real estate credit platform focused on residential development and homebuilding, announced the closing of its inaugural debt fund and the expansion of its originations team with five senior hires. These milestones validate robust demand for capital in the residential sector and come at a time of strong momentum for AREC which has also expanded regional teams in large markets such as Denver, Atlanta, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
$1B+ Debt Originated; First Fund Closed
AREC has originated over $1B in loans since its inception in 2022 and has supported the delivery of over 10,000 residential lots. In July 2025, AREC closed its first dedicated real estate debt fund, securing total commitments and co-investments in excess of $700 million. The fund is focused exclusively on lending to the U.S. homebuilding sector, providing acquisition, development, and construction (AD&C) first mortgages across key growth markets.
To enhance fund flexibility and lending capacity, AREC also closed two strategic facilities in July: a $50 million subscription facility and a $200 million leverage facility to prudently finance vertical construction loans. Fund investors include a diverse mix of institutional, corporate, and high-net-worth investors, including prominent homebuilders, executives, pensions, endowments, and insurance companies.
Expansion of Originations Team
To support its growth AREC has hired a new Chief Lending Officer and senior industry professionals with more than 120 years of combined experience across residential construction lending, acquisition and development financing, vertical construction, portfolio management, and risk oversight to its originations team.
- John Brimberry, Chief Lending Officer – John brings more than 30 years of experience building and managing high-performing lending platforms. He oversees
AREC’s A&D and vertical construction loan programs. Prior to AREC, John was Senior Vice President at Flagstar Bank where he co-founded and led the $5B National Home Builder Finance division. Throughout his career, John has scaled lending operations across multiple institutions and managed portfolios exceeding $2 billion. - Nathan Cichon, Director, Homebuilder Finance – Nathan offers over 20 years of experience in originations, underwriting, and advisory roles, with a focus on homebuilder finance. He has managed portfolios exceeding $700MM and brings a strong understanding of both credit structuring and borrower relationships across regional and national markets.
- Jerry Schillaci, Director, Homebuilder Finance – With 27 years in banking, Jerry has
originated and structured over $1B in A&D and vertical construction commitments. Over
his career, he has partnered and built enduring relationships with top-tier builders and
developers across the country. - Drew Szilagyi, Director, Homebuilder Finance – Drew brings over two decades of experience in commercial and residential real estate lending. He previously managed a $1.5B portfolio across major eastern U.S. markets and has deep expertise in underwriting, credit quality, and strategic client support.
- Philip Trujillo, Director, Homebuilder Finance – Philip specializes in providing custom financing solutions for land development and residential construction. Over his 20-year career, he has structured loans for builders ranging from 50 to 2,000+ annual closings, offering expertise across a broad range of financial structures.
“We are seeing sustained demand from builders and developers who need a capital partner that brings certainty, creativity, and experience to the table,” said Tony Avila, CEO of AREC. “With the close of our first fund and the expansion of our team, AREC is well-positioned to meet this demand and continue scaling our platform to support new housing supply across the country.”
About Avila Real Estate Capital
Avila Real Estate Capital (AREC) is a private credit platform with deep, hands-on experience in residential real estate. With a background in developing land and building homes, AREC understands client needs from the ground up. Through its affiliate Builder Advisor Group, AREC maintains a strategic network of relationships with leading homebuilders, developers, and capital partners. Backed by a full-service team, AREC brings institutional discipline and creative structuring to deliver flexible financing solutions tailored to each project.
This press release is not a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities and may not be relied upon in connection with the purchase or sale of any security. Interests in the AREC Funds, if offered, will only be made pursuant to a confidential offering memorandum and subscription documents.
Builder Advisor Group is a member of FINRA and SIPC.
Media Contact:
press@avilacapllc.com
