Find a local REI club and attend some meetings.

@Kailee King Since no one mentioned it I would suggest attending the local REI club!

I've been able to attend 2 or 3 and found it very helpful.  

If you attend local real estate investment groups, or even reach out on BP, you'll likely meet some hard money lenders.

They are both free to attend for your first time.  

You can attend REIA meetings and learn stuff and meet people.  

You can attend a BP networking meeting, or any of the Tarrant county REI to start with.

There's a BP get together group that meets once a month, you can attend a TREIA West event (near Cary), a TREIA main event, TREIA subgroup for newbies which Tim Masters runs....Triangle Deal Maker Sessions usually meets the first Monday of the month (it's the second Monday in September because of Labor Day)....

I have a follow-up and I'm attending one of their trainings this weekend to learn more about them.

I've been involved with the lead issue since the beginning attending and speaking out at all the city council meetings and town hall meetings.