Private Lenders' Podcast

This is common sense but no hard money lenders are doing this (Convert Leads into Loans) In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, Jason breaks down the proven strategies hard money and private lenders must use to convert more leads into funded loans in today's competitive lending market. Generating leads costs time and money — but losing deals to institutional lenders or competitors because of poor follow-up, weak systems, or bad communication is completely avoidable. In this training-style episode, you'll learn the exact loan conversion framework used every day inside a successful hard money lending business. 🔑 What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why traditional loan applications are killing your conversion rates How calendar appointments dramatically increase borrower show-up rates The two-funnel CRM system every hard money lender should be using How to follow up without spamming (and still get callbacks) Why "next steps" are critical after every borrower conversation The power of price anchoring in hard money loan negotiations Why you should never negotiate loan terms over email Simple CRM management tips that actually get used (not ignored) If you're a hard money lender, private lender, or real estate investor looking to fund more deals without increasing ad spend, this episode will change how you handle leads forever. 📌 Whether you're lending on fix & flips, rentals, or commercial properties, these strategies will help you: ✔ Convert more inquiries into real conversations ✔ Build trust with real estate investors ✔ Stop losing deals to bigger lenders ✔ Close more loans consistently 💬 Have questions about lead conversion, CRM setup, or borrower follow-up? Drop them in the comments — they'll be answered directly. ✅ Please like, subscribe, and share! ✅ 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. ✔️ Tune in now and watch the full video podcast at www.privatelenderspodcast.com ✔️If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-lenders-podcast/id1476153070 ✔️Make sure to check out the #1 Online Community For New and Experienced Private and Hard Money Lenders.. Create your account at www.hardmoneymastermind.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Get updates or reach out to Get updates on our Social Media Profiles! ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardmoneymastermind/ ✅ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardmoneymastermind  

We Didn't Plan to Share These… 3 Stories From 2025 - #316 Wrapping up 2025, hosts Jason and Chris of Hard Money Bankers share three real, unfiltered stories from the trenches of private and hard money lending—the kind of situations every lender eventually faces, but few talk about openly. From a multi-lender fraud and title insurance claim that took 18 months to resolve, to managing long-term commercial borrowers with trapped equity, to structuring creative low-LTV loans for high-net-worth investors, this episode highlights the unpredictable realities of private lending and why slow, disciplined growth and strong collateral fundamentals matter more than ever. If you're a private lender, hard money lender, or real estate investor, these stories offer valuable lessons on risk management, borrower character, title insurance, extensions, defaults, and protecting your capital over the long term. In this episode, you'll learn: How a borrower fraudulently closed multiple private loans on the same property What really happens during a title insurance claim and why coverage matters Why low LTV lending can save deals when things go sideways The risks of long-term commercial bridge lending How to handle extensions, refinances, and principal reductions strategically Lessons from real private lending deals that went off script 🎧 Whether you're new to private lending or managing a seasoned loan portfolio, this episode offers real-world insight you won't find in theory or textbooks. ✅ Please like, subscribe, and share! ✅ 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. ✔️ Tune in now and watch the full video podcast at www.privatelenderspodcast.com ✔️If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-lenders-podcast/id1476153070 ✔️Make sure to check out the #1 Online Community For New and Experienced Private and Hard Money Lenders.. Create your account at www.hardmoneymastermind.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Get updates or reach out to Get updates on our Social Media Profiles! ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardmoneymastermind/ ✅ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardmoneymastermind

