The industry’s fastest-growing segment is slowing, rates are becoming more reactive, and competition is shifting from expansion to market share. This year has introduced a more nuanced lending environment than many expected coming out of 2025. After a period of strong, consistent growth, particularly in DSCR lending, the market appears to be finding a new [...]
One year after overtaking bridge, DSCR lending continues to pull ahead. Lightning Docs is a fully automated, cloud-based loan document solution developed by the partners of Fortra Law. In addition to providing automated loan documents for private lenders, the platform serves as a source of aggregated market data. More than 51,000 loans have run through [...]
Lightning Docs is a fully automated, cloud-based loan document solution developed by Fortra Law. In addition to providing automated loan documents for private lenders, Lightning Docs serves as a source of aggregated data to add clarity to the private lending industry. So far this year, more than 34,000 loans have run through the platform, including [...]
With DSCR loan volume up 105% year-over-year, top performers aren’t riding the wave—they’re creating it through better execution and infrastructure. Lightning Docs is a SaaS platform founded by the partners at Fortra Law —recently rebranded from Geraci LLP—the nation’s largest private lending law firm. The platform is used by nearly 300 total lenders, including more [...]
Driven by strong secondary market conditions, bridge and DSCR loan originations grew rapidly in 2024, setting the stage for continued momentum in 2025. During the last six years, Lightning Docs, a platform built for private lenders to generate their short-term (bridge, fix-and-flip, construction, etc.) and long term rental (DSCR) loan documents and the official loan [...]
In 2024, private lenders are witnessing an unexpected uptick in bridge and DSCR loan activity, reflecting growing investor demand for flexible financing options amid market uncertainty. Lightning Docs is a software company specializing in loan documentation for private lenders. The data gathered from the Lightning Docs system provides deep insights into trends shaping our industry, [...]
Ahead of forecasted Fed rate reductions, are private lenders jumping the gun with market shifts and rate changes? Lighting Docs is a software private lenders use to generate their short-term loans (bridge, fix-and-flip, construction, etc.) and rental loans (DSCR) loan documents. During the last six years, Lightning Docs has been used for more than 73,000 [...]
Lightning Docs, the official loan document platform of the American Association of Private Lenders (AAPL), recently provided updated data on interest rates and loan volume for both short-term bridge loans and long-term rental loans for the first four months of 2024. During the last six years, Lightning Docs has collected data for more than 61,000 [...]
Lightning Docs, the official loan documents and loan document platform of the American Association of Private Lenders (AAPL), recently shared updated annual bridge and rental loan data that shows the current state of the private lending industry. Since 2018, Lightning Docs has tracked data for more than 54,000 loans at an aggregate of $29.7 billion, [...]
Previously unavailable industry data made accessible through AAPL gives members a competitive edge. Earlier this year, Lightning Docs, the official loan document platform of the American Association of Private Lenders (AAPL) joined forces with AAPL to bring to light up-to-date state-of-the-industry data that had previously been unavailable for those in the private lending sector. The [...]
Nominations are open until August 30, 2026, with voting from September 7-30, 2026. We’ll announce recipients at our Annual Conference.
Member of the Year (MOTY): This award goes to a member based on their deep expertise, unique value, and strong commitment to clients and the industry.
Rising Star: Rising Stars are members who have accomplished outstanding growth in their company or industry sector over the past year.
Community Impact: Recipients improve their local communities or our industry through volunteering, development programs, or civic efforts.
See past award winners, award rules, and participate in the 2026 nomination and voting process here.
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3rd Place – 1 year AAPL Individual Membership