Growing the Money with Rich Lennon

Do you think house flipping easily makes $90K per deal? On paper, it looks that way, but most investors miss the real costs involved, and that misunderstanding leads to wrong expectations and bad deals.

In this episode, Rich Lennon breaks down the real numbers behind a typical house flip and what investors actually take home after all expenses. He explains how private money lending works, who the real client is, and how profits are divided across the deal. He also walks through the full cost structure, from lending and closing costs to holding expenses, and introduces the BURR strategy as another path to long-term wealth.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Break down a flip deal beyond surface-level profit
• Understand where the 30 percent margin actually goes
• Evaluate if a deal truly makes financial sense
• Use lending to support both flippers and long-term investors

Who This Episode Is For:

• Investors who think flipping guarantees high profits
• Beginners trying to understand real estate deal numbers
• Those interested in private money lending
• Anyone looking to build more realistic expectations in real estate

Why You Should Listen:

Most people focus on the top-line profit and ignore the actual breakdown. This episode shows where the money really goes, helping you avoid bad assumptions and make smarter decisions in both flipping and lending.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

[00:00] Who the real client is in private money lending
[01:00] Why banks avoid these types of real estate deals
[03:00] The 70 percent rule and how flippers structure deals
[04:00] Where the 30 percent profit starts to shrink
[05:00] Breakdown of money costs, closing costs, and holding costs
[07:00] Final profit range and why $90K turns into much less
[08:00] How the BURR strategy creates long-term wealth
[09:00] Why private lending creates a win-win for everyone

Follow Rich Lennon Here:

Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

What if one small lending decision could quietly put your entire investment at risk? A lot of lenders focus on the return, the interest rate, and the upside. But the truth is, the biggest wins in lending don’t come from chasing profit; they come from protecting your downside. And most investors don’t realize where the real risks are until it’s too late.

In this episode, Rich Lennon breaks down a few real questions from inside his weekly investor group, and what comes out of it is a simple but powerful lesson: not all loans are created equal, and the details matter more than most people think. From lending on free-and-clear properties to handling borrowers who want more time, Rich walks through how to think like a lender whose first job is security, not speculation.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Know when it’s actually safe to lend, even if the money isn’t used for the property
• Evaluate deals based on security, not just return
• Avoid risky second-position loans, no matter how good they look
• Handle borrowers who want to extend their loan term
• Use compounding to grow your money faster and more consistently

Who This Episode Is For:

• New or active private money lenders
• Real estate investors exploring lending for passive income
• Anyone who wants to earn strong returns without taking unnecessary risks
• Investors who want to think smarter, not just bigger, about their money

Why You Should Listen:
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of earning high returns. But experienced lenders know the real game is protecting your capital first. This episode shows you how to spot safer opportunities, avoid common traps, and make decisions that hold up long-term, not just on paper. Rich shares real-world scenarios and straight answers to questions investors are actually asking, so you can apply these lessons immediately to your own deals.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• [00:00] Why most lenders focus on the wrong thing first
• [01:00] Lending on properties when funds aren’t used for renovations
• [03:00] The importance of lending on investment properties only
• [04:00] Why the first position is non-negotiable
• [05:00] Two ways these lending deals usually play out
• [06:00] What to do when borrowers want to keep your money longer
• [07:00] How compounding accelerates your returns
• [08:00] Understanding the substitution of the trustee and why it matters

Follow Rich Lennon here:
Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

What if the reason your team isn’t working out is that you’re hiring the wrong way? Most entrepreneurs hire the same way everyone else does. They post a job, skim a few resumes, maybe run a quick interview, and hope they picked the right person. But hope isn’t a hiring strategy, and it’s usually why so many hires don’t work out.

In this episode, Rich Lennon shares the exact hiring funnel he built to find truly exceptional virtual assistants. Instead of trying to guess who’s a great worker from a resume, Rich designed an obstacle course that filters candidates step by step until only the most detail-oriented, persistent, and curious people remain.

