Englewood-based Kennedy Funding, a direct private lender, announced Jan. 6 that it has closed a $2.5 million cash-out refinancing loan for Bush Lender LLC, secured by a multi-property portfolio on the island of Nevis, part of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The 63-acre estate on prime land in Nevis has become the latest addition to Kennedy Funding’s growing list of international loan closings.
The loan is backed by a mix of developed and raw land assets, including a custom-designed 8,000-square-foot concrete villa located in Jessups Estate, a desirable residential area in the Parish of St. Thomas.
The villa includes a three-car garage, theater, fitness room and private. It is on more than two acres just minutes from Charlestown, the capital of Nevis. Additional collateral includes more than 60 acres across Farms Estate and Bush Hill, two more locations on the island offering development potential.
Nevis, known for its pristine beaches, mountainous interior and luxury tourism appeal, is a popular destination for global investors and second-home buyers. The population of Saint Kitts and Nevis is about 51,000. The country does not keep expat numbers. It is estimated that as many as 6,000 residents are expats — American retirees, remote workers, British and Canadian nationals, investors and medical school students.
While the real estate market has grown, access to U.S.-based capital remains limited—particularly when it comes to unlocking equity from land or estate holdings.
“Lenders simply don’t want to deal with land, let alone land outside the United States,” said Mark Falzone, executive loan officer at Kennedy Funding.
The villa in Jessups Estate offers both exclusivity and convenience, located 3.4 miles from the island’s center of commerce and government. The additional acreage in Farms Estate and Bush Hill represents both long-term investment potential and diversified collateral base.
“This wasn’t just one property — it was multiple parcels, spanning different uses and parishes,” added Falzone. “We evaluated the entire portfolio, conducted the necessary diligence on the ground, and moved forward with confidence.”
With this closing, Kennedy Funding adds Nevis to its list of international markets. These include St. Barts, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Colombia, Belize, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. The firm has closed more than $4 billion in loans worldwide.
