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Real estate is rooted in local markets — and so is GSF’s approach. Senior Vice President of Sales Neema La Mer shares how the company’s focus on the broker channel is fueling smarter growth and delivering stronger service.
Published June 26, 2025
GS Financial has built a strong legacy as a front-runner in business-purpose lending, and its newest strategic shift — moving entirely to a broker-focused model — marks a significant step forward. While others aim to cover every base, GSF is honing in on its proven strength: empowering brokers as the core of its operations. According to Neema La Mer, senior vice president of sales, this isn’t a change in direction — it’s the next logical step in the company’s evolution.
Consistent growth on a focused path
Since its founding in 1992, GS Financial has made a name for itself in the real estate investment lending sector, specializing in fix-and-flip projects, bridge loans, and rental property financing for investors nationwide. When Neema La Mer came on board in 2005, the company’s growth accelerated—today, GSF funds around $2 billion in deals each year.
“What drew me in was how distinctive the commercial lending space was, along with the variety of deals we encountered,” says La Mer. “I found real satisfaction in collaborating with brokers and entrepreneurial investors—we were helping them turn their ambitions into reality.”
That enthusiasm remains as strong as ever and now drives the company’s long-term vision. GSF’s broker relationships have not only expanded significantly but also become more impactful over time.
“For quite a while, most of our volume has come through the wholesale and broker channels. That share has grown to an overwhelming majority,” La Mer notes.
“This segment of the market is remarkably resilient. Unlike the traditional lending world, which can be highly cyclical, there’s consistent demand here. In fact, when the conventional side tightens up, we often see more brokers turning to GSF to increase their income opportunities.”
“Our brokers bring real value by knowing their clients and building face-to-face relationships. They’re the key differentiator—and really, the unsung heroes of the real estate industry.”
Neema La Mer,
GS Financial
Putting brokers at the center of what’s next for GSF
Neema La Mer says GS Financial’s move away from direct lending to a fully broker-driven model was about following the real momentum and value within the business.
It also reflected a key insight that often gets overlooked in the pursuit of automation and scale: real estate is inherently local.
Investors want to work with someone who understands their specific market—right down to the neighborhood level. That kind of insight can’t be replicated by a national lender operating from a distance. Brokers offer that local expertise, and GSF has leaned into it.
“Our growth has gone hand in hand with the success of our broker partners,” La Mer explains.
“That local presence, that boots-on-the-ground knowledge—it’s essential in every state where we operate. Brokers know their clients personally, they meet with them face to face. That kind of connection is what makes brokers the real engine of this industry.”
Even when a deal doesn’t align with GSF’s criteria, brokers remain a vital part of the process.
“We strive to provide a fast yes—or a fast no,” says La Mer. “And when it’s a no, we don’t just walk away. We’ll point you toward someone else—a lender or broker—who might be a better fit. The goal is always to make sure the borrower’s needs are met, even if it’s not through us.”
Empowering market-specific expertise
In the past year, GS Financial has placed a strong emphasis on equipping brokers with the tools they need to succeed at every step of the lending process.
That commitment spans a wide range of support—from training programs to marketing resources—all aimed at helping brokers accelerate their workflow, improve efficiency, and enhance the service they offer to clients.
A standout initiative is Amplify, GSF’s proprietary education platform. Tailored specifically for brokers, it demystifies the world of business-purpose lending and is especially valuable for those transitioning from traditional residential mortgages into the investment lending space. With video modules, quizzes, and hands-on materials, Amplify also serves as a turnkey training solution for brokers’ internal teams.
“It’s about helping brokers get up to speed with the nuances of our lending products and the broader market,” explains Neema La Mer. “We offer it free of charge because we believe that when we add value for our brokers, it naturally comes back to us in the form of strong relationships and deal volume. That’s the spirit GSF was built on—doing good without expecting anything in return.”
On the technology front, GSF has also made strategic upgrades to better serve its broker network. The acquisition of NBL Software, GSF’s custom-built loan origination system, has centralized a wide range of digital resources. Brokers now benefit from integrated tools like loan calculators, customizable marketing assets, branded email templates, and more—all housed within one cohesive platform.
“There’s tremendous potential in our tech ecosystem to fast-track our brokers’ learning curve and sharpen their capabilities,” La Mer adds.