The result? Hundreds of applicants go in,  and only one or two make it all the way through. And those are the people he hires.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Create a hiring process that filters out weak candidates automatically
• Identify detail-oriented employees before you ever interview them
• Use simple challenges to reveal real skill, not just resume claims
• Build a hiring funnel that finds the top 1% of applicants
• Test communication, problem-solving, and effort before offering a job

Who This Episode Is For:

• Entrepreneurs are struggling to find reliable team members
• Real estate investors looking to hire virtual assistants
• Business owners are tired of hiring people who don’t follow instructions
• Anyone who wants a smarter way to build a strong remote team

Why You Should Listen:
Hiring the right people can change your business, and hiring the wrong ones can drain your time, money, and energy. In this episode, Rich shares a simple but powerful idea: don’t try to guess who the best employee is, build a process that proves it. His hiring funnel forces candidates to demonstrate effort, curiosity, and attention to detail long before they ever get an offer.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• [00:00] Why hiring virtual assistants can feel overwhelming
• [02:00] The hidden instruction that filters out most applicants
• [03:30] Using videos and quizzes to test attention to detail
• [04:30] Skill tests that reveal real ability
• [06:00] The final challenge that eliminates almost everyone
• [07:30] Why only about 1 out of 200 applicants make it through
• [08:30] The surprising reason great candidates finish the funnel
• [10:00] How this process creates a stronger team culture

Follow Rich Lennon here:
Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

Are you avoiding property management because you think it’s too complicated or risky? Most investors assume things like evictions require constant involvement, but that belief is what keeps them stuck and limits true passive income.

In this episode, Rich Lennon breaks down the real process behind handling evictions and why it’s much simpler than most investors think. He explains how to systemize property management using virtual assistants, how the eviction process actually works step by step, and how to remove the mindset that keeps investors from scaling. He also shares practical ways to outsource key tasks while staying protected legally.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Systemize evictions without being directly involved
• Use virtual assistants to manage property processes
• Remove mindset blocks around property management

Who This Episode Is For:

• Investors are hesitant to self-manage properties
• Those overwhelmed by legal processes like evictions
• Anyone wanting more passive real estate income

Why You Should Listen:

Many investors avoid scaling because they think property management is too complex. This episode shows how simple systems and the right support can remove that barrier and create more passive income.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

[00:00] Why evictions are often misunderstood by investors
[01:00] Setting clear rent deadlines and starting the process
[03:00] How virtual assistants handle notices and documentation
[05:00] Using law students and attorneys to manage filings
[07:00] Final steps from court to property possession
[09:00] The mindset shift that makes property management scalable

Follow Rich Lennon Here:

Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

Are you losing deals before you even make an offer? Most investors think they’re being logical when they assume what a seller will or won’t accept. But the truth is that habit quietly kills opportunities and limits how much wealth you can actually build.

In this episode, Rich Lennon shares a mindset shift that transformed how he approaches real estate deals. He explains why thinking for the other side of the table is one of the most expensive mistakes investors make, how this belief forms, and what happens when you remove it. He also shares a personal story that changed his perspective, along with insights on seller financing, negotiation, and making better offers without fear.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Stop assuming what sellers want and start making better offers
• Remove self-limiting beliefs that block deal flow and growth
• Approach negotiations with clarity and confidence

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate investors are missing out on deals
• Investors are struggling with confidence in negotiations
• Anyone looking to improve their mindset and decision-making

Why You Should Listen:
Most investors unknowingly talk themselves out of opportunities before they even try. This episode shows how one simple mindset shift can open more deals, increase confidence, and remove the invisible barrier holding back your growth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

[00:00] The mindset mistake that causes investors to miss deals
[01:00] Why surrounding yourself with the right people accelerates growth
[02:00] How assumptions about sellers block real opportunities
[03:00] The key lesson that changed Rich’s approach to investing
[04:00] Why you should stop thinking for the other side of the table
[05:00] How this mindset shift unlocks more deals and confidence

Follow Rich Lennon Here:

Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

What if building a bigger real estate portfolio didn’t actually give you more freedom? For a lot of investors, the plan seems simple: buy more properties, grow the portfolio, and life gets easier. But somewhere along the way, many investors realize something surprising, the portfolio keeps growing, yet the freedom they expected never shows up.

