John Arens
About John Arens
John Arens is the Managing Director and Head of Home Equity Investments at Redwood Trust, Inc., where he oversees the company's home equity investment strategies. He has over 25 years of experience in finance and real estate, having held various executive roles in legal and business operations across multiple fintech and proptech companies.
Current Role at Redwood Trust
John Arens serves as the Managing Director and Head of Home Equity Investments (HEI) at Redwood Trust, Inc. He has been in this position since 2022, overseeing the company's home equity investment strategies. His role involves managing investment initiatives and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards within the home equity sector.
Previous Experience in Fintech and Proptech
Before joining Redwood Trust, John Arens held various significant roles in the fintech and proptech industries. He worked as General Counsel and Vice President of Loan Operations at Funding Circle USA from 2012 to 2016. He also served as General Counsel at Divvy Homes from 2020 to 2022. Additionally, he was the Chief Legal Officer and Chief Administrative Officer at Unison from 2016 to 2020, where he developed legal and regulatory strategies for nationwide expansion in home equity investments.
Legal and Compliance Expertise
John Arens has a strong background in legal and compliance roles. He was a Founding Partner at Scale LLP from 2017 to 2020 and a Founding Member of TechGC from 2016 to 2022. His experience includes serving as Director of Legal and Chief Compliance Officer at Liquid Realty Partners from 2008 to 2012. His extensive legal expertise spans over 25 years in finance and real estate.
Education and Qualifications
John Arens holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of San Diego School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of San Diego. His educational background supports his extensive career in legal and business roles within the finance and real estate sectors.
Early Career at Redwood Trust
Prior to his current role, John Arens served as Vice President in the residential mortgage business at Redwood Trust from 2004 to 2007. This early experience at Redwood laid the foundation for his later leadership in home equity investments.