This is Why We Can't Use Appraisals - #314

Why can't private and hard money lenders rely on appraisals? In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Jason and Chris of Hard Money Bankers break down the real problem behind appraisals—and why valuation, not appraisers, is putting lenders at risk.

With recent DSCR loan fraud cases in markets like Baltimore and Philadelphia making headlines, the industry has been quick to blame appraisals. But the truth is deeper than that. This episode explains why appraisals alone fail for DSCR loans, fix-and-flip loans, bridge loans, and other private lending products, and why local market knowledge and borrower evaluation matter more than ever.

You'll learn:

• Why appraisals don't work for investor-focused lending

• The difference between homeowner loans and private lending valuations

• How DSCR loans expose valuation weaknesses

• Why lenders must understand local markets and borrower experience

• The risks of high leverage and institutional underwriting models

• A potential solution: in-house valuation teams vs third-party appraisals

This episode is essential listening for private lenders, hard money lenders, real estate investors, and capital raisers who want to protect their portfolios and lend responsibly in today's market.

Please like, subscribe, and share! ✅

Are you a new or experienced private lender or hard money lender? Join Jason Balin and Chris Haddon from Hard Money Bankers as they draw from their extensive experience running a successful hard money lending company since 2007. Tune in weekly with episodes related to all aspects of private lending. From discovering lucrative loan opportunities to securing private capital, effectively managing your loan portfolio, handling defaults, and much more, we've got you covered.

✔️ Tune in now and watch the full video podcast at www.privatelenderspodcast.com

✔️If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-lenders-podcast/id1476153070

✔️Make sure to check out the #1 Online Community For New and Experienced Private and Hard Money Lenders.. Create your account at www.hardmoneymastermind.com

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Get updates or reach out to Get updates on our Social Media Profiles!

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The 3 Biggest Mistakes Hard Money Lenders Keep Making (And Don't Realize!) - #313

In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, hosts Jason and Chris from Hard Money Bankers break down the three most common (and costly) mistakes they see private and hard money lenders make—mistakes that can put your capital, deals, and entire lending business at risk.

Drawing from years of experience and real-world insights from running a nationwide private lenders mastermind, Jason and Chris explain how you can shortcut years of trial and error by avoiding these critical pitfalls.

✅ Why not truly knowing your numbers is the #1 risk for hard money lenders
✅ The difference between ARV, as-is value, and liquidation value
✅ Why local market knowledge is essential for underwriting safe loans
✅ How capital structures can quietly take control of your business
✅ The hidden risks of debt funds, credit lines, and institutional capital
✅ Why doing everything yourself leads to burnout—and how building the right team and systems creates a scalable, lifestyle-friendly lending business

Whether you're a new private lender or managing a growing loan portfolio, this episode dives deep into asset-based lending, underwriting best practices, capital control, and operational scaling—all with real examples from the field.

✅ Please like, subscribe, and share! ✅

Are you a new or experienced private lender or hard money lender? Join Jason Balin and Chris Haddon from Hard Money Bankers as they draw from their extensive experience running a successful hard money lending company since 2007. Tune in weekly with episodes related to all aspects of private lending. From discovering lucrative loan opportunities to securing private capital, effectively managing your loan portfolio, handling defaults, and much more, we've got you covered.

✔️ Tune in now and watch the full video podcast at www.privatelenderspodcast.com

✔️If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-lenders-podcast/id1476153070

✔️Make sure to check out the #1 Online Community For New and Experienced Private and Hard Money Lenders.. Create your account at www.hardmoneymastermind.com

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Get updates or reach out to Get updates on our Social Media Profiles!

✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardmoneymastermind/

✅ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardmoneymastermind

The Most Overlooked Underwriting Step in Hard Money Lending: Exit Strategy - #312

In this episode of the Private Lenders Podcast, Jason Balin and Chris Haddon break down the most overlooked underwriting step in hard money lending: the borrower's exit strategy.

Whether you're a private lender, hard money lender, or active real estate investor, understanding how your borrower plans to pay off your loan is one of the most critical pieces of the underwriting process—and also the one most lenders get wrong.

With over 4,000 funded deals, Jason and Chris share real examples from their portfolio, including:
✔️ Why refinance exits fail more often than borrowers admit
✔️ The red flags you should look for before approving a loan
✔️ Why credit repair + "I'll just refinance later" is rarely a viable plan
✔️ How inherited properties and unsophisticated borrowers add hidden risk
✔️ Why mixed-use and commercial deals require longer timelines and lower LTVs
✔️ What addendums and upfront agreements can do to protect your position
✔️ How to avoid loans that get stuck on your books—and become expensive nightmares

From borrower psychology to collateral type to real-world case studies (including foreclosures, bankruptcies, and inherited properties gone wrong), this episode pulls back the curtain on how seasoned lenders underwrite exits before writing a term sheet.

Whether you're building your private lending business or tightening up your underwriting process, this conversation will help you protect your capital, reduce defaults, and build a cleaner, more profitable loan portfolio.

✅ Please like, subscribe, and share! ✅

Are you a new or experienced private lender or hard money lender? Join Jason Balin and Chris Haddon from Hard Money Bankers as they draw from their extensive experience running a successful hard money lending company since 2007. Tune in weekly with episodes related to all aspects of private lending. From discovering lucrative loan opportunities to securing private capital, effectively managing your loan portfolio, handling defaults, and much more, we've got you covered.

✔️ Tune in now and watch the full video podcast at www.privatelenderspodcast.com

✔️If you enjoyed this podcast we would appreciate a positive review... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-lenders-podcast/id1476153070

✔️Make sure to check out the #1 Online Community For New and Experienced Private and Hard Money Lenders.. Create your account at www.hardmoneymastermind.com

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL Get updates or reach out to Get updates on our Social Media Profiles!

✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardmoneymastermind/

✅ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hardmoneymastermind