Proven Track Record Next Step Private Money?

[Nicholas Sheridan, Jr.]

So while the world was in shear chaos this past year I have been staying in my lane with my blinders on. My goal is to hit 100 rental doors by the end of 2025 and this past year was when the clock started ticking (each year my quota is higher than the last). I ended the year by adding to my portfolio a SFH and a duplex, 2 doors short of my quota of 5 doors. I also picked up a primary residence but that doesn't count! I worked my absolute tail off to make these deals happen but they ended up being homeruns with cash flows of 16.5% and 20.5% respectively. The duplex even comes with tax abatements for 24 more years!!!

As I look to put my ducks in a row for the next deal (shooting for a 4plex fix and hold) I have hit some interesting speed bumps. I am absolutely looking to use private money and I can provide fantastic returns. But private money sure is more difficult to attract then I had imagined! Even with my track record! Here is where I'm at:

1. Previous Partner: My partner on the duplex is interested in getting involved in the next deal only if his return is above what we're earning on the duplex. Higher then 20% are you serious??
2. Long lost uncle twice removed: I had reached out to a long lost uncle (oh boy) who has VC/private money connections and I met with the connections several times on weekly calls. Turns out they are a flop and were "unsure about the market". Well if it's one thing I have learned it's that you can make money in REI regardless of the market - you adjust your criteria and make your money when you buy.
3. Family/Friends: I am eerie to mix family/friends and business. 

So here I am and here is a run on sentence - a highly driven investor with a solid track record (albeit a small portfolio), who has the teams and systems in place (my systems are laid out in my standard operating procedure manual which is a compilation of the past 5 years of research/learning), with ways to find smoking off-market deals and I can't find the damn money! What do I do now??? because this train is sure not stopping anytime soon!