5 Things To Focus On In 2026 For Private Lenders - #315 In today's competitive and uncertain lending environment, private and hard money lenders need to be more strategic than ever. In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Jason and Chris break down the five most important things private lenders should focus on in 2026 to stay profitable, reduce risk, and continue growing their loan portfolios. With increased competition from institutional lenders, shifting real estate markets, and changing investor expectations, this episode covers practical strategies lenders can apply immediately—whether you're running a small portfolio or scaling a full-time lending operation. 🎯 In this episode, you'll learn: Why outbound lead generation and borrower follow-up will be critical in 2026 How to focus on conversion—not just lead volume—in a crowded lending market The importance of truly understanding local market values and underwriting conservatively Why proper systems and loan servicing software are no longer optional How private lenders can raise capital more effectively as investors seek alternatives to stocks and crypto Why creative and non-conforming deals may offer the biggest opportunities Bonus: How mastermind groups can accelerate growth and sharpen decision-making Whether you're a new private lender or a seasoned operator, this episode provides real-world insights from nearly two decades of lending experience and lessons learned across multiple market cycles. 👉 Learn more about upcoming events and the private lending community at Hard Money Mastermind. Please like, subscribe, and share! ✅ 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. ✔️ Tune in now and watch the full video podcast at www.privatelenderspodcast.com ✔️If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-lenders-podcast/id1476153070 ✔️Make sure to check out the #1 Online Community For New and Experienced Private and Hard Money Lenders.. Create your account at www.hardmoneymastermind.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Get updates or reach out to Get updates on our Social Media Profiles! ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardmoneymastermind/ ✅ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardmoneymastermind  

This is Why We Can't Use Appraisals - #314 Why can't private and hard money lenders rely on appraisals? In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Jason and Chris of Hard Money Bankers break down the real problem behind appraisals—and why valuation, not appraisers, is putting lenders at risk. With recent DSCR loan fraud cases in markets like Baltimore and Philadelphia making headlines, the industry has been quick to blame appraisals. But the truth is deeper than that. This episode explains why appraisals alone fail for DSCR loans, fix-and-flip loans, bridge loans, and other private lending products, and why local market knowledge and borrower evaluation matter more than ever. You'll learn: Why appraisals don't work for investor-focused lending The difference between homeowner loans and private lending valuations How DSCR loans expose valuation weaknesses Why lenders must understand local markets and borrower experience The risks of high leverage and institutional underwriting models A potential solution: in-house valuation teams vs third-party appraisals This episode is essential listening for private lenders, hard money lenders, real estate investors, and capital raisers who want to protect their portfolios and lend responsibly in today's market. Please like, subscribe, and share! ✅ 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. ✔️ Tune in now and watch the full video podcast at www.privatelenderspodcast.com ✔️If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-lenders-podcast/id1476153070 ✔️Make sure to check out the #1 Online Community For New and Experienced Private and Hard Money Lenders.. Create your account at www.hardmoneymastermind.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Get updates or reach out to Get updates on our Social Media Profiles! ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardmoneymastermind/ ✅ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardmoneymastermind  

The 3 Biggest Mistakes Hard Money Lenders Keep Making (And Don't Realize!) - #313 In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Jason and Chris from Hard Money Bankers break down the three most common (and costly) mistakes they see private and hard money lenders make—mistakes that can put your capital, deals, and entire lending business at risk. Drawing from years of experience and real-world insights from running a nationwide private lenders mastermind, Jason and Chris explain how you can shortcut years of trial and error by avoiding these critical pitfalls. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Why not truly knowing your numbers is the #1 risk for hard money lenders ✅ The difference between ARV, as-is value, and liquidation value ✅ Why local market knowledge is essential for underwriting safe loans ✅ How capital structures can quietly take control of your business ✅ The hidden risks of debt funds, credit lines, and institutional capital ✅ Why doing everything yourself leads to burnout—and how building the right team and systems creates a scalable, lifestyle-friendly lending business Whether you're a new private lender or managing a growing loan portfolio, this episode dives deep into asset-based lending, underwriting best practices, capital control, and operational scaling—all with real examples from the field. ✅ Please like, subscribe, and share! ✅ 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. ✔️ Tune in now and watch the full video podcast at www.privatelenderspodcast.com ✔️If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-lenders-podcast/id1476153070 ✔️Make sure to check out the #1 Online Community For New and Experienced Private and Hard Money Lenders.. Create your account at www.hardmoneymastermind.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Get updates or reach out to Get updates on our Social Media Profiles! ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardmoneymastermind/ ✅ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardmoneymastermind