How Ruben Izgelov Built a $700M Private Lending Empire in Real Estate | Ruben Izgelov

In this powerhouse episode, Matty A is joined by Ruben Izgelov, co-founder of WeLend, a national private lending firm that has originated over $700 million in loans. Ruben shares how

he went from a humble immigrant upbringing to building one of the most respected and secure lending platforms in the country.

He breaks down the real difference between investing and lending, how his fund has never lost investor capital, and what every real estate operator needs to know about current market risks, political headwinds, and construction cost challenges.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why Ruben shifted from active investor to full-time private lender
• The biggest mistakes flippers make with ARVs and renovation costs
• How WeLend consistently generates 13–16.5% passive returns for investors
• The pros and cons of debt funds vs. real estate syndications
• How policy, politics, and inflation impact deal underwriting
• What macroeconomic trends Ruben is watching in 2025

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Ruben & WeLend

07:00 – Ruben’s story: from immigrant to entrepreneur

10:00 – Lending vs. investing: safest part of the capital stack

14:30 – Common mistakes with ARVs and renovation budgeting

17:00 – The myth of passive real estate income

20:00 – Policy differences between red and blue states

26:00 – How WeLend has originated $700M without a loss

31:00 – Monthly cash flow and liquidity in debt funds

35:00 – Why Ruben prefers debt funds over syndications

38:00 – Risks from tariffs, labor shortages, and supply

Resources from Ruben Izgelov

• Website: https://www.welendllc.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rubenizgelov/

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