5 Steps to Start a Lending Company - #299
Private Lenders' Podcast
5 Steps to Start a Lending Company - #299 Thinking about starting your own private lending company in 2025? In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, you’ll discover the five key steps every new lender should take—plus a bonus tip to help you shortcut years of trial and error. Whether you’re brand new to private lending or looking to scale your hard money business, you’ll learn how to: ✅ Build your borrower and investor pipeline from day one ✅ Create your “hit list” of real estate professionals and capital sources ✅ Set up your website, CRM, and social media for...
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6 Common Newbie Lender Mistakes - #298
Private Lenders' Podcast
6 Common Newbie Lender Mistakes - #298 In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, Jason and Chris break down 6 common mistakes new private lenders make—and how to avoid them. Whether you’re just starting out in hard money lending or have years of experience under your belt, these lessons are crucial for protecting your capital and building a sustainable lending business. From trying to fund every deal that comes across your desk to lending in markets or property types you don’t fully understand, these pitfalls can cost lenders serious money. We also discuss the dangers of...
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Win Win Exit on a Sideways Deal - #297
Private Lenders' Podcast
Win Win Exit on a Sideways Deal - #297 In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, Chris and Jason break down a real-world lending story that started as a solid deal, went sideways, and ultimately ended in a win-win exit for everyone involved. You’ll hear how they handled: A borrower relationship spanning multiple loans Permit and construction delays that dragged the project out for years Missed payments, rolling extensions, and a looming foreclosure Negotiations that led to a creative payoff solution benefiting both the lender and borrower This case study shows the importance...
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Subordination, Non-Disturbance & Attornment Agreement Explained- What Private Lenders Must Know - #296
Private Lenders' Podcast
Subordination, Non-Disturbance & Attornment Agreement Explained- What Private Lenders Must Know - #296 In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, Jason Balin sits down with guest Harris Dainoff of Murland Dainoff to break down the often-overlooked but critically important Subordination, Non-Disturbance, and Attornment Agreement (SNDA). Whether you’re lending on residential investment properties or venturing into commercial loans, understanding SNDAs is essential for protecting your investments and ensuring lease agreements don’t create unexpected risks. Harris shares real-world...
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How Hard Money Lenders SHOULD Finance New Construction Deals - #295
Private Lenders' Podcast
How Hard Money Lenders SHOULD Finance New Construction Deals - #295 Ground-up construction loans can be some of the riskiest—and most misunderstood—deals in private lending. In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, Jason and Chris break down exactly how experienced hard money lenders approach financing new construction projects the right way. After nearly 18 years, thousands of loans, and managing hundreds of defaults, they’ve learned that the key to success is structuring deals conservatively to minimize risk while still giving borrowers the capital they need to get the job done....
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Our First Hard Money Conference - #294
Private Lenders' Podcast
Our First Hard Money Conference - #294 Join us on the Private Lenders Podcast as we share the story of our very first hard money conference—back in January 2008 in Las Vegas! After closing our first loan with HMB in December 2007, we jumped on a plane to attend the PITBAL Mortgage Conference, the only hard money-focused event at the time. In this episode, we dive into: How our early experiences shaped HMB’s business model Lessons learned from networking with other private lenders The evolution of the hard money lending industry since the financial crash The importance of live...
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How to convert leads to loans - #293
Private Lenders' Podcast
How to convert leads to loans - #293 In the hard money lending business, leads are everywhere—texts, emails, web forms, phone calls, social media. But how do you turn those inquiries into actual closed loans? In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, Jason and Chris break down the exact process they use to respond, nurture, and follow up with leads so they don’t slip through the cracks. From fast phone responses to automated texts, emails, and CRM follow-up, you’ll learn how to stop wasting opportunities and start closing more deals. We cover: Why speed-to-lead is everything in...
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How to Truly Control Your Capital - #292
Private Lenders' Podcast
How to Truly Control Your Capital - #292 In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Jason Balin and Chris Haddon from Hard Money Bankers break down one of the most common challenges private lenders face — keeping control over their capital investors. Whether you’re lending through a fund or direct placement notes, having clear, consistent systems for rates of return, documentation, underwriting, and investor communications is essential. Jason and Chris share real-world examples of what happens when lenders give too much control to their capital base, and the simple steps you can...
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The Creative Deals We're Doing Now - #291
Private Lenders' Podcast
The Creative Deals We're Doing Now - #291 Hard money lending is changing — and savvy private lenders are pivoting. In this episode, Jason and Chris break down the creative real estate deals they’re closing in today’s market, from small-balance commercial loans to construction completion loans, bridge financing, and more. 🔑 When traditional capital dries up or becomes harder to access, private lenders have the flexibility to structure unique loans with strong collateral, even for borrowers with lower credit scores — as long as the numbers make sense. 👀 Listen in as we discuss: ...
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How to Expand with a Sales Team - #290
Private Lenders' Podcast
How to Expand with a Sales Team - #290 How do you scale a private lending business the right way with a sales team? In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, Jason and Chris from Hard Money Bankers break down proven strategies for expanding your operation with salespeople, loan originators, partners, and private label setups—while avoiding the common pitfalls that cause lenders to fail. Over the years, they’ve tested every structure imaginable: in-house loan officers, junior originators, lead intake reps, broker relationships, K1 partnerships, and private label deals. In this...
info_outlineNeil Timmins with Little Guy Loans in Iowa - #282
In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, Jason Balin chats with Neil Timmins, founder of Little Guy Loans in Des Moines, Iowa. Neil shares how he built a $12M+ lending business from his background in flipping and commercial real estate—focused on helping local investors who don’t have institutional backing.
They dive into:
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How Neil transitioned from flipping to private lending
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The origin of Little Guy Loans and its "Main Street, not Wall Street" mission
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Why he lends on deals he wouldn’t personally flip
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How he handles borrower extensions and market seasonality
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Thoughts on scaling with commercial loans and expanding into new markets
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Why repeat business and relationships matter more than high-volume growth
🎯 Whether you're lending in a small market or looking to grow smarter, not just bigger, this episode is packed with tactical insights.
📍 Learn more: https://littleguyloans.com
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Are you a new or experienced private lender or hard money lender? Join Jason Balin and Chris Haddon from Hard Money Bankers as they draw from their extensive experience running a successful hard money lending company since 2007. Tune in weekly with episodes related to all aspects of private lending. From discovering lucrative loan opportunities to securing private capital, effectively managing your loan portfolio, handling defaults, and much more, we've got you covered.
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