Chris Sevany's episode of the Paper Trail is a treasure trove for anyone looking to navigate the wild world of private lending and mortgage notes. He kicks things off with a bang, sharing his own journey as a CEO of a mortgage note fund, and trust me, it's packed with all the juicy details about what went right, what went sideways, and the lessons learned along the way. Chris dives into the nitty-gritty of the industry, from non-performing loans to seller financing, stressing the importance of having a solid exit strategy—because, let’s be real, nobody wants to be stuck in a deal that’s gone south! He also chats with David Cook from Contessa Capