The chicken or the egg...what comes first??

[Veronica Boswell]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the real estate business and would like to make offer on our 1st fix and flip. But I have a total newbie question...do u make offer first or acquire hard money lender first? I would assume a lender would want house under contract first but I don't want to make an offer until I know that I have money to back it up. So I'm stuck in a what comes first...the chicken or the egg type dilemma. Thanks for your help!