In this episode, Rich Lennon joins the show to share how his investing journey evolved from chasing deals and growing a rental portfolio to realizing that more properties didn’t necessarily mean more flexibility. From wholesaling his first deal to scaling up acquisitions and managing a fast-growing business, Rich eventually discovered a missing piece most investors overlook: systems.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Avoid turning your freedom business into a full-time job
• Use systems and automation to stay on top of leads, deals, and tenants
• Manage hundreds or thousands of leads without getting overwhelmed
• Follow up consistently with sellers, buyers, and wholesalers
• Build a real estate business that works for you, not because of you

Who This Episode Is For:

• Investors juggling too many deals, leads, or properties
• Real estate entrepreneurs are feeling stuck doing everything themselves
• Landlords struggling to stay organized with tenants and follow-ups
• Anyone ready to run their investing business more efficiently

Why You Should Listen:
Many investors focus only on finding the next deal. But the real growth happens when you learn how to manage the business behind those deals. In this episode, Rich breaks down how automation and systems can turn chaos into clarity, so you can scale without burning out.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• [00:00] How Rich went from engineer to full-time entrepreneur
• [04:00] The accidental landlord story that started his investing path
• [06:00] His first wholesale deal and the $12K proof that real estate works
• [08:00] The painful lessons from his first flip
• [12:00] When the business started growing faster than he could manage
• [15:00] Discovering automation and building systems with Podio
• [18:00] How automated follow-ups dramatically improve rent collection
• [22:00] Managing thousands of leads without losing track
• [25:00] Why systems are the key to scaling a real estate business
• [30:00] The mindset that keeps investors pushing through tough moments

Follow Rich Lennon here:
Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

Can you really double a small retirement account again and again until it hits six figures? Most people assume you need a lot of money to start building wealth. But the truth is, small amounts can grow fast if you know how to structure deals, use partnerships, and think differently about risk, returns, and opportunity.

In this episode, Rich Lennon returns to break down how investors can grow small amounts of capital into real wealth using real estate and lending. He explains how to double retirement accounts, why bringing the deal matters more than having money, and how to structure partnerships that accelerate growth. The conversation also touches on private lending, risk, and building strong networks.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Turn small retirement accounts into larger investments through smart deals
• Structure partnerships that generate cash flow and long-term growth
• Use private lending to create consistent double-digit returns

Who This Episode Is For:

• Investors starting with small amounts of capital
• Real estate investors interested in private lending
• Anyone looking to grow their money faster through deals

Why You Should Listen:

Most people believe you need a lot of money to start investing. Rich explains why that thinking is wrong. When you understand deal structure and positioning, capital becomes easier to access and grow. This episode shows how to move from small numbers to real wealth through execution.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

[00:00] Why doubling small retirement accounts should be the goal early on
[01:30] How to use partnerships when you don’t have much capital
[03:00] When it makes sense to pay taxes to grow faster
[07:00] Why passing rentals to your kids can backfire
[10:00] How private lending deals are structured
[13:00] How to protect partners while increasing your returns
[25:00] Why networking is the real driver of opportunity
[33:00] Avoiding analysis paralysis and taking action

Follow Rich Lennon Here:
Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

What kind of investor can post on Facebook asking for $500,000, and have dozens of people ready to fund it? It sounds crazy at first. But it actually reveals one of the biggest truths about real estate investing: money isn’t the hard part. The real challenge is building the trust, experience, and network that makes people confident putting their capital behind you.

In this episode, Rich Lennon joins the show to share the story behind the viral moment when he needed half a million dollars fast, and how his network stepped up almost instantly. But this conversation goes way deeper than one Facebook post. Rich breaks down the real reason many investors struggle to raise capital, why most people misunderstand scaling, and how building the right relationships can completely change your investing career.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Build the kind of network that funds deals quickly
• Understand why money is often the easiest part of real estate
• Avoid the biggest mistakes investors make when trying to scale
• Use relationships and reputation to unlock private capital
• Think differently about funding, partnerships, and opportunities

Who This Episode Is For:

• Investors who believe lack of money is holding them back
• Real estate entrepreneurs looking to raise private capital
• Landlords ready to expand but unsure how to fund growth
• Anyone who wants to build stronger investing relationships

Why You Should Listen:

Most investors think funding is the biggest barrier to getting started or growing. Rich shows why that mindset is backwards. When you build the right reputation, relationships, and track record, capital starts looking for you. This episode pulls back the curtain on what actually makes people comfortable wiring large amounts of money, and how you can begin building that kind of trust in your own network.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• [00:00] The Facebook post asking for $500K that shocked everyone
• [03:00] Why money is usually the easiest part of real estate
• [05:00] Rich’s background and how he got into investing
• [10:00] The dangers of scaling too quickly
• [13:00] Why chasing deal volume can destroy your profits
• [17:00] Building systems and teams to handle growth
• [20:00] How COVID changed Rich’s investing strategy[
• 24:00] The shift from owning rentals to lending money

Follow Rich Lennon Here:

Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

What if you could earn 30–50% returns in real estate, without flipping houses, managing tenants, or spending money on marketing? Most investors are taught the same path: buy rentals, build a portfolio, and keep stacking doors. But what happens when you’ve already done that, and the returns stop growing?

