Get a potential deal or a lender first?

[Dana Gaglione]

This a "chicken or the egg" type of question.

My Mother and I are interested in buy and hold properties, we are very new about a month in. We would like to use hard money or private money lenders; like another investor.

While looking at potential properties, I was wondering should we get the lenders in place before looking?

I have a feeling if we talk with someone, they would say yes and than when the time comes they back out, or should we find the potential deals, take the time to look into them than look for a lender?

Or should we really be doing both of these things at the same time?