A trusted
Santa Barbara based
private real estate lender.
Delivering fast, flexible financing solutions for your property ventures. With deep local expertise and a streamlined process, we empower clients to seize opportunities, from fix-and-flips to new construction, with confidence.
Built for the deal
in front of us.
Not the committee
three time zones away.
Riviera Capital Partners is a private real estate lender based in Santa Barbara, California. We fund business-purpose loans across the state with the speed of a principal and the discipline of a career institutional operator.
We deliver fast, flexible financing for real estate investors and developers who need capital that moves at the speed of the market.
Every file is reviewed, underwritten, and serviced by the same three partners who sign the wire, with decades of combined experience in real estate, institutional finance, and operating businesses in the Santa Barbara community.
Speed
Quick closings when the deal calls for it. Principal-to-principal, with no committee and no offshore back-office.
Flexibility
We underwrite the deal, not a checklist. Terms are structured around the asset, the timeline, and the exit.
Competitive pricing
Direct-lender economics on every loan. Pricing is quoted per deal, with no hidden fees at the closing table.
In-house servicing
Your loan is serviced in-house for the life of the note by the same partners who funded it.
Five instruments.
One decision maker.
Business purpose, first lien loans secured by California real estate. Every file is priced and structured to the opportunity in front of us.
A direct path
from call to close.
Each step below is a commitment. Quick closings are the result of removing every unnecessary handoff, not adding more people.
Scenario intake
A 15 minute call. Share the property, the purpose, and the timeline. We will tell you immediately whether it fits.
Indicative terms
Written term sheet on a typical 24 hour turnaround once we have a complete package. Pricing, structure, and closing timeline, in writing.
Diligence & appraisal
Local appraisal, title, and entity review, run in parallel rather than in series. Our network is Santa Barbara first.
Fund & service
Wire released. Loan serviced in house by the same partners for the life of the note. One point of contact, end to end.
Three partners.
One area code.
The people who take your call are the people who underwrite the loan, sign the wire, and answer your first servicing question.
Dan Kennedy
Dan focuses on loan origination and investor relations at RCP. Since 2018, he has co-led Driven Capital Partners, a Santa Barbara real estate firm managing 16 projects with over 200 investors. A former pro soccer player with the LA Galaxy, Dan spent 12 years on the field and served on the MLS Players Association Executive Board. Active in real estate since 2011, he brings a sharp eye to investment and construction.
Tim Morton-Smith
Tim’s emphasis is on loan origination and investor relations at RCP. His entrepreneurial career has spanned banking, finance, investment advisory, and technology startups. An active local real estate investor, Tim brings deep local knowledge and relationships to RCP and its borrowers.
Matt Shamus
Matt leads operations, underwriting, loan servicing, and business development at RCP. Since 2018, he has led Driven Capital Partners, a Santa Barbara real estate firm with a heavy emphasis on local investments. Matt’s real estate experience includes over $365M in transaction volume.
Let’s discuss the deal in front of you.
Interested in working together? We would like to hear from you. Tell us about the asset, the purpose, and the timeline. We respond within one business day.