Flipping houses can be exciting, but it’s also exhausting, time-consuming, and sometimes unpredictable. What if there were a way to keep building wealth in real estate without living in a constant hustle? Private lending offers that opportunity, allowing experienced investors to put their money to work, earn strong returns, and maintain control without managing every renovation or tenant.

In this episode, Mike Hambright sits down with Rich Lennon to talk through why he transitioned from flipping houses to lending money, how he structures self-directed IRAs and 401ks for maximum efficiency, and why private money can be a safer, higher-return strategy than many realize. Rich shares real-world strategies for leveraging other people’s money, structuring deals for security, and using local knowledge to outcompete big banks.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Understand the differences between hard money and private money
• Structure self-directed IRAs and 401ks to invest in real estate deals efficiently
• Safely leverage other people’s money to increase returns
• Use local expertise to compete with national lenders
• Keep your cash working without the constant stress of active property management
  

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate investors are exploring ways to earn passive income
• Individuals looking to start a private lending business
• Investors interested in tax-efficient strategies for growing money
• Anyone curious about using IRAs, 401ks, or fractionalized notes for lending
  

Why You Should Listen:
This episode shows how to step off the property flipping treadmill and still grow wealth. Rich breaks down strategies for making high returns while maintaining control, demonstrates how to leverage multiple accounts for tax efficiency, and explains why private lending can offer both speed and security that big banks often can't.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

[00:00] The basics of private lending and why it matters

[02:00] How Rich built wealth flipping homes and using the BRRR strategy

[05:00] Why private money differs from hard money lending fundamentally

[09:00] How to use IRAs and 401ks to grow investments

[15:00] How to structure deals for higher returns with partners

[20:00] Why shifting from active investor to lender changes mindset

[24:00] How local lenders compete with big national lending firms

[27:00] What the market outlook is and resources to start

Follow Rich Lennon here:

Website: https://richlennon.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/