Building Credibility & Finding Funding for Your First (or Next) Real Estate Deal

In today’s episode of the REI Deal Finders podcast, we’re diving deep into the mindset shift you need to truly build wealth in real estate and the practical steps to get your first or next deal funded. I break down why the traditional approach of working until 65 just doesn’t cut it if you want financial freedom, and how investors think differently about making their money work for them. We cover everything from the basics of capital and being lender-ready, to setting up your business the right way so you can start attracting funding, even if your personal credit isn’t perfect.

I also share actionable strategies to separate your personal finances from your business, tips to boost your credibility with lenders and sellers, and why every property already has built-in capital you can leverage. If you’ve ever wondered how to find, fund, and flip your next deal with confidence, you don’t want to miss this one!

 

Timeline Summary:

[0:00] – Why the conventional “work forever” money mindset keeps people trapped, and how investors create freedom.

[1:39] – The power of making your money earn itself: shifting from trading time for dollars to multiplying your capital.

[2:22] – The importance of separating personal and investment capital to protect your finances and scale confidently.

[4:11] – Surprising stats on how most small businesses really get funded: friends and family vs. bank loans.

[6:00] – How to get lender-ready: setting up your credit, LLC, and business so lenders take you seriously.

[8:07] – Critical mistakes to avoid when registering your business type, and why your business classification matters.

[10:28] – Building credibility with a professional business address, phone number, email, and website—and why it matters for deals and lenders.

[14:31] – First steps in building business credit: where to get your initial business credit cards and how to use them responsibly.

[18:59] – Key differences between business credit cards, business lines of credit, and HELOCs—and when to use each.

[22:20] – Lender types explained: from conventional mortgage lenders to DSCR loans, hard money lenders, and private lenders.

[25:00] – How private lenders can fund your deals even if you don’t have perfect credit—and why relationships and trust are key.

[29:50] – Bonus strategy: using seller financing to buy properties with little or no money down by leveraging the seller’s own capital.

 

5 Key Takeaways:

 

1. Investors don’t just earn money—they multiply it by making it work for them, which creates true time and financial freedom.

2. Keeping personal and investment capital separate protects your household finances and positions you as a credible investor.

3. Credibility with lenders starts with having a professional business setup: real address, phone, email, and website.

4. You can get started in real estate investing even with less-than-perfect credit by understanding and leveraging different types of funding, including private lenders.

5. Every seller has built-in capital you can use—seller financing is a powerful tool to close deals when you lack upfront cash.
   
   

Closing Remark

 

Thanks so much for tuning in to the REI Deal Finders podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, follow, and share the show and leave us a review so we can keep bringing you the best strategies to help you find your next great real estate deal. Until next time, happy hunting!