Kathy Friedmann
ZPD Management
Couldn’t ask for a better lender. Hands down the best lenders I have worked with in the past decade!!! If you are looking for a lender that actually does what they say, and is always available to you, I highly recommend Freedom Financial Funds. From the start of the process, I felt as though we were in the right hands, and receiving the type of support every borrower hopes for. Working directly with the decision makers was important and it was clear that they are truly committed to our success. We had a complicated situation and Freedom really took the time to understand us and our goals as well as the project and provided a financial solution that worked for everyone. We have plans to build a portfolio of properties, and I can assure you that Freedom Financial Funds will be the first telephone number that we dial.
Chad Eisenbud
United Growth
Michael and Minda were such a pleasure to work with. We needed a higher leverage construction loan for a build to suit in Florida with a quick close. They thoroughly underwrote the opportunity and the start-up credit, were competitive and performed as promised. In today’s capital markets environment, it’s nice to work with a lender that takes the relationship seriously and professionally.
AKKI PATEL
LRE & Companies
Freedom Financial is easy to work with because they understand the development process from a 5,000 foot elevation, as well as down in the weeds. They are a great partner in the process and have a great team in place that was able to understand the intricacies of our ownership structure and where we were in the entitlement and development process. Going into a fluctuating interest rate environment, we found they had a clear underwriting standard and we had very clear targets, which for a developer takes away a lot of worry to have clear underwriting standards. We look forward to our next project with Freedom Financial.
TONY FESTA
Tauro Capital Advisors, Inc.
Freedom was a true pleasure to work with. They were extremely forthcoming about their process and timelines, while still hitting a tighter close date on our first transaction. The upfront leg work was well worth it, coming to a comprehensive understanding of terms, which allowed us to truly focus on closing from that point on. No project is without its hiccups, so, when they do, it is invaluable to be able to pick up the phone and speak with Minda or Michael to get things ironed out quickly.
SIDNEY TRUE
True Holdings, LLC
Eric Shoemaker at Freedom showed me two things exist in the lending business that I thought were long dead: first, common-sense lending still exists; and second, relationships matter. I needed a rehabilitation loan for a property located in the urban core of a tertiary market. The transaction had a lot of hair on it. Freedom closed it. And, not only did Freedom close it, but it was the easiest loan process I've ever been through.
DAVID LICH
Dynamic Real Estate Partners
From application to funding, our most recent transaction was a seamless, timely process. With Freedom, it’s more than simply a one-off lending transaction; Freedom works with us as an advisor to structure financing to best meet our needs and goals.
JOSEPH W. RICH
Rich Development Enterprises, LLC
In today’s lender environment, getting financing for complicated projects with high leverage is a tremendous challenge. Freedom Financial has filled that void perfectly. So many things make the experience exceptional: speed of process from review to funding; simple documentation and low legal costs; and working directly with the decision-makers is refreshing. They can be their own appraiser. They lend to the borrower and not the real estate — real estate is almost second fiddle if they believe in the borrower. Did I mention the speed of the process?
SEAN KEYS
Fortify Holdings
We were introduced to Eric Shoemaker in the Portland office with five weeks prior to the scheduled closing dates on three properties in Medford, Oregon. With a lot of moving pieces, the team at Freedom Financial Funds, including Eric, Michael Klein, and Minda Johnstone, were quickly able to grasp our short and long term goals and provide a meaningful financial solution. While we know we weren’t their only transaction at the time, they were thoughtful and responsive, and worked diligently to get us to the finish line. In fact, we closed a day earlier than anticipated! Overall, we were extremely pleased with the loan process at Freedom Financial Funds and look forward to building the relationship over time. We would highly recommend the team to other real estate investors looking for bridge and/or construction loans.
JERRY FINK
VF Developments
Yan Lam and Michael Klein performed quickly and efficiently for Freedom Financial Funds in closing a loan from start to finish in 3 weeks. After the initial request, loan terms and application were provided in 24 hours. The loan was closed less than 3 weeks later, ahead of the scheduled closing date. The team at Freedom Financial Funds closed on the same terms they proposed from the start. They understand the value add business plan and are extremely fast to respond and navigate through closing challenges. It was a pleasure to work with them and would definitely work with them again as well as recommend them to others.
GREGORY AGUIRRE
Capital Rivers Commercial
Freedom Financial Funds has become a valuable and key relationship to the continued success of our Company. As a retail developer traditional lenders with rigid “fit in a box” lending requirements are very challenging and frustrating to work with because they simply don’t understand the development business. This lack of understanding and flexibility by traditional lenders, irrespective of the the strength of the borrower or the merits of the project, causes lengthy and costly delays. Freedom Financial Funds is the rare exception because they truly understand all aspects of our business, understand the business fundamentals of the deal, understand the value of moving quickly, and they work with you to overcome any challenges to ensure a smooth successful transaction. The entire team at Freedom Financial Funds is professional, experienced, helpful, friendly, and an absolute pleasure to work with. For anyone looking for a lender I highly recommend contacting Freedom Financial Funds and I’m confident you will be more than satisfied.
CHRIS FRALEY
Forge Development Partners
Freedom’s was the third loan we executed in 2020 and it was an absolute joy relative to our others. I wish we had found Freedom a year ago. We received the LOI on December 9 and closed on December 31. Pretty amazing turn around. I look forward to working with Minda and Michael in the future.
SETH DUDLEY
S&L Dudley, Inc.
I am very happy to be a client of Freedom Financial Funds. Mike Klein and his incredibly efficient lending team have been a big part of the success of my retail development business over the past five years. In my lengthy experience, dealing with lenders is often problematic, as their pre-conceived structures often don’t fit a particular borrower's needs at any given time. With Mike’s group, from the very beginning, issues that have arisen have been treated as challenges to overcome, never reasons not to lend. I have been particularly impressed by the speed with which decisions and commitments are made (Minda Johnstone's complete underwriting cycle typically takes place in three weeks or less, and she turns construction draws around in 24 hours), and by Mike’s ability to understand all the aspects of my business, not just the financing. He has, in fact, become a trusted business advisor, not just a lender, and in over 40 years of lending relationships, that’s an all-time first. This in-depth understanding of my business leads to quick lending decisions (and changes, as needed), which in turn has allowed me to develop more properties per year than I otherwise could have using traditional banking methods. I couldn’t be happier with this banking relationship; I anticipate that it will continue for many years to come.
DAVID LEVENTHAL
Resolution Fund Management LLC
We have worked with Michael and his lending team for many years, and they are by far the most reliable and professional organization in the business. Michael has the highest understanding of macro and micro lending issues, market complexities, and customers’ needs. He has utilized his expertise to provide us with financing for retail properties, foreclosures, a vast SFR portfolio, and even commercial paper. Anyone looking for highly responsive and intelligent lending should contact Michael Klein.
MIKE AUTHER
Jacor Partners
We have worked with Mike Klein and Minda Johnstone and their team for several years now. We will not do another development without talking to them first. It is important to our company to have this lending relationship with Freedom. We know issues do arise in the real estate deal cycle, and, when they do, we can count on Mike and Minda to have solutions to overcome obstacles to make the deal. In the fast-pace real estate industry, Mike and Minda are very understanding and dependable. Freedom turns around underwriting, commitment letters, closings and draws as fast as anyone we have worked with in 13 years. Their expertise and professionalism is truly refreshing. If you are in the market for a commercial loan, I’d put Freedom on the top of the list.
SID WIENER
SKW Capital Management
I love Freedom. I have been doing business with Michael and Minda for years and cant say enough about them. They have the two things that I look for, competence and integrity...and Minda is the best ever!!