Canadian Private Lenders’ Podcast
The #1 Podcast on Private Mortgage Lending in Canada. Ryan MacNeil and Neal Andreino of Keystone Capital Group outline their private mortgage lending experience and help you grow your mortgage business, while focusing on the importance of the growing Canadian Mortgage Broker channel.
Canadian Private Lenders’ Podcast
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 & intro
01:00 — Arlen’s background and unexpected entry into lending
03:00 — Early learning curve: underwriting in Wawa, ON
05:00 — Banking vs private lending: speed and mindset
06:30 — What “direct private lender” means at Tembo
07:30 — How Tembo turns deals around in 24–48 hours
09:00 — Deposit loans, reno loans & COVID-era demand
12:00 — Why Tembo avoids syndication
14:00 — The importance of speed, transparency & no surprises
16:00 — Tembo’s origin story and the meaning behind the name
18:00 — Lending regions: Ottawa, Windsor, Chatham, Barrie & more
20:00 — Valuations, appraisals & today’s market challenges
27:00 — Condo lending: structuring creatively
30:00 — Arlen’s view on today’s volatile market
32:00 — Why he expects true stability in 2027
34:00 — How Tembo grows while staying customer-centric
38:00 — What Arlen would change about the mortgage industry
41:00 — Bonus: Toronto food picks (Doddy’s, Richmond Station, Revolver Pizza)
Resources:
Keystone Capital Group
CPLP Instagram: @cplpodcast
Keystone Instagram: @keycapgroup
Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn: Neal Andreino
Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeil
E-mail: ryan@keycap.ca