We have decades of experience in all facets of the real estate business.

We also own and operate Elfant Pontz Properties, a property management, leasing and development company based in Northwest Philadelphia. Our team is small enough to give each client personalized attention and large enough to consistently deliver results. Direct offers more than just financing – we provide insight that helps our clients make sound decisions.

Jared E. Pontz, President and Managing Partner

Jared E. Pontz is president and managing partner of Direct Mortgage Loan Company, and its parent company, Elfant Pontz Properties, a property management and development firm. Jared’s combined expertise in all facets of the Philadelphia real estate market informs his unique perspective on commercial lending.

An active investor, Jared has developed and owns a range of mixed-use and multifamily projects, from adaptive reuse to new construction. He was listed as one of the “next wave of developers remaking our neighborhoods” by Philadelphia Magazine in 2017. In 2019 Jared was named as an “Influencer of Finance” by the Philadelphia Inquirer. The awards are presented to “the most influential financial professionals” in the region.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Jared earned his Master’s in Business Administration from Temple University’s Fox School of Business. He joined the company in 2005 after serving in the United States Peace Corps. He has served as the managing partner since 2009 and became president of the company in 2018. He also serves on the board of the Mt. Airy Business Improvement District.

Robert J. Elfant, Founding Partner

Robert “Bob” Elfant is a Philadelphia guy through and through. A self-proclaimed “Philly sports nut”, Philadelphia is the heart and soul of Bob’s businesses, investments, and philanthropy. Over the last 46 years, he has immersed himself in the Philadelphia community and has built and expanded real estate, property management, and financial businesses. Bob is an active investor of time, money, and resources in projects, people, and places throughout Philadelphia.

He joined his father’s business after graduating from Wharton and became president in 1977. Together with Jared E Pontz, Bob expanded the “mom and pop” into Elfant Pontz Properties--property management and development of over 600 units and Direct Mortgage Loan Company--a boutique mortgage company specializing in private financing for real estate investors and developers. He also founded Elfant Wissahickon Realtors--the largest independent brokerage in Philadelphia.

Bob continually dives into community projects. He was a founder and director of Valley Green Bank (a successful Mt. Airy startup, now Univest Bank) and served on its board and loan committee. Bob has earned multiple community awards--honorary title of “Mayor of Mount Airy by Mount Airy USA,” the Edgar Baker Award for Community Services from East Mount Airy Neighbors, and the Community College of Philadelphia Northwest Center Award for Leadership.

He believes in the long-term view of investing, finding “win-wins” for businesses and clients, and projects that feed his soul. Some of these passion projects include serving on the advisory board of Face to Face Germantown, presiding as President of the Board of Directors at the Arden Theater Company, and supporting the Schuylkill Center Wildlife Clinic.

Nicole Belz, Financial Controller

Nicole joined our team in May 2017.  She is a graduate of Cabrini University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  Before joining our team, she worked at a local mortgage company for 12 years doing mortgage accounting. Nicole adds a wealth of knowledge in accounting and management.