A lender built by people who've done the deals.
Lake Michigan Capital was founded on a simple idea: real estate investors and brokers deserve a lending partner that makes sense of complicated deals — quickly, fairly, and from a place of experience.
45+ years of solution based lending, focused on one thing.
We started Lake Michigan Capital because the institutional path had stopped working for the people who actually move real estate forward.
Our team has spent careers structuring, underwriting, and closing private real estate loans across multiple market cycles. We've watched agency lending tighten, banks pull back, and good deals fall apart on technicalities that have nothing to do with risk. That's the gap we built this firm to fill.
Today, Lake Michigan Capital is a privately held, non-agency lender providing business-purpose financing on residential and commercial real estate. We're small enough that you'll talk to a decision-maker — and experienced enough that we'll usually understand your deal faster than you can explain it.
The principles that shape every loan we make.
Creating Solutions
Every deal is different. We focus on finding a path forward — not reasons to decline. Solution-first thinking is built into how we underwrite from day one.
Common-Sense Underwriting
We look at deals the way experienced operators do — focused on the asset, the sponsor, and the strategy. Not just credit boxes.
Direct Communication
You'll talk to the people making the decision. No layers, no transferred calls, no losing track of where your file sits.
Disciplined Speed
Fast doesn't mean sloppy. Our process is engineered to remove friction without skipping the diligence that protects everyone.
Long-Term Relationships
Most of our volume comes from repeat borrowers and broker partners. We treat every loan like the next one depends on it — because it does.
The team behind the capital.
At Lake Michigan Capital, our success is driven by decades of industry expertise, trusted relationships, and a commitment to integrity and long-term value in real estate finance.
Mark Jones
Founder and Managing PartnerMark Jones is Founder and Managing Partner of Lake Michigan Capital, a private lending and investment platform focused on residential real estate finance, strategic lending, and opportunistic mortgage investments.
With more than 40 years of experience, Mark co-founded AmeriFirst Home Mortgage and helped build it into a leading independent mortgage banking company before its 2023 acquisition by Union Home Mortgage. He later served as President of Union Home Mortgage until 2025. He also served as Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association for the 2023–2024 term.
Mark brings deep expertise in capital markets, mortgage servicing, secondary marketing, risk management, and business strategy. At Lake Michigan Capital, he applies his extensive industry relationships and operational knowledge to deliver creative, disciplined financing solutions grounded in integrity and long-term value.
Mark remains active in philanthropic efforts. With his wife Toni, he splits time between Michigan and Florida while staying connected to the communities they serve.
David N. Gahm
Co-Founder and Chief Executive OfficerDavid N. Gahm is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lake Michigan Capital. A seasoned entrepreneur and executive with over 40 years of experience, he builds high-performing organizations, raises capital, and advises business owners on growth and value creation.
David co-founded and led AmeriFirst Home Mortgage from 1986 to 2023, scaling it from an eight-person startup to a multi-state company with nearly 1,000 professionals and a $6+ billion servicing portfolio before its successful sale. He is a strategic advisor on growth, leadership, capital structure, and enterprise value, and was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He has also served on multiple boards, including more than a decade with Otsego Christian School, and supports numerous nonprofits and community initiatives.
David and his wife Kris live in Northern Michigan with their family of five children and five grandchildren.
“While what you do is important, and how you do it matters, it is ultimately why you do it that defines a life of significance.”