At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026Sykes Equity LLC d/b/a Private Leverage is a loan fund based in Houston, Texas. Its website describes commercial real estate loans. Stated loan amounts run from $50,000 to $1M. Where it lends: Texas metropolitan areas, counties, principal cities and municipalities over 100,000 residents. You can start an application online.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| Main | (713) 396-3244 source |
|---|---|
| Apply online | Page with the application link |
| Website | PrivateLeverage.com |
| Office (official list) | 2000 Crawford St, Suite 1222, Houston, TX 77002 |
What their website says about applying
Apply online in minutes
sourceReceive terms subject to underwriting
sourceSubmit additional items needed for funding
source
Phone numbers and addresses are the ones on the lender's own site and the CDFI Fund list. CDFI Atlas does not take applications.
Rates and terms they state
Read 2 Nov 2026| Loan | Stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans (general) | Term: see their wording | 1 to 30 years | source |
As published on the lender's website on that date, not an offer or a quote. Your rate depends on the lender's review. A missing rate means the pages we read did not state one. For consumer loans we repeat a rate only when the lender states it as an APR (annual percentage rate, which includes fees); otherwise read the lender's own wording and ask for the APR.
Who qualifies, in their words
- Minimum credit score: 620
Minimum credit score of 620 for the borrower/guarantor is required.
source
Only rules the lender's own pages state. Other requirements may apply.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Loan fund |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 12 Jul 2025 |
| RSSD ID | — (none listed) |
| Address | 2000 Crawford St, Suite 1222, Houston, TX 77002 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | PrivateLeverage.com |
Head officeBranch or officeApproximate (ZIP code area)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles, tiles OpenFreeMap. Head-office points: U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
Loans and eligibility
Verified from lender site on 2 Nov 2026Read from 2 pages of the lender's website on 2 Nov 2026. Quotes are verbatim. Extracted with AI help from the pages listed below and checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a person. Confidence: high. Residential investor loans on 1-4 unit non-owner-occupied properties were not assigned a product key because they do not match the directory's home mortgage category. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial real estate loans | $50,000 – $1M | Loans from $50,000-$1,000,000 | source |
Loan sizes
Loans from $50,000 - $1,000,000
sourcePrivate Leverage will consider loans with a total principal balance greater than $1,000,000 on a case-by-case basis.
source
Range used for the size filter: $50,000 to $1M
Service area
Texas metropolitan areas, counties, principal cities and municipalities over 100,000 residents
Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), Counties, Principal Cities, and MSA Non-Principal Municipalities with greater than 100,000 Residents
source
Borrower focus
- Not stated on the pages we read.
Languages
- No non-English service found on the pages we read.
Online application
Yes — the site links to an application. Apply online in minutes
source
Questions to ask when you contact them
Based on what their website said when we read it on 2 Nov 2026, and what it left out. Something missing here does not mean they don't offer it: ask.
- What interest rate and fees should I expect on your commercial real estate loans?
Their website does not state a rate for this. - Do you need collateral, a business plan or a minimum time in business?
Their website does not say what they require. - Do you offer free coaching or help preparing my application?
CDFI certification requires development services, such as training or advice, alongside lending. - What documents will you need from me, and how long does a decision usually take?
Their website describes some application steps (above); ask for the full document list.
Write down the answers, who you spoke to and the date, and ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
CDFI Fund awards
CDFI Fund database, 3 Nov 2026$1.3 million in 4 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2021–2024 (CDFI Equitable Recovery Program; CDFI Program, Financial Assistance; CDFI Program, Technical Assistance).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $550,000 |
| 2022 | CDFI Equitable Recovery Program | $500,000 |
| 2022 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $125,000 |
| 2021 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $125,000 |
These are awards and investments made to the institution itself to build its capital and capacity. They are not loans to borrowers, and an award does not mean the lender has money available for a particular loan today.
Source: CDFI Fund Searchable Awards Database, all 12,628 award records (1996–2025), read 3 Nov 2026. Years are the award round as the database lists it. Matched to the official CDFI list by exact name and state; see the method on the About page.
How it compares
Computed from public data| Measure | This lender | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Largest loan its website states | $1M | Other loan funds whose website states a maximum: median $250,000. Higher than the stated maximum of 72% of these 184. |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largest stated loan | other loan funds stating a maximum, nationwide | 184 | higher than 72% |
“Larger than X%” = the share of the peer group with a smaller value. Ranks count from the largest. Peer groups use the lender's home state when it has at least 5 peers, otherwise the whole country. Full definitions: methodology.
For comparison, not an offer and not a rating. Past records show what this lender did, not what you would be offered. Peer groups and sources: methodology.
Other certified CDFIs in Houston and Texas
- Houston Business development, Inc.Loan fund · Houston, TXCommercial real estate loans, Equipment loans, SBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage), Small-business loansVerified
- LIGHT COMMERCE CREDIT UNIONCredit union · Houston, TXAuto / vehicle loansVerified
- Priority Trust Credit UnionCredit union · Houston, TXAuto / vehicle loans, Energy / solar / efficiency loans, Home repair / improvement loans, Home mortgages…Verified
- Texas Bay Credit UnionCredit union · Houston, TXOfficial list only
Work at Sykes Equity LLC d/b/a Private Leverage? Link to this page
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