Brant: Hey everyone—thanks for taking the time to watch this. I’ve got one of my private lenders here, Dennis, who was willing to share his experience as a private mortgage lender. Dennis, thanks for taking a little time today to talk about your journey.

Dennis: Not a problem at all. Glad to be here.

Brant: I appreciate your trust in me and our company over the years we’ve worked together. Let’s start at the beginning—how did you first learn about private mortgage lending?

Dennis: A longtime friend of mine—someone I’ve known for over 40 years—introduced me to it. He told me about you several years ago, maybe eight years now. We trust each other, so I listened, connected with you, and started lending.

Brant: Referrals are definitely how many of our lender relationships start. That said, whether someone comes through a referral or not, we aim to treat everyone the same. Still, it does help when someone validates their experience by referring family or friends. Trust is the big thing people are looking for—especially in real estate, where not every deal or operator is solid.

For people watching who are exploring private lending—let’s say they don’t know me or our mutual friend—what would you recommend they do to find someone trustworthy? What would you look for?

Dennis: First, I’d do a background check—nothing crazy, just enough to learn about the company and the owner. See if there’ve been problems. If I had to do it over again, that’s where I’d start.

If you decide to do a deal, make sure the deal is right and that there’s a clear paper trail. Everything should be in writing. If it’s not in writing, it’s not a deal. As you do more deals and things are handled properly, you build the relationship and confidence that you’re dealing with the right person.

Brant: That’s really good. And I think a lot of new lenders are hesitant to ask borrowers questions—like requesting a credit report. I even wrote about that in the book. A credit score isn’t the end-all, be-all—someone can have credit dings and still be a great borrower depending on their business model—but it’s reasonable to ask.

In almost 18 years doing this, I’ve only been asked for my credit report a couple of times. When someone asked because they’d heard me recommend it, I said, “Sure, here it is.” I joke that I didn’t do great in high school, but we’ve paid out thousands of mortgages and never missed one—so I’m happy to provide what helps a lender feel secure.

Nothing is guaranteed, but we can show what we’ve done, what we’re doing, and our goals. And most importantly, we back it all up with proper documentation—attorney-prepared paperwork, title companies—so lenders are protected even if something happens to me.

Dennis: Exactly. You and I go back a long way, and I’m really appreciative I met you. If someone tells me they’ve got money sitting in the bank earning very little, I’ll recommend they talk to you. I’ve been investing with you for around eight years. We’ve never had a bad deal, and you’ve always been upfront with me. I’m happy to refer people.

Brant: Referrals often become a lender’s number one source of future lenders. When you take care of people, they spread the word. People like to help others—and if they have a good investment experience, they’re proud of it and want others to benefit too. That happens naturally over time.

Dennis: Exactly.

Brant: For those watching—any final thoughts or wisdom you’d share?

Dennis: Be careful who you’re dealing with. Do a background check. Ask for a credit report. Don’t be afraid—after all, it’s your money, and you need to protect it. That’s hard-earned money. That’s the advice I’d give to new lenders.

Brant: That’s great advice. Don’t invest with anyone you don’t trust, and don’t invest in anything you don’t understand. You don’t need every detail, but if it’s a straightforward fix-and-flip or a rental, most people can grasp that. If it’s complex and you don’t understand it, just say no. And whatever the agreement is, back it up with the right paperwork—attorneys and title companies. Do that, and you should be in good shape.

Dennis: Exactly.

Brant: Dennis, I appreciate you coming on. This will be really helpful for folks who read the Private Lender Playbook and are exploring private lending. Thanks for your time and the wisdom you shared today.

Dennis: Thanks for having me—and thanks for being a friend.

Brant: Thank you, Dennis.

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