Rafael Cruz serves as a Loan Consultant with Longhorn Investments, working with real estate investors, builders, and developers throughout the Carolinas.
Prior to joining Longhorn, Rafael built his career leading engineering, product development, and project execution initiatives across manufacturing, infrastructure, defense, and commercial industries. Over the past decade, he has managed complex projects from concept through execution, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, evaluating risk, managing budgets, and supporting multimillion-dollar programs in highly regulated environments.
In addition to his engineering and commercial experience, Rafael has personally deployed capital into short-term real estate lending opportunities, providing financing solutions for residential real estate investors pursuing acquisition, renovation, and refinance strategies. Through these transactions, he gained hands-on experience evaluating borrower qualifications, underwriting collateral and exit strategies, structuring loan terms, coordinating with attorneys and title companies, and managing loans through payoff.
Rafael brings an execution-focused perspective to lending, combining analytical problem-solving with a strong understanding of project feasibility, timelines, budgets, and risk management. His background as both a capital provider and project leader allows him to better understand the challenges investors face when balancing opportunity, execution, and risk.
Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Rafael is actively engaged with local investors, wholesalers, flippers, builders, and real estate professionals across the region. He is passionate about building long-term relationships and helping investors access the capital needed to grow their businesses.