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Jason Taken is the Principal of Jaken Finance Group (Jaken Ventures LLC d/b/a Jaken Finance Group), a nationwide private lender for non-owner-occupied real estate investors. He is a licensed Illinois attorney and a licensed Realtor.
Founded in 2021, Jaken Finance Group funds fix and flip, bridge, DSCR, construction, and commercial investor deals across all 50 states, with depth in Illinois/Chicago, Indiana, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and the Washington DC metro.
What Jason does
- Underwrites investor deals and sets program parameters published on loan options
- Writes market analysis and lending guides on the blog
- Oversees case studies and rate reports
Credentials
| Credential | Role |
|---|---|
| Licensed Illinois attorney | Legal and compliance oversight on investor lending |
| Licensed Realtor | Market analysis and transaction fluency |
| Principal, Jaken Finance Group | Direct underwriting contact for qualified sponsors |
Press & recognition
- BizWeekly feature, July 2026 — press coverage
- Best Hard Money Lender in Washington DC 2026 — Best of Best Review
About Jaken Finance Group · Editorial standards
Focus markets and program oversight
Jason Taken sets underwriting parameters for Jaken Finance Group programs nationwide, with operational depth in:
| Market | Asset types |
|---|---|
| Chicago / Illinois | Two-flats, RLTO compliance, bungalow belt |
| Indiana | Gary corridor, Indianapolis infill |
| North Carolina | Charlotte BRRRR, coastal insurance |
| Georgia | Atlanta two-flats, Savannah STR rules |
| Florida | Insurance-driven market selection, Tampa/Miami |
| South Carolina | Charleston historic rehab, Greenville |
| Washington DC / DMV | Row homes, TOPA, rent control exemptions |
Published rate bands: hard money and bridge 8.99%–13.5% IO; DSCR 5.75%–10.5%; construction 8.99%–13.5% IO.
How to work with the lending team
- Pre-qualify online at what kind of loan do you need
- Upload contract, SOW, or rent roll depending on product
- Receive term sheet — typically one business day on hard money
- Close in 7–10 business days (hard money) or ~14 business days (DSCR)
Jason writes market analysis on the blog and oversees case studies documenting funded deals. About Jaken Finance Group · editorial standards · press coverage
Case studies and funded deal examples
Jason Taken oversees published case studies documenting real investor timelines:
| Case study | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Fayetteville 100% financing | 100% LTC on qualified ARV |
| Gary no-seasoning cash-out | BRRRR velocity |
Case studies show actual close timelines and leverage — not marketing hypotheticals.
Blog and market analysis
Jason writes lending guides and market analysis on the blog — including hard money statistics 2026, fix-and-flip statistics 2026, and focus-market investor guides for Chicago, DC, Atlanta, and Charlotte.
Contact: info@jakenfinancegroup.com · (833) 264-7776 · editorial standards
Speaking topics and expertise areas
Jason Taken is available for commentary on:
- Asset-based underwriting — why ARV and exit matter more than FICO on investor bridge
- Focus-market investing — Chicago two-flats, DC row homes, Florida insurance-driven market selection
- BRRRR velocity — bridge at 8.99%–13.5% IO to DSCR at 5.75%–10.5% on the same sponsor relationship
- Capital markets for flippers — points vs rate, minimum interest, extension planning
Jaken Finance Group program summary
| Program | Rate | Close |
|---|---|---|
| Fix and flip / hard money | 8.99%–13.5% IO | 7–10 business days |
| Bridge | 8.99%–13.5% IO | 7–10 business days |
| DSCR | 5.75%–10.5% | ~14 business days |
| Construction | 8.99%–13.5% IO | 10–14 business days |
Headquarters: 2300 Barrington Road, Suite 400, Hoffman Estates, IL 60196. Coverage: all 50 states. About · Press · Editorial standards
Underwriting philosophy — deal math over credit score
Jason Taken built Jaken Finance Group underwriting around questions banks skip:
- Does ARV tie to sold comps within 90 days in the same submarket?
- Is the rehab scope matched to comp finish level — not aspirational?
- Where is liquidity if the project runs 60 days long?
- Is the exit documented — sale contract, DSCR rent roll, or extension plan?
That lens produces 7–10 business day hard money closes and ~14 business day DSCR targets when files arrive complete — not when sponsors send partial packages and chase conditions for three weeks.
Focus-market depth — why geography matters
National platforms template SFR flips. Jason’s team publishes metro-specific guides because underwriting nuance changes by MSA:
| Market | Nuance Jason’s team documents |
|---|---|
| Chicago | RLTO compliance, Cook County title chains, bungalow ARV tiers |
| Washington DC | TOPA on conversions, row-home comp boundaries |
| Florida | Wind insurance impact on DSCR math, flood zone acquisition |
| Indiana | Gary corridor basis, Indianapolis infill spreads |
| North Carolina | Charlotte BRRRR duplex rents, coastal insurance |
| Georgia | Atlanta two-flat conversions, non-judicial foreclosure speed |
Investors in these markets get term sheets that reflect local exit reality — not a national average rehab cost assumption.
Published work — where to find Jason’s analysis
| Content type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Market statistics | Hard money statistics 2026, fix-and-flip statistics 2026 |
| Process guides | DSCR loan process, hard money to DSCR refinance |
| Funded deals | Fayetteville 100% financing, Gary no-seasoning cash-out |
| Press | BizWeekly July 2026 feature |
Editorial standards: editorial standards page — rates and leverage match loan options published parameters.
Professional background — before Jaken Finance Group
Jason Taken practiced as a licensed Illinois attorney before founding Jaken Finance Group in 2021, with transaction work that informed how investor deals fail when legal and title issues surface late in underwriting. His Realtor license adds market-analysis fluency — comp selection, disclosure review, and contract timing — that generic hard money shops often outsource to third parties.
That dual background shapes Jaken Finance Group’s collateral-first underwriting: the firm evaluates exit credibility and title clarity before FICO, because investor bridge and DSCR files live or die on ARV, rent roll accuracy, and entity vesting — not W-2 documentation banks require.
What sponsors experience on a typical file
| Stage | Timeline | Jason’s team delivers |
|---|---|---|
| Intake | Day 0 | Product routing — flip, bridge, DSCR, or construction |
| Term sheet | ~1 business day | LTC/LTV, rate band, points, extension policy in writing |
| Underwriting | Days 2–5 | ARV comp review, scope sanity check, entity docs |
| Close | 7–10 days (HM) / ~14 days (DSCR) | Wire when insurance, appraisal, and vesting align |
Sponsors who send complete packages — contract, scope of work or rent roll, entity docs, liquidity statement — hit published close targets on qualified files. Partial packages sit in the conditions queue regardless of lender marketing claims.
Media and speaking — on-the-record topics
Jason is available for press and podcast commentary on asset-based investor lending, BRRRR velocity, and focus-market trends in Chicago, DC, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Florida. Off-the-record: individual borrower files and competitor pricing obtained in confidence. On-the-record program terms always match loan options published parameters. Media kit: press page.
Pre-qualify · info@jakenfinancegroup.com · (833) 264-7776