“In the months ahead, we’ll continue identifying deal-stage bottlenecks—like the appraisal process—and explore smarter, faster alternatives. Expanding this broker toolkit will be one of our top priorities.”
“It’s a steady space with consistent demand — not subject to the boom-and-bust cycles of traditional lending.”
Neema La Mer, GS Financial
A model built to last
GS Financial has seen firsthand how powerful local expertise can be when paired with national scale. Brokers are not only delivering volume; they’re delivering better outcomes for clients, faster transactions, and stronger relationships – exactly the kind of impact a lender like GSF needs to thrive long term.
La Mer notes that, ultimately, a large lender like GS Financial can’t be “everywhere all the time” – but local brokers can be, and are. And when first-time investors are facing apprehension or anxiety about jumping in and doing a deal, the local broker is who they’ll turn to first.
“It’s a natural progression for us too,” La Mer adds.
“When you have someone who is already an expert in the field managing client expectations, asking the right questions, and gathering the information, that naturally speeds things up.”
“We’ve seen rewards of our investments into the broker channel,” she concludes.
“Assessing the benefits of using the local knowhow, it became very obvious that these are the people who were driving the growth of GSF. It was a light bulb moment, and we knew it was the right direction to go. If we can help brokers win, we’re going to win too.”
RCN Capital is the leading nationwide wholesale lender that provides residential investment loans for the purchase or refinance of non-owner-occupied single-family and multi-family properties. RCN specializes in providing wholesale partners with financing options for ground-up construction projects, fix and flips, and rental properties for their real estate investor clients. RCN lends to both new and experienced real estate professionals throughout the country.
Real estate starts local, and so does RCN’s strategy. SVP of sales Christopher Dorin discusses why the lender is embracing the broker channel to scale smarter and serve better
Published May 5, 2025
RCN CAPITAL has long held a reputation as a leader in business-purpose lending, but it’s the company’s latest move – shifting exclusively to broker-driven distribution – that heralds a bold evolution in its strategy. While some lenders try to do it all, RCN is doubling down on what’s worked best: putting brokers at the heart of their business. It’s not a pivot, says senior vice president of sales Chris Dorin – it’s a natural progression.
A steady climb with a clear direction
Founded in 2010, RCN Capital quickly carved out a niche in the real estate investment space, offering fix-and-flip loans, bridge financing, and rental property loans to investors across the country. Since Dorin joined in 2014, the company has grown to fund approximately $2 billion in deals annually.
“I loved the uniqueness of the commercial space that we were in, and the uniqueness of the deals that we got to see,” Dorin says. “I really enjoyed working with brokers and investors who ran small businesses, and we were helping them fulfill their dreams.”
That passion hasn’t waned, and it’s become central to RCN’s forward path. Over the years, broker partnerships have grown not just in volume but in value, and the numbers speak for themselves.
“The majority of our business was coming from the wholesale and broker channels for some time, and that’s now a supermajority,” Dorin explains.
“This side of the industry is very steady. There’s always business to be done; it’s not the boom-bust cycle that you might see in the conventional space. When times are tougher in the conventional world, we often see brokers making their way to RCN to maximize their earning potential.”
“That’s the power of our brokers – they know their customers, they can sit and talk to them face to face. Brokers are really the secret sauce to the real estate business in general”
Christopher Dorin,
RCN CAPITAL
Christopher Dorin,
RCN CAPITAL
Why brokers are at the core of RCN’s future
According to Dorin, RCN Capital’s decision to step back from direct lending and go all-in on the broker channel was about recognizing where the true value and opportunity was coming from.
It was also about understanding something that often gets lost in the race for efficiency: real estate investing is local.
Investors want to talk to someone who knows their zip code, their local market dynamics, and even the quirks of the neighborhoods they’re targeting. Brokers bring that context in a way that a centralized lender never truly can, and RCN knows it.
“Our growth has really been paired with the growth of our broker partners,” Dorin says.
“That means having boots on the ground and local expertise in every state where we do business. That’s the power of our brokers – they know their customers, they can sit and talk to them face to face. Brokers are really the secret sauce to the real estate business in general.”
And when a deal isn’t a fit for RCN? Brokers still aren’t left empty-handed.
“We want to be able to give a quick yes or a quick no – and if it’s a no, we can refer you to a lender or broker who might be able to help you,” Dorin explains. “The aim is just to make sure the customer is getting served for their needs.”
Investing into local expertise
Over the last year, RCN Capital has made it a priority to invest in tools that support brokers at every stage of a deal.
That includes everything from training platforms to branding services – all designed to help brokers move faster, work smarter, and deliver a higher level of service to their clients.
One of the standout offerings is Amplify, RCN’s in-house education platform that helps brokers better understand the nuances of business-purpose lending. It’s particularly useful for professionals transitioning from the residential mortgage world into investment-focused lending. The platform offers a mix of video courses, quizzes, and practical content that brokers can also use to train their own teams.
“It’s designed to get brokers acclimatized with the products and educate them on the nuances of our industry,” Dorin explains.
“We don’t charge a nickel for that. If there’s value in what we’re giving to brokers, we know that will be returned in deal flow at some stage. At RCN, we’ve always held the motto of ‘How can we do something for others without the expectation of anything in return?’ We know that goodwill is going to come back to our door.”
RCN has also made strategic moves on the tech side to empower brokers. The acquisition of BLN Software, RCN’s proprietary loan origination system, has brought a host of digital tools under one roof. Brokers now have access to deal calculators, white-label marketing materials, branded email templates, and more, all within one platform.
“We see a lot of opportunity in our technology stack to really advance the skillsets and learning curve of our wholesale partners,” Dorin says.
“We’ll be looking at where the ‘slow’ parts of the deal are – valuations, for example – and looking at what the alternative options are. Building that toolbox out for our brokers will be a key priority in the coming year.”
A model built to last
RCN Capital has seen firsthand how powerful local expertise can be when paired with national scale. Brokers are not only delivering volume; they’re delivering better outcomes for clients, faster transactions, and stronger relationships – exactly the kind of impact a lender like RCN needs to thrive long term.
Dorin notes that, ultimately, a large lender like RCN Capital can’t be “everywhere all the time” – but local brokers can be, and are. And when first-time investors are facing apprehension or anxiety about jumping in and doing a deal, the local broker is who they’ll turn to first.
“It’s a natural progression for us too,” Dorin adds.
“When you have someone who is already an expert in the field managing client expectations, asking the right questions, and gathering the information, that naturally speeds things up.”
“We’ve seen rewards of our investments into the broker channel,” he concludes.
“Assessing the benefits of using the local knowhow, it became very obvious that these are the people who were driving the growth of RCN. It was a light bulb moment, and we knew it was the right direction to go. If we can help brokers win, we’re going to win too.”
RCN Capital is the leading nationwide wholesale lender that provides residential investment loans for the purchase or refinance of non-owner-occupied single-family and multi-family properties. RCN specializes in providing wholesale partners with financing options for ground-up construction projects, fix and flips, and rental properties for their real estate investor clients. RCN lends to both new and experienced real estate professionals throughout the country.
Real estate starts local, and so does RCN’s strategy. SVP of sales Christopher Dorin discusses why the lender is embracing the broker channel to scale smarter and serve better
Published May 5, 2025
RCN CAPITAL has long held a reputation as a leader in business-purpose lending, but it’s the company’s latest move – shifting exclusively to broker-driven distribution – that heralds a bold evolution in its strategy. While some lenders try to do it all, RCN is doubling down on what’s worked best: putting brokers at the heart of their business. It’s not a pivot, says senior vice president of sales Chris Dorin – it’s a natural progression.
A steady climb with a clear direction
Founded in 2010, RCN Capital quickly carved out a niche in the real estate investment space, offering fix-and-flip loans, bridge financing, and rental property loans to investors across the country. Since Dorin joined in 2014, the company has grown to fund approximately $2 billion in deals annually.
“I loved the uniqueness of the commercial space that we were in, and the uniqueness of the deals that we got to see,” Dorin says. “I really enjoyed working with brokers and investors who ran small businesses, and we were helping them fulfill their dreams.”
That passion hasn’t waned, and it’s become central to RCN’s forward path. Over the years, broker partnerships have grown not just in volume but in value, and the numbers speak for themselves.
“The majority of our business was coming from the wholesale and broker channels for some time, and that’s now a supermajority,” Dorin explains.
“This side of the industry is very steady. There’s always business to be done; it’s not the boom-bust cycle that you might see in the conventional space. When times are tougher in the conventional world, we often see brokers making their way to RCN to maximize their earning potential.”
“That’s the power of our brokers – they know their customers, they can sit and talk to them face to face. Brokers are really the secret sauce to the real estate business in general”
Christopher Dorin,
RCN CAPITAL
Why brokers are at the core of RCN’s future
According to Dorin, RCN Capital’s decision to step back from direct lending and go all-in on the broker channel was about recognizing where the true value and opportunity was coming from.
It was also about understanding something that often gets lost in the race for efficiency: real estate investing is local.
Investors want to talk to someone who knows their zip code, their local market dynamics, and even the quirks of the neighborhoods they’re targeting. Brokers bring that context in a way that a centralized lender never truly can, and RCN knows it.
“Our growth has really been paired with the growth of our broker partners,” Dorin says.
“That means having boots on the ground and local expertise in every state where we do business. That’s the power of our brokers – they know their customers, they can sit and talk to them face to face. Brokers are really the secret sauce to the real estate business in general.”
And when a deal isn’t a fit for RCN? Brokers still aren’t left empty-handed.
“We want to be able to give a quick yes or a quick no – and if it’s a no, we can refer you to a lender or broker who might be able to help you,” Dorin explains. “The aim is just to make sure the customer is getting served for their needs.”
Investing into local expertise
Over the last year, RCN Capital has made it a priority to invest in tools that support brokers at every stage of a deal.
That includes everything from training platforms to branding services – all designed to help brokers move faster, work smarter, and deliver a higher level of service to their clients.
One of the standout offerings is Amplify, RCN’s in-house education platform that helps brokers better understand the nuances of business-purpose lending. It’s particularly useful for professionals transitioning from the residential mortgage world into investment-focused lending. The platform offers a mix of video courses, quizzes, and practical content that brokers can also use to train their own teams.
“It’s designed to get brokers acclimatized with the products and educate them on the nuances of our industry,” Dorin explains.
“We don’t charge a nickel for that. If there’s value in what we’re giving to brokers, we know that will be returned in deal flow at some stage. At RCN, we’ve always held the motto of ‘How can we do something for others without the expectation of anything in return?’ We know that goodwill is going to come back to our door.”
RCN has also made strategic moves on the tech side to empower brokers. The acquisition of BLN Software, RCN’s proprietary loan origination system, has brought a host of digital tools under one roof. Brokers now have access to deal calculators, white-label marketing materials, branded email templates, and more, all within one platform.
“We see a lot of opportunity in our technology stack to really advance the skillsets and learning curve of our wholesale partners,” Dorin says.
“We’ll be looking at where the ‘slow’ parts of the deal are – valuations, for example – and looking at what the alternative options are. Building that toolbox out for our brokers will be a key priority in the coming year.”
A model built to last
RCN Capital has seen firsthand how powerful local expertise can be when paired with national scale. Brokers are not only delivering volume; they’re delivering better outcomes for clients, faster transactions, and stronger relationships – exactly the kind of impact a lender like RCN needs to thrive long term.
Dorin notes that, ultimately, a large lender like RCN Capital can’t be “everywhere all the time” – but local brokers can be, and are. And when first-time investors are facing apprehension or anxiety about jumping in and doing a deal, the local broker is who they’ll turn to first.
“It’s a natural progression for us too,” Dorin adds.
“When you have someone who is already an expert in the field managing client expectations, asking the right questions, and gathering the information, that naturally speeds things up.”
“We’ve seen rewards of our investments into the broker channel,” he concludes.
“Assessing the benefits of using the local knowhow, it became very obvious that these are the people who were driving the growth of RCN. It was a light bulb moment, and we knew it was the right direction to go. If we can help brokers win, we’re going to win too.”
RCN Capital is the leading nationwide wholesale lender that provides residential investment loans for the purchase or refinance of non-owner-occupied single-family and multi-family properties. RCN specializes in providing wholesale partners with financing options for ground-up construction projects, fix and flips, and rental properties for their real estate investor clients. RCN lends to both new and experienced real estate professionals throughout the country.
