Conventional Financing vs. Hard Money

[Jason Crittenden]

I am new to investing in real estate. I have a high paying career in real estate, and have been a Dave Ramsey follower for a very long time. My mindset is VERY much “don’t get debt, don’t get debt, don’t get debt.” Lol 

So the strategies of buying for 1) leveraging your down payment capital to buy way more properties vs. buying one for all cash, and 2) for asset protection (to not have equity for someone to come after) makes sense to me. It’s just “new” to me. 

So, my question is: is there a reason you’d choose hard money and perhaps a lower down payment to preserve capital vs (for example) a convention 25% down loan which would eat up a little capital but put a little cushion of 25% equity in between my newbie brains and a change in market conditions/tenants/etc. 

Thanks team! I appreciate your kind advice, this place is the best! And, so are you!