Ep.109 | Inside Tembo Financial: Speed, Direct Lending & Market Outlook with Arlen Ekstein

In Episode 109 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino sit down with Arlen Ekstein, VP of Sales & Marketing at Tembo Financial, one of Ontario’s fastest and most flexible direct private lenders.Arlen shares his journey from sponsorship sales into private lending, the origin story of Tembo Financial, and how the company built its reputation on speed, transparency, and customer-centric lending. He also gives a candid take on today’s volatile Ontario housing market, power-of-sale trends, and why he believes true stability won’t return until 2027.If you’ve ever wondered what “direct private lender” really means, how Tembo underwrites in under an hour, or how they lend across Ontario’s most unique pockets — this episode is a must-listen.Show Notes:00:00 — Cold weather banter & intro01:00 — Arlen’s background and unexpected entry into lending03:00 — Early learning curve: underwriting in Wawa, ON05:00 — Banking vs private lending: speed and mindset06:30 — What “direct private lender” means at Tembo07:30 — How Tembo turns deals around in 24–48 hours09:00 — Deposit loans, reno loans & COVID-era demand12:00 — Why Tembo avoids syndication14:00 — The importance of speed, transparency & no surprises16:00 — Tembo’s origin story and the meaning behind the name18:00 — Lending regions: Ottawa, Windsor, Chatham, Barrie & more20:00 — Valuations, appraisals & today’s market challenges27:00 — Condo lending: structuring creatively30:00 — Arlen’s view on today’s volatile market32:00 — Why he expects true stability in 202734:00 — How Tembo grows while staying customer-centric38:00 — What Arlen would change about the mortgage industry41:00 — Bonus: Toronto food picks (Doddy’s, Richmond Station, Revolver Pizza)Resources:Keystone Capital GroupCPLP Instagram: @cplpodcastKeystone Instagram: @keycapgroupFind Neal On:Instagram: @neal.andreinoLinkedIn: Neal AndreinoFind Ryan on:LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeilE-mail: [email protected]