As someone who cut his teeth in automotive service, a certain phrase always set off the bs detector. - "ive been doing this for xx years".

That $100K could easily end up being $80K or $90K a year from now.Because she has a specific, short-term plan for the cash, I think any sort of risky investment - stocks, bonds, real estate, loans- are inappropriate.

I want to know if the contractor has experience, be assured they are not someone you picked up at the day labor corner, that they are bonded and insured to the scope of work.Don't ask a lender to recommend a contractor, ask them who they have worked with in the past, that's two different issues.Great thread!

yea be careful, those guys have some sharp teeth.

Using any other exemption from registration, you lose the affirmative statutory defense, and are at the mercy of interpretation of securities, trade, and commerce laws by a judge and jury, with attorneys more than willing to represent borrowers who will lie through their teeth about what was discussed before they invested.

The drop in rates reflect a shift back toward long-term bonds (as the stock market volatility increased).

Its like having a bond that I bought for $250,000 with a coupon that rises with inflation paying enough to rent my 2,500 square foot home.

I have about 1/3 of my money in property and the rest in stocks and bonds, though I'm looking to make it more half and half.  :-)Good luck with whatever you decide! 

Real estate has a much larger risk of losing more than you've invested than stocks or bonds.

Keep in mind that there's a difference between "hard money" and "private money" (though everyone may have different terms).Hard money comes from professional lenders that you probably don't have any personal relationship with -- they lend professionally, and they are going to charge as much as they can get away with charging (as business owners, they should).Private money tends to come from family, friends and/or other acquaintances who don't lend professionally, and who are simply looking for a better investment vehicle than whatever they currently have (generally stocks and bonds).