In this episode, Rich Lennon shares the shift that completely changed how he thinks about building wealth. After years of owning a large rental portfolio, Rich realized something surprising: the equity in his properties looked impressive on paper, but the actual returns were shrinking. So he made a bold move. He started selling rentals and moving that capital into private lending, a model that now generates significantly higher returns while requiring far less time and effort.

Rich breaks down how this strategy works, why he keeps his lending local, and how he built a deal flow pipeline without running ads or chasing borrowers. If you’ve ever wondered what comes after building a rental portfolio, this episode will open your eyes.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Understand why large rental portfolios can quietly produce low returns
• Turn equity from properties into higher-yield opportunities
• Use private lending to generate strong returns without owning more real estate
• Structured deals that can reach 30–50% returns through fractionalized lending
• Build deal flow through relationships instead of marketing

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate investors with growing equity but modest cash returns
• Landlords are tired of managing tenants and maintenance
• Investors curious about private lending or note investing
• Anyone who wants their money to work harder with less effort

Why You Should Listen:

Many investors spend years building portfolios, only to realize their wealth is locked inside assets that don’t produce strong returns anymore.

Rich explains how he recognized that moment, and why shifting from owning properties to owning the paper completely changed his financial strategy. His approach is simple, relationship-driven, and built around a principle most investors overlook: your money should work harder as your wealth grows, not slower.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• [00:00] Why Rich began shutting down his rehab business
• [05:30] The surprising truth about rental portfolio returns
• [10:00] Why expanding into new markets caused major losses
• [14:00] The shift from owning properties to owning the note
• [18:30] How private lending can generate much higher returns
• [21:45] The difference between private money and hard money
• [24:00] How Rich gets deals without running marketing
• [26:30] Why financial education is missing for most investors

Follow Rich Lennon here:
Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

Follow Preston Zeller here:

Website: http://theartofgrievingfilm.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonzeller/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZellerhausArt

What if one of the most profitable real estate strategies didn’t require owning dozens of rentals, flipping houses, or spending thousands every month on marketing?

In this episode, Rich Lennon sits down with Preston Zeller to break down a lending model that many investors never hear about, but the ones who discover it often wonder why they didn’t start sooner. Instead of chasing deals, managing tenants, or constantly hunting for the next property, this strategy focuses on something far simpler: becoming the lender.

Rich Lennon joins the show to share how he transitioned from building a traditional real estate portfolio into a private lending model that has produced consistent returns, strong relationships, and zero foreclosures. He explains why lending can be one of the most overlooked opportunities in real estate and how it allows investors to grow wealth while avoiding many of the headaches that come with owning properties.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Understand the difference between owning real estate and lending on it
• Build strong returns without running a full real estate operation
• Use private lending as a wealth-building strategy
• Reduce risk while still participating in profitable deals
• Build relationships with borrowers who consistently bring opportunities

Who This Episode Is For:

• Real estate investors are tired of managing rentals and renovations
• Investors who want strong returns without running a full business
• People are curious about private lending as a wealth-building strategy
• Anyone looking for alternative ways to grow capital through real estate

Why You Should Listen:

Most investors think the only way to win in real estate is to own more properties. But sometimes the smarter move is stepping into a different role entirely.

This episode introduces a lending model that allows investors to stay involved in real estate while avoiding many of the traditional headaches. If you’ve ever wondered how lenders generate strong returns without managing properties, this conversation will open your eyes to a strategy few people talk about.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• [00:00] Why many investors overlook lending as a real estate strategy
• [04:00] Rich’s journey from traditional investing into private lending
• [08:00] The problem with constantly chasing deals
• [12:00] Why lenders often face fewer headaches than property owners
• [17:00] The role relationships play in building a strong lending network
• [22:00] How this model creates consistent opportunities without marketing
• [27:00] Why some lenders achieve strong returns while avoiding foreclosures

Follow Rich Lennon here:
Website: https://richlennon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.lennon.121
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlennon92/

Follow Preston Zeller here:

Website: http://theartofgrievingfilm.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonzeller/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZellerhausArt