Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending

This week Alissa Fowler speaks with Kelbert Fagan, Program Manager for Convergence Memphis. Kelbert explains how Convergence Memphis works to increase homeownership among low-to-moderate income and minority communities through education and affordable housing development. The conversation highlights the collaborative role of hard money lenders, developers, realtors, and nonprofits in revitalizing...

Atlanta-based real estate investor Andre Stephens is here to share insights about his value-add multifamily investment strategy in Memphis's emerging markets. Andre explains how hard money lending enables him to move quickly on distressed properties that traditional banks won't finance. He shares insights on tenant management, renovation strategies, contractor oversight, and the importance of main...

Memphis investor Clarence Terry shares his decade-long journey, from struggling with analysis paralysis and wholesaling to building a successful rental portfolio. He discusses key strategies including thorough renovations, Section 8 tenancy, tenant screening, appliance incentives, and smart exterior choices to reduce turnover. Clarence also highlights the importance of resilience, overcommunicatio...

This week we travel down to Alabama to meet Birmingham-based real estate investors Austin and Jess Willingham. The couple shares their journey from wholesaling to building a rental portfolio using the BRRR strategy. They discuss Birmingham market conditions, renovation standards, appraisal challenges, and refinancing timelines. Austin and Jess emphasize the importance of quality finishes, multiple...

Our guest Mark Nichols AKA "Mr. Millington" shares his journey from working in the restaurant industry and skipping college to become a real estate professional at 18 years old. He discusses using $1.4 Million in hard money loans at age 18 for fix-and-flip projects, emphasizing education, conservative financial planning, and strong marketing strategies. Mark also reflects on a costly solo investme...

This week we are joined by Memphis-based real estate investor Cali Smith to discuss navigating Memphis's shifting real estate market, appraisal challenges, and the importance of proper due diligence for investors. Cali shares insights on sourcing off-market properties, building trusted relationships, and advising first-time investors on avoiding costly mistakes. We also cover renovation strategies...

This week Alyssa Fowler talks with Memphis investor Laksh Nandrajog about Memphis real estate investing challenges and strategies. They discuss the pros and cons of hard money loans, the appeal of new construction rentals, and the importance of property security and risk management. Laksh shares practical advice on dealing with theft, winterizing properties, and insurance pitfalls. The episode emp...

Memphis investor Ron Nichols shares how he and his wife began investing in real estate to secure their family’s financial future. He highlights the importance of cash flow, professional property management, and having a clear investment purpose. The discussion covers building a rental portfolio, leveraging loans, and the benefits of local ownership. Ron emphasizes education, community support, and...

Jason Hopkins shares his journey from corporate logistics to full-time real estate investing. Jason recounts overcoming doubts, learning from setbacks, and building a diverse real estate business in Memphis. He discusses the importance of mentorship, integrity, and adaptability, offering practical advice for aspiring investors. Jason also highlights his ventures in property management, constructio...

This week our guest Robert Matlock, Operations Manager at City Light Commercial Services, discusses the importance of routine and preventative maintenance for investment properties. We cover common issues investors overlook, the risks of neglecting upkeep, and the benefits of hiring licensed contractors. Robert shares practical tips on winterization, HVAC care, and appliance management, emphasizin...

This week our guests are Melissa Jaynes and Connie Cook of Bradsher Alpert Stuart, PLLC. They share real-life stories about title issues, heirship complications, and closing challenges, emphasizing the need for due diligence, proper insurance, and experienced professionals to protect investments and ensure smooth real estate transactions. CoreLend Financial https://corelendfinancial.com/ We are ex...

This week Derek Phillips, a seasoned contractor and investor talks to Alissa about smart renovation strategies. They explore current Memphis real estate trends, practical advice on tenant vetting, deal sourcing, and the importance of quality rehabs. Phillips Property Solutions: https://www.ppsmemphis.com/ CoreLend Financial https://corelendfinancial.com/    📊 We are experienced local Memphis and...

New York-based investor Rosina Persaud shares her two year journey investing in Memphis real estate. She discusses why she is bullish on pockets of 38114 and focusing on subsidized tenants. Rosina also covers strategies to reduce turnover, challenges like property security, and leveraging hard money loans to scale her portfolio.   Rosina’s insights offer practical advice for other out-of-state inv...

Dustin Ring, a successful wholesaler in Jackson, Tennessee discusses his unique journey from professional wrestling to real estate wholesaling. Dustin shares practical advice on branding, marketing, and building trust. We cover the challenges and rewards of double closings and mobile home deals, and the importance of persistence. Check out Dustin’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Break-Mold-careers-g...

Secrets to successful house flipping in Memphis with husband and wife team Loren & Elizabeth Huies. Flipping isn’t always what you see on HGTV! This week husband and wife real estate team, Loren and Elizabeth Huie of Taliesyn Realty share their profitable strategies for making Memphis more beautiful, one house at a time. by CoreLend Financial https://corelendfinancial.com/  Have any questions?...

In today’s challenging real estate market, efficiency and scalability are more critical than ever. In this episode, Alyssa is joined by Michelle Amen, a Memphis real estate veteran and representative of CoreAssist, to discuss how virtual staffing—specifically remote team members (RTMs) from the Philippines—can help investors, wholesalers, and contractors transform their business. Drawing on nearly...

Investors! This week agent Jordan Ray from EXP Realty stopped by to share some useful insights and some wild stories from the field. Jordan's no stranger to hard money lending and he just recently had a deal going with Corelend. Hear how he finds unicorn deals in Memphis even when numbers are getting tighter, ARV’s are dropping, and appraisals are getting lower and lower. We also discuss: How to n...

Welcome to Episode 14 of the CoreLend Podcast Series: The Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending!   🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Brian Trippe, a Birmingham-based REAL ESTATE ENTREPRENEUR with over a decade of experience building businesses in the real estate space. Since launching his investing career in 2012, Brian has founded multiple companies, including: 🏠 Alabama Cash Deals, Inc. – a...

Welcome to Episode 13 of the CoreLend Podcast Series: The Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending!   🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Rich Harrell, Project Manager at CoreBuild. Rich shares powerful insights from the field, lessons learned as a project manager, and real-world experiences using hard money loans to bring construction and investment projects to life.   Whether you're new to real e...

Welcome to Episode 12 of the CoreLend Podcast Series: The Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending! 🎙️   In this episode, we sit down with Douglas Skipworth, Founder and Principal Broker at CrestCore Realty, CEO of 6AM Core Collective, and Founder of CoreLend Financial. A seasoned real estate investor since 2003, Douglas shares powerful insights, lessons learned, and real-world experiences using har...

Welcome to Episode 11 of the CoreLend Podcast Series: The Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending!   🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Gabe Long of New Western Alabama, a trusted CoreLend client and seasoned investor. Gabe walks us through his journey in real estate, from navigating distressed properties to creating profitable opportunities, and how hard money lending plays a crucial role in mak...

Welcome to a new episode of The Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending! 🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Brandon Diaz, a seasoned real estate investor with active deals across Tennessee. Brandon shares his real-world insights on navigating risk, spotting smart investment opportunities, and leveraging hard money lending to scale effectively. If you're looking to grow your portfolio or want to b...

Welcome to another episode of The Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending! 🎙️ In this episode, we’re joined by Sam King of The Sam King Appraisals, a trusted expert in the appraisal industry and a long-time partner of CoreLend. We dive deep into the appraisal process as it relates to hard money lending—what appraisers are really looking for, how it impacts your funding, and what you need to know wh...

Welcome to Episode 8 of the CoreLend Podcast Series: The Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending! 🎙️ In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Zapalla and Shaun Stone, co-founders of Zapstone Properties based out of New York, share key insights of multifamily investing in Memphis, emphasizing the power of strong partnerships. They also break down how they utilized hard money lending to scale their...

In this episode of the Investor’s Guide to Hard Money Lending, we sit down with a seasoned Memphis real estate investor who shares her journey of building a successful portfolio of short-term rentals using hard money loans. She explains how strategic financing helped scale her business and offers practical Airbnb tips for those entering the market. Whether you're just starting or expanding your re...