Apply Online
Alta West Capital, Explained (Calgary Private Lender)

Alta West Capital, Explained

Alta West is a Calgary-born private mortgage lender — an equity-based, fast-moving option for borrowers who need a short-term solution the banks can’t provide. Here’s how it works and where it fits.

Quick answer: Alta West Capital is a Calgary-founded (1991) private mortgage lender that funds through mortgage investment corporations (MICs). It decides on equity and property marketability rather than rigid bank rules, and it’s known for fast turnaround. It’s a fit for short-term, equity-based needs — refinances, equity take-out, debt consolidation and bridge financing — for borrowers in Alberta, BC and Ontario. We access it through the broker channel and compare it to other private options.
1991
Founded in Calgary
MIC
Private, equity-based lender
Fast
Quick approvals & funding
AB · BC · ON
Where it lends

Who is Alta West Capital?

Founded in Calgary in 1991, Alta West Capital is a Canadian private mortgage lender and mortgage investment manager, operating through mortgage investment corporations with several hundred million dollars under administration. It specializes in originating and managing short-term residential mortgages across Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. In late 2024, Calgary private-equity firm TriWest Capital Partners took a majority stake, and Alta West has also expanded by acquiring a legacy alternative lender in BC.

How Alta West lends

As a MIC-based private lender, Alta West evaluates a deal primarily through the lens of equity and the marketability of the property — not a rigid income-and-credit checklist. That’s what lets it move quickly, sometimes with approvals in hours and funding within a week. The trade-off, as with all private money, is a higher rate and fees, so it’s used as a short-term bridge with a plan to exit to lower-cost financing.

When Alta West fits

  • Equity take-out where income or credit doesn’t fit a bank but the equity is clearly there.
  • Debt consolidation that mainstream lenders have declined.
  • Bridge financing and other short-term, time-sensitive needs.
  • Files that need speed — where a fast, equity-based yes matters more than the lowest rate.

How a Calgary mortgage broker helps with Alta West

Private lending rewards good structure and a clear exit — that’s our job:

  • We package your file around the equity story an Alta West underwriter needs to see.
  • We compare Alta West against other private lenders and MICs on rate and fees.
  • We build the exit to a bank or alternative lender into the plan from the start.
  • It’s free to start, with no credit hit and no obligation.

Mortgage Application

Need an equity-based solution, fast? Let’s talk

  • 2-minute form
  • No credit check to start
  • Confidential
  • No obligation

Frequently asked questions

What is Alta West Capital?
Alta West Capital is a Calgary-founded private mortgage lender and mortgage investment manager that lends through MICs. It provides short-term, equity-based mortgages in Alberta, BC and Ontario, accessed through mortgage brokers.
How does a MIC private lender decide?
A MIC private lender like Alta West decides mainly on your home’s equity and marketability rather than a strict income-and-credit formula. That lets it approve and fund quickly, though at a higher rate and fees than a bank.
Is Alta West a long-term mortgage?
No. Like other private lenders, Alta West is a short-term bridge. The plan is always to solve the immediate need and then move you to lower-cost financing when you qualify.
How do I get an Alta West mortgage?
Through a licensed mortgage broker. We package your file, submit it to Alta West, and compare it against other private options to make sure it’s your best short-term fit.
Who to call if this is your situation. Josh Tagg is a Calgary mortgage broker who arranges private and second mortgages across Alberta — equity-based files that banks decline on income, credit or timing. He leads the Mortgages for Less team at INDI Mortgage, has been arranging mortgages since 2006, took over the brokerage his father founded in 2003, and is licensed by the Real Estate Council of Alberta. Alta West is one of several private lenders this office places files with, and the right one depends entirely on your file. Private & Second Mortgages Calgary sets out what any private second costs all-in — rate, fees, total cost to borrow, and the cost to leave early. Then call (403) 241-3255, book a call, or apply online.

Wondering if a private lender is your answer?

We’ll assess your equity, compare Alta West against other private options, and map the exit to cheaper money. Apply online in about two minutes, or book a discovery call.

Apply online Book a discovery call
Free · No credit check to start · No obligation

This article is general information, not financial, mortgage or legal advice. Private mortgages carry higher rates and fees and are intended as short-term solutions; products, rates, fees and terms vary, are subject to change and depend on lender approval. Alta West Capital is not affiliated with Mortgages for Less and no endorsement is implied. Please speak with a licensed mortgage professional about your specific circumstances. Mortgages for Less with INDI Mortgage.