In this episode, we sit down with Hemant Mahajan, a Bay Area real estate developer, hard money lender, founder of Newbridge Equity, and author of Buying Back Your Life, to explore what really changes when you operate as both the lender and the investor.Hemant breaks down how seeing deals from both perspectives completely transforms risk assessment, deal structure, exits, and long-term wealth creation. With over 15 years of experience, nearly 100 funded deals, and millions deployed across residential, commercial, and development projects, he shares hard-earned lessons most investors only learn the painful way.This conversation goes deep into:• Hard money lending explained in plain English• How lenders actually think when deals go sideways• Structuring joint ventures using both debt and equity• Real-world examples of complex, high-risk deals• Biggest investing mistakes and mindset shifts• Buying back time using real estate and passive incomeIf you want to understand how experienced capital really moves in real estate, this episode is essential.ABOUT HEAMANT MAHAJAN:Hemant Mahajan is a Bay Area–based real estate developer, private lender, and founder of Newbridge Equity, a California-licensed finance lender. He specializes in hard money loans, second-position lending, joint ventures, and complex real estate projects that most investors avoid.With a background in tech and over 15 years in real estate, Hemant focuses on combining debt and equity strategies to create flexible deal structures that protect capital while maximizing long-term returns. He is also the author of Buying Back Your Life, a book centered on reclaiming time through smarter investing.

Connect with Hemant:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meetrajum/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmahajan/Connect with Lorenzo:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercadoWebsite: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983

In this episode, we sit down with Darius McClelland, a private money lender, investor, and content creator who has quietly built a six-figure passive income business by lending over $620,000 of his own money.He breaks down how he started, how he made $20,000 doing absolutely nothing, and why private money lending is one of the most underrated and powerful strategies in real estate.Darius also shares how social media helped him raise over $600,000 from just one Instagram post, how he vets borrowers, protects his investments, and the importance of transparency in building trust.If you’ve ever wanted to become the bank, earn high passive income, or understand the real behind-the-scenes of private lending, this episode is a must-watch.You’ll Learn* How Darius lent out $620K and built a six-figure lending business* The first deal that made him $20K completely passively* How private money lending works (in simple English)* The exact steps to vet and protect yourself as a lender* Red flags when someone asks you for money* Why private lending beats rentals for cash flow* How he raised $600K from one Instagram reel* How to get paid monthly, quarterly, or balloon payments* Starting a fund and scaling passive income* How social media built his entire business* Why transparency + storytelling converts* The mindset needed to press record and overcome fearKey Topics* Private Money Lending 101* Real Estate Flips & Exit Strategies* Social Media for Raising Capital* Building Trust Online* Self-Directed IRAs & Equity Leverage* Starting A Fund* Passive Income Systems* Travel + Lifestyle FreedomConnect With DariusInstagram: @dariusmcclelland(https://www.instagram.com/dariusmcclelland/)Connect with LorenzoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercadoWebsite: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983

What if you could buy real estate with friends or even strangers without needing $100K upfront or dealing with endless paperwork?In this episode of the podcast, host Lorenzo sits down with Stella Han, Co-founder & CEO of Fractional, to uncover how she’s changing the game of real estate investing.Fractional allows anyone to co-own real estate legally and easily through investment clubs, no accreditation required, no crazy legal costs. Stella shares how the platform has helped investors raise over $400 million, what makes the model SEC-compliant, and how you can start investing smarter today.If you’re an aspiring real estate investor, operator, or entrepreneur, this episode will teach you how to raise capital, build trust online, and grow a community of active investors around your deals.

Why Watch This Episode:

• Learn how Fractional makes real estate investing accessible for everyone

• Discover the future of real estate ownership through community capital

• Understand how to build trust and transparency when raising money online

• Get inspired by Stella’s story of turning a $50K loss into a $5M startup.

