“How do I get started investing in notes?” That’s a question we hear daily from tired landlords, stressed out rehabbers, or the couple next door wanting to improve life for their family. Own The Real Estate Or Be The Bank There are differences between investing in real estate vs. mortgage notes. Rather than owning the property, you own the right to collect … [Read more...] about 21 Tips To Read Before You Get Started Investing in Notes
Note Buying Blog and Articles
Five Things To Focus On And Five Things To Avoid
Tracy, Mikayla, and I spend the bulk of our week helping people, but maybe not in the way you think. Yes, we have a ton of educational materials, hundreds of videos, countless downloadable forms, and marketing templates. But there is the thing: most note investors do not have an information problem—they have a focus problem. There is more education available today than … [Read more...] about Five Things To Focus On And Five Things To Avoid
Balloon Payments in Mortgage Notes: What Note Investors Need to Know
When evaluating mortgage notes, one term that comes up but isn't always fully understood is the balloon payment. For note creators and investors, this feature can significantly impact both risk and return. Whether you're new to note investing or expanding your portfolio, understanding how balloon payments work is essential to making informed decisions. What Is a Balloon … [Read more...] about Balloon Payments in Mortgage Notes: What Note Investors Need to Know
What Is Equity in Real Estate Notes? 5 Types Every Investor Should Know
Equity is a cornerstone of evaluating risk when buying real estate notes. When I talk to investors, this is usually where I see confusion: They think yield is the whole story — until a deal goes sideways. I once worked with a newer investor who said, "I don't care about equity. I'm getting a 12% return." Fast forward six months and the borrower stops paying. Now, … [Read more...] about What Is Equity in Real Estate Notes? 5 Types Every Investor Should Know
3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Note Portfolio
On a recent note mastermind the question came up about stress-testing a note portfolio. This is a great idea from time to time. But what does that mean? How do you stress test a note portfolio? In short, look at your note portfolio and determine how it might perform in the event of a shift in the economy. How strong is your portfolio if the general public starts missing … [Read more...] about 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Note Portfolio
Seller Financing 2025 Industry Report: A Resilient $29.5 Billion Market
How Seller Financing Held Its Ground in a Shifting Housing Market Each year, we analyze seller financing activity across the United States as part of our annual report series, published for over 15 years! The 2025 numbers are in — and they continue to show that owner financing remains a meaningful and consistent part of the market. Key Seller Financing Trends in … [Read more...] about Seller Financing 2025 Industry Report: A Resilient $29.5 Billion Market
Unraveling Title Insurance: What Note Buyers Need to Know
Most of us have heard of title insurance. You probably noticed it on your closing statement when you purchased a home with a traditional mortgage. Or maybe it came up when you created or purchased a seller-financed note. Title insurance is there to protect the chain of ownership, leading to the mindset of "if there's title insurance, I'm covered." But when it comes to … [Read more...] about Unraveling Title Insurance: What Note Buyers Need to Know
Wraparound Mortgages: How Note Buyers Eliminate Wrap Risk
Seller-financed wraparound mortgages are getting a lot of attention and not all of it is good. You’ll hear stories about sellers who received but didn’t make payments. You’ll hear warnings about credit exposure, insurance complications, and liability. And the one you’ll hear most are concerns over due-on-sale clauses. We’ve received our share of calls from wrap sellers … [Read more...] about Wraparound Mortgages: How Note Buyers Eliminate Wrap Risk
Streamline Your Note Business: Five Tools That Give Your Time Back
If you are in note investing, your week fills up fast. Seller calls. Servicer emails. Deal reviews. Due diligence checklists. Investor updates. Marketing for sellers. Repeat. None of it is overly complicated; however, all of it is time-sensitive. Most of it is repeatable. That is where streamlining matters. Here are a couple of tools that might help you get some of that … [Read more...] about Streamline Your Note Business: Five Tools That Give Your Time Back
Real Deal #291 – Smooth Sailing Texas Note
We have seen a ton of interesting deals over the years. And we often joke that all notes have their quirks — and that's true and not always a bad thing. Sometimes it's a unique note that takes an investor who is okay with its location, type, and story. Other times it's family tension, a death, or missing paperwork. While this Texas note had some quirks, it was by far our … [Read more...] about Real Deal #291 – Smooth Sailing Texas Note
5 Marketing Moves to Make Before the End of the Year
As we start seeing more Christmas decorations and start hearing more Christmas jingles on the radio, it means the year is coming to a close. Did you accomplish everything in 2025 with your note business that you set out to? If the answer is yes — congrats! It's time to set your sights on a bigger 2026. If the answer is no — it's time to reflect on what changes can help … [Read more...] about 5 Marketing Moves to Make Before the End of the Year
