Meeting Information

Meeting/Event Information

What Makes a Lender say "Yes" to a Deal?

 

March 18, 2026
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
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SDAR
4845 Ronson Ct
San Diego, CA 92111
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Join us for a Lunch & Learn where you’ll hear directly from real estate lenders on how they evaluate deals—and why some move forward while others say "no".

You’ll spend time with a private lender, a bank lender and an SBA lender. 
We’ll cover qualification basics, timelines, interest rates, what makes each lender different, and how to ensure your deal doesn't die in Underwriting.  

Networking time and lunch are included, so come early to connect with fellow CRE professionals, ask questions, and leave with practical takeaways you can use on your next deal.


Expert Lenders

Casey Hopkins 
Southland EDC

As a loan officer at Southland EDC, he works with small business owners through the SBA 504 Program to provide affordable financing for owner-occupied commercial real estate and long-term equipment. The SBA 504 loan program offers long-term fixed rates with as little as 10% down.

After graduating from Miami University (Ohio) with a finance degree, he spent five years at Charles Schwab as an investment advisor. He then worked in the niche area of private lending, providing financing on residential and commercial properties through 1st and 2nd trust deeds, as well as the sale of these trust deeds to accredited investors.

In 2008, he began his commercial banking career with San Diego National Bank and has since worked at U.S. Bank, Silvergate Bank, and HomeStreet Bank. As a commercial banker, he provided a full suite of business financing solutions, including revolving/formula lines of credit, equipment financing, and investor and owner-occupied commercial real estate term loans via conventional lending, SBA 504 and 7(a) programs, and Cal Southern State Guarantee loan programs.

Ted Przybylek
Rancho ted

Ted Przybylek is a well-rounded financial specialist and hard money lending expert with more than 30 years of experience in the lending industry. He is the founder of Rancho Ted, a San Diego-based real estate finance lender serving clients across California with creative, solutions-driven funding options.

Rancho Ted offers a wide range of loan products, including private money fix-and-flip loans, commercial loans, investment property loans, construction loans, and both traditional and non-qualified mortgages. What sets the company apart is its common-sense lending philosophy: instead of relying solely on conventional credit or income documentation, Rancho Ted prioritizes equity and loan-to-value ratios. This approach can be especially beneficial for self-employed borrowers and foreign investors, with financing that is personalized, efficient, and flexible to fit each client’s goals.

DeWitt Dudley
Columbia Bank

DeWitt is a senior banking professional with nearly a decade at Columbia Bank, where he has built a reputation for helping business owners and real estate investors advance their goals with confidence. He brings a deeply relationship-driven approach to commercial banking. Many of his clients have partnered with him for five to ten years, reflecting his belief that meaningful financial guidance is never transactional.  

As an expert generalist, DeWitt has supported clients through a wide range of complex challenges and growth opportunities. His experience spans financing U.S. manufacturing expansions and on-shoring strategies, structuring partner buy-ins and buy-outs, delivering flexible working capital solutions for contractors, and designing creative equipment financing strategies that help companies stay competitive in dynamic industries, to name a few. 
DeWitt offers a distinct advantage: a banker who understands both the financial structures and the long-term vision behind transformative CRE and business investments. The most rewarding part of his work is helping clients achieve milestone moments – acquiring owner-occupied properties, completing generational business transactions, or securing financing that unlocks new phases of growth. He considers it a privilege to contribute to the successes that shape the region’s business and real estate landscape.  

Bailey Wolff, cCCIM
Harvest

Bailey Wolff is an owner-occupied commercial real estate finance specialist with deep experience in SBA lending. He began his career at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) New York City Office, where he worked directly with banks and business owners navigating SBA loan programs. That experience gave him first-hand insight into how SBA loans are evaluated and approved.
Bailey has been with Harvest since 2020, where he learned from leading Business Development Officers and progressed into a full-cycle role—structuring, underwriting, and closing owner-user commercial real estate loans nationwide. As part of a national lending platform, he has closed transactions across every region of the United States.
With a master’s degree in journalism, Bailey brings a strong narrative lens to commercial lending. He believes successful SBA loans balance sound financial fundamentals with a clear understanding of what property ownership enables for a business’s future—not just its past performance.
Bailey earned his Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation in May 2025 and currently serves as Vice President of the San Diego CCIM Chapter.

 

Tickets

$25.00 Members

$35.00 Non-Members