(Reuters) -Pretium, a real-estate focused investment firm founded by Goldman Sachs 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 Chief Operating Officer Jon Pruzan and former Goldman Chief Financial Officer Stephen Scherr serve as Pretium's co-presidents.