I’ve gone back and forth on whether I should post this but I keep thinking maybe it will help someone else and give me motivation to keep going. I set out wanting to build a real business in real estate to create wealth and freedom for my family. At first I was trying to wholesale and bird dog but recently pivoted to focus on transactional funding since I’ve now acquired knowledge a much smaller constituency have. My goal is still financial freedom for my family but now I’ve also recognized I am in an unstable marriage and I need to work on ensuring my own financial stability for the coming year. Having two small kids at home and not wanting to get a W2 so I can just send my paycheck to childcare, my goal is to build a real sustainable business that weathers any kind of storm or instability that comes my way. Would love to know… how many of you are doing this alongside a W2 right now or are you 100% entrepreneur at this point?

So I am talking to a seller that has a Morby deal under contract. (I am hoping to be the transactional lender for the Morby) Q: If he finds a buyer for it do we have a TC that would create the contracts ? or should he have that completed prior to submitting it on the white label?

Hey everyone — I’m Dan Croke, and I realized I haven’t formally introduced myself yet. I’m based in Carlsbad, CA (North San Diego). I’ve been in real estate more on the investment side for over 20 years in a lot of different roles — a few fix-and-flips, SFR and multifamily buy-and-holds, bought and sold a few hundred bank-foreclosures, ran small traditional wholesaling business, and did some capital raising for 1031/TIC syndications years ago. . I’ve also invested in a handful of alternative assets and spent the better part of the last 5 years more as a passive investor… some good, some not so good. Still learning lessons. So I’ve decided to jump back in actively to build up my active and passive income. I’m new to the lending and transactional funding side, but still very interested in cash-flowing assets like MHPs, multifamily, and SFR income plays. I eventually would like to engage my two sons in the RE investing space. Right now, I’m focused on getting sharper with the lending/transactional funding side, connecting with others on the same path, learning, sharing, and adding value where I can. My goal is to build up deal flow, partner with strong operators, and structure creative finance with capital to help more deals get done, and most importantly retire my wife!! :) Outside of work, I like working out, watching my son play college lacrosse, spending time with family in Lake Tahoe, catching sporting events, and chasing new adventures and experiences. As for the fun question — I used to be more of a night owl in the earlier days, but as I have gotten older I’m more of an early riser. I’m usually up around 6 a.m. Looking forward to connecting with you all and contributing where I can.

Be there or be ⏹️ No, I'm not that old ... but my parents are. lol

This one cost me time, not money. Still expensive. A borrower came to me needing $70k in gap funding to close a DSCR deal. Straightforward on paper. In reality, no lender would touch it as structured. I remember I even asking Paul to provide POF for this deal. After multiple failed attempts, I didn’t walk. I rolled up my sleeves. I hand-held her through a seller conversation and helped restructure the deal into seller financing for $98k, enough to cover gap and closing costs. The deal went from dead to viable. That didn’t happen by luck. It happened because of experience, scripting, and strategy. I was positioned to provide the transactional funding. Then she went with another lender because they offered cheaper fees. That’s business. But here’s the truth most people won’t say out loud. Effort without protection is stupidity. Time, structure, negotiation leverage, and problem-solving are worth something. If you give all of that away for free, don’t be surprised when someone shops you at the finish line. The real lesson From now on, no agreement means no help. If I’m restructuring your deal, scripting seller conversations, or salvaging something that’s broken, there will be a signed agreement in place before I lift a finger. Not because I’m bitter. Because I’m professional. Free advice is for quick questions. Deal-saving work requires commitment. Learn this early or learn it the hard way like I just did.