All Forum Posts by: Jonathan Chan

I’m looking to break into private lending at some and would love to hear from those who’ve already started. I know some people start with deep pockets, but I’m curious—what’s the lowest amount you’ve successfully used to get started?

I’m considering lending out my own capital initially before scaling up, possibly through a structured fund or syndication model. But I want to be realistic about where to begin. If you started small, what strategies did you use to grow? Did you focus on short-term loans, real estate deals, or business lending?

Appreciate any insights!

Hello all!

I am currently reading books and educating myself about private lending. I am interested in jumping in, but I am not sure if I have enough money. I have $110k ready to invest in Florida. I would like to fund a fix and flip deal with a first lien position in Florida. 

Is this reasonable or do I need more money? I know that I should try to stay at 60% - 70% LTV. But is this possible with my current capital? Is this LTV based on ARV or the purchase price?

If I don't have enough for a first position lean, is it even worth it getting second positon liens?

Thank you!

Hello all , I am fairly new to private lending documents and am here to get some idea and direction on an agreement and what to include to insure my private lender is comfortable lending.

He’s a good friend and willing to support my home build project for a flat interest rate. In addition to a promissory note he is wanting something to insure he has more security ( maybe a lien / deed ? ). I am also thinking I would attach my plans with a finalized budget to the loan request. I didn't have to do this on previous projects but willing to put it all together.

Land acquisition and construction. Flat interest rate. Principle and interest would be pay back at the end of the project when its sold. 

Appreciate any help and feedback. 

Hey BP crew! I’ve been digging into private money lately—trying to wrap my head around how investors and lenders make these deals a win-win. What’s one thing you’ve learned (the hard way or not) about structuring a loan or partnership that really clicked for you? Maybe it’s a term you swear by, a deal that surprised you, or just a tip for keeping things smooth. I’d love to hear your experiences—hoping to soak up some wisdom as I figure out my next steps!

Let’s say you’re starting from scratch—no network, no prior deals, just $10K to work with. How would you use it to break into real estate? Would you wholesale, partner up, buy a small rental, or go all in on marketing?

Curious to hear what strategies you’d use in today’s market! Drop your thoughts below

I assume not an owner occupant loan where Dodd-Frank would kick in. 

Other than that it’s hard to see a limit lower than what credit cards charge. 

If you use an attorney to write up the contract I assume they would know?

I am not an attorney, but see plenty of court cases where the interest is as high as 18%+. The Judge always asks to see the contract if more than 6% is asked for, but it appears to be legal according to what is happening.