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Connect with Stella Han:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hellastellah/

Learn more: www.fractional.app/

Connect with Lorenzo:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lorenzo.mercado

Website: www.mercasaventures.com

www.AscentCapital.llc

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🎙Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983

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Timestamp

0:00 - Intro: The new way to own real estate1:00 - What is Fractional and how it works3:00 - Raising $400M through community capital6:00 - Why investment clubs beat syndications10:00 - The legal side of Fractional investing14:00 - Typical returns and success stories20:00 - Mistakes new investors make24:00 - Hot asset classes for 202529:00 - Stella’s journey from failure to YC success39:00 - Pivoting from consumers to operators42:00 - The mindset for raising capital47:00 - What’s next for Fractional

After eight years as a travel nurse, Ian Duffy — better known as Scrubs2Estates — walked away from the bedside to pursue real estate investing and multifamily development. In this conversation, we dive into the reality of nursing burnout, the toll healthcare can take on your health and life balance, and the pivotal moments that pushed Ian to step away from a “safe” career to bet on himself. He opens up about the lessons learned from failures, what it really takes to transition into entrepreneurship, and how he’s building long-term wealth and freedom through development projects.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your W-2, questioned whether nursing (or any job) is sustainable for the long haul, or wondered if there’s a path to more freedom, this episode will resonate. Ian’s journey is proof that you don’t have to spend a lifetime in a career that doesn’t fulfill you — and that with action, education, and community, you can build a new life outside of scrubs.

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Things We Talk About in This Episode:

• Ian’s journey from eight years of travel nursing to leaving the bedside for real estate
• The hidden realities of nursing burnout and life inside healthcare during COVID
• How injuries, worker’s comp, and system flaws impact nurses on the front lines
• The turning point that pushed Ian to pivot from scrubs to estates
• Early mistakes in real estate and the lessons that shaped his approach
• Why multifamily development is a long game — and how to break into it
• Building wealth and freedom by raising capital and creating housing
• The importance of community, mentorship, and betting on yourself

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🎯 Follow Ian Duffy
Instagram: @Scrubs2Estates

Ian's Email:

• Personal: IanPatrickDuffy@gmail.com
• Business: Ian@Scrubs2Estates.com

Ian's Website:

• Scrubs2Estates.com

Ian's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scrubs2estates-podcast/id1788976707

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🚀 Connect with Lorenzo Mercado
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_/
Website: www.mercasaventures.com & www.ascentcapital.llc

🎙️ Listen to The Lo-Down

🎙️Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761

🎙️Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lorenzo.Mercado

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Give a 5 Star & Share it with a friend who needs to hear it!

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Chapters

00:00
From Nursing to Real Estate: A Journey of Change

03:05
The Reality of Nursing: Challenges and Insights

07:46
The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers

19:43
A Pivotal Moment: Realizing the Need for Change

24:39
Healthcare Misconceptions: A Nurse's Perspective

26:41
Empathy in Nursing: Lessons from the ER

28:00
The Decision to Leave Nursing: A Personal Journey

30:24
Discovering Real Estate: A New Path

32:48
Transitioning from Nursing to Entrepreneurship

35:44
Overcoming Doubts: The Importance of Self-Belief

38:06
Life After Nursing: Finding Peace and Purpose

40:30
Owning Your Time: The Freedom of Entrepreneurship

43:04
Skills from Nursing that Benefit Business

44:14
Choosing Real Estate Development: A Strategic Decision

46:55
Understanding Development Deals: From Single Family to Multifamily

51:04
Innovative Housing Solutions

53:42
Navigating the Development Process

57:52
Lessons from Experience

01:02:05
The Value of Risk and Resilience

01:07:35
Vision for the Future

What if you could build a 184-unit Airbnb portfolio without owning a single property in just two years?

In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Leong, who scaled from 0 to 184 Airbnb arbitrage units in just two years. At his peak, his business pulled in over $1.1M in a single month. After grinding through the early days, Kevin built systems, hired a team of 20+ VAs, and now runs the entire operation in under 10 hours a week.

We dive into how Kevin went from a cannabis warehouse job and side hustles to building one of the fastest-growing Airbnb arbitrage companies out there. He shares the credit card hacks that helped him fund his first deal, the 200+ cold calls it took to land his first “yes,” and the mistakes new operators should avoid.

If you’re into real estate, Airbnb, or just want to learn how to scale a business fast—this one’s a masterclass.

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We talk about:

• How Kevin scaled from 0 to 184 Airbnb arbitrage units in two years
• Using 0% interest credit cards to fund growth
• The grind of 200+ rejections before his first deal
• Building systems and SOPs to scale without burnout
• Hiring VAs and stepping back to a 10-hour workweek
• Why arbitrage can be the perfect stepping stone to long-term wealth

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🎯 Follow Kevin Leong
Instagram: @kevinleong_bnb

🚀 Connect with Lorenzo Mercado
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_/
Website: www.mercasaventures.com

www.AscentCapital.llc

🎙️ Listen to The Lo-Down

🎙️Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761
🎙️Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lorenzo.Mercado

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Share it with a friend who needs to hear it!

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Airbnb Arbitrage

02:49 Understanding the Business Model

05:38 Revenue Insights and Financials

08:35 Background and Early Career

11:25 First Deal Experience

14:01 Choosing Locations and Market Research

17:08. Scaling the Business

20:02 Operational Strategies and Team Structure

22:55 Challenges and Learning Lessons

25:39 Future Plans and Vision

28:45 Final Thoughts and Advice

What if homes could be printed instead of built?

In this episode, I sit down with Nan Lin, founder of 4DIFY and Kaizen Capital, who built California’s first fully permitted 3D-printed housing community.

We get into how he went from mortgage lending to real estate investing, and how that journey led him to launching a company that’s changing how we think about construction. Nan shares how they got local approvals, solved major problems in housing, and built something no one thought was possible.

If you're into real estate, construction innovation, or just love bold ideas—this one’s a must-listen.

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We talk about:
-How 3D printing could solve labor shortages and reduce build costs
-What it took to get city and county approval for something no one’s seen before
-Raising capital from people who believed in the vision
-The mindset it takes to bet big on innovation

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🎯 Follow Nan Lin
Instagram: @nanunlimited
4DIFY Website: https://www.4dify.com

🚀 Connect with Lorenzo Mercado
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_
Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com

🎙️Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761
🎙️Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lorenzo.Mercado

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Share it with a friend who needs to hear it!

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Timestamps:
00:19 – Introduction to Nan Lin and Fortify
01:49 – The Genesis of Fortify: From Idea to Reality
07:54 – The 3D Printing Process: Building the Future of Homes
13:40 – Navigating Permits and City Approvals
19:08 – Financial Insights: Costs and Profitability
25:00 – Raising Capital: Strategies and Advice
26:56 – Expanding Horizons: Multifamily and ADUs
28:37 – Collaborative Design Challenges in Construction
31:23 – Future Vision: Scaling Fortify's Operations
32:34 – Investment and Operational Challenges in 3D Printing
33:43 – Nan Lin's Journey into Real Estate
39:15 – Lessons from Early Real Estate Investments
49:53 – Founding Kaizen Capital: A Collective Investment Approach
52:12 – Building a Team: Hiring for Success
54:06 – Mindset and Philosophy for Continuous Improvement

In this deeply personal soLo episode, I share the raw, unfiltered story behind one of the best decisions I’ve ever made: quitting alcohol and all other drugs — and how that choice transformed every area of my life.

From blacking out in Vegas to losing myself to weekend benders, drinking was more than just a habit… it was my identity. But two years ago, everything changed.

In this episode, I dive into:
• When and why I started drinking
• The night that finally broke me
• The social pressure and FOMO of sobriety
• How I handled cravings and temptation
• The myths people believe about sober life
• And how going alcohol-free helped me become a better husband, entrepreneur, and human being

Whether you’re sober curious, struggling with balance, or just love a story of personal growth — this one’s for you.

🔗 If you’ve ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, I hope this episode brings clarity, encouragement, and hope.

Please give a 5 STAR REVIEW on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and SHARE this episode.

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🚀 Connect with Lorenzo Mercado
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_
Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com

🎙️Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lo-down/id1764777761
🎙️Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983?si=d2501028127246f3
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lorenzo.Mercado

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Share it with a friend who needs to hear it!

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Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Sobriety Journey

01:02
The Struggles with Alcohol

03:52
Life Before Sobriety

06:42
The Challenges of Going Sober

09:37
Transformations After Sobriety

12:20
Myths About Sobriety

13:08
Encouragement for Those Considering Sobriety