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Introducing Tembo: Private Lending Partner

by | July 7, 2025

In today’s complex real estate market, speed, creativity, and access to equity are essential—especially for homeowners navigating transitional situations, urgent closings, or non-traditional borrowing needs. As a professional mortgage agent, I work with a variety of lenders to ensure that my clients have access to the right solutions at the right time. One such lender I’m proud to introduce to you is Tembo Financial.

Who Is Tembo Financial?

What Type of Lender Is Tembo?

Why Choose Tembo Financial?

Who Is an Ideal Client for Tembo Financial?

What Sets Tembo Apart?

Who Is Tembo Financial?

Tembo Financial is a direct private lender headquartered in North York, Ontario, and has been operating since 2015. The firm was founded to address a very real gap in the real estate financing space: providing fast, short-term equity advances when traditional lenders couldn’t move quickly enough.

Tembo isn’t a bank or a monoline lender. They are a balance-sheet private lender, meaning they lend their own funds and are not reliant on external investor approvals or slow-moving committees. This structure allows them to provide commitments in hours and fund deals in as little as 24 to 48 hours—a level of speed and flexibility that is rare in our industry.

What Type of Lender Is Tembo?

As a private lender, Tembo Financial specializes in short-term, asset-based lending. This means that their primary focus is on the equity available in a property and the exit strategy, rather than rigid income verification or credit score metrics. Their goal is to provide solutions when banks say no—or can’t say yes fast enough.

Being a private lender implies that:

  • Rates and fees are higher than traditional lending channels.
  • Terms are generally short (up to 12 months).
  • Speed and flexibility are the priority.
  • They are ideal for bridging gaps, not for long-term financing.

Why Choose Tembo Financial?

When traditional lending falls short due to rigid timelines, documentation demands, or inflexible underwriting, Tembo Financial steps in with a refreshing alternative. As a direct private lender, Tembo delivers what today’s real estate market often demands: speed, versatility, and creative deal structuring. Whether your client needs rapid funding to secure a purchase, equity to prepare their home for sale, or a short-term solution during financial transition, Tembo’s approach is tailored, responsive, and strategically designed to help deals cross the finish line with confidence.

Here are three powerful reasons clients and brokers choose Tembo Financial:

  • Unmatched Speed and Execution
  • Tailored Bridge, Deposit & Renovation Loans
  • Creative Lending Solutions

Unmatched Speed and Execution

Tembo offers commitments within hours and closings within 48 hours. For time-sensitive deals—whether it’s to avoid losing a purchase, save a collapsing refinance, or meet a CRA tax deadline—Tembo moves faster than traditional lenders can.

Tailored Bridge, Deposit & Renovation Loans

Tembo’s flagship products, including Deposit Loans and Renovation Loans, offer homeowners and realtors real leverage. Deposit loans help clients buy before they sell, while renovation loans allow homeowners to maximize sale prices with pre-listing improvements. These tools are especially valuable in cooling markets where every competitive edge counts.

Creative Lending Solutions

Tembo offers flexible, fully open terms with prepaid interest options, staged draws, and even 80% loan-to-value top-ups in the GTA. Their “Flex 1” program allows mature or retired clients with unclear exit strategies to structure their private loans with peace of mind for a second year—without costly re-registration.

Who Is an Ideal Client for Tembo Financial?

Tembo is best suited for:

  • Homeowners who need short-term equity to purchase their next home before selling.
  • Clients needing renovation funds to prepare a property for sale.
  • Borrowers facing closing delays, CRA tax arrears, or credit challenges.
  • Individuals in need of bridge financing or power-of-sale buyouts.
  • Real estate investors or flippers needing rapid access to capital.

What all these scenarios have in common is urgency, equity, and a plan to exit the loan—usually via sale or refinance.

What Sets Tembo Apart?

Tembo Financial stands out in the crowded private lending space through:

  • Their commitment to transparency: No hidden setup fees, fair legal costs, and clearly disclosed terms.
  • In-house funding and underwriting: They lend their own money, allowing for decisiveness and flexibility.
  • Relentless focus on service: From same-day commitments to structured renewal plans, Tembo is known for supporting brokers and clients alike with an empathetic and efficient approach.

They are not the lowest-cost lender, and they don’t claim to be. Instead, they offer value through execution, access through flexibility, and trust through transparency.

My Final Thoughts

As your mortgage professional, I work with a broad network of lenders so that we can find the best possible match for your unique financial situation. If you’re in a scenario where speed, flexibility, or creative solutions are critical, Tembo Financial is a powerful tool I can use to help you move forward confidently.

If you’d like to explore whether Tembo—or any other lender—is the right fit for your situation, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s have a conversation and make your financing work for you.

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Allen Ehlert

Allen Ehlert

Allen Ehlert is a licensed mortgage agent. He has four university degrees, including two Masters degrees, and specializes in real estate finance, development, and investing. Allen Ehlert has decades of independent consulting experience for companies and governments, including the Ontario Real Estate Association, Deloitte, City of Toronto, Enbridge, and the Ministry of Finance.

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