Quick backstory: CRE finance background and moved to the U.S. from India to chase the entrepreneurial RE investing dream. I started my real estate journey by investing in a hotel syndication… and let’s just say it was a “great learning experience” (translation: it didn’t work out how I thought). The best part? I’m still in that deal 10 years later. So yeah… that one left a mark. That experience basically pushed me into note investing. I went down the YouTube rabbit hole like most people, and that’s where I found Mike Russica @Mike Ruscica (my first guru). He introduced me to the world of 2nd liens. This was around 2020-covid time. Been doing notes full-time ever since. In the beginning, we brokered notes for a couple years — calling literally everyone: banks, credit unions, private lenders… you name it. It kept the lights on while I got reps, confidence, and real-world experience. But I’ll be honest: sourcing the right product to buy has always been a grind (still is). Today we’re 100% focused on investing, not brokering — mainly NPLs across residential, multifamily, and hotels. My first two note purchases were 2nd lien NPLs in Cook County (Chicagoland) back in July 2021. I bought them mostly to learn outcomes and get the full “hands-on” experience. Both were well-secured by home equity. Here’s how they played out: Deal #1:Borrower even had a BK7 on record. We went through the process and got paid back at foreclosure auction in exactly 1 year. IRR: 383% (yes, I triple checked that) Deal #2:This one went re-performing and it still pays like clockwork. Truly passive — the kind of note you almost forget about (in a good way). Matures April 2027 and we’re projecting about 35% IRR to maturity. Thanks to groups like this, we still invest in 2nds — after a bunch more deals and states, the journey continues. And honestly, one of the coolest parts of notes is you can actually help homeowners stay in their homes while still making good returns. That “doing well while doing good” part matters to me.