July 10 (Reuters) -

Pretium, a real-estate focused investment firm founded by

Goldman Sachs ( GS ) alum Don Mullen, said on Thursday it has

originated more than $1 billion in loans to homebuilders in the

last six months.

The company, which manages $60 billion of assets,

started issuing these loans in January to expand its footprint

in the residential real estate market.

The ongoing housing shortage in the United States,

coupled with traditional banks retreating from real estate

lending due to regulatory pressures and risk concerns, has

opened up space for private capital firms like Pretium to step

in and play a larger role in residential financing.

As of September 30 last year, the U.S. was short about 3.7

million homes, according to estimates by Freddie Mac. Such

shortages can drive up home prices and rents, and also restrict

workforce mobility.

Pretium said the $1 billion of loans were expected to help

construct nearly 5,000 new homes. The company aims to become one

of the biggest lenders to the U.S. homebuilding industry by

2027.

Mullen founded the firm in 2012 after serving as a Goldman

partner. Former Morgan Stanley ( MS ) Chief Operating Officer

Jon Pruzan and former Goldman Chief Financial Officer Stephen

Scherr serve as Pretium's co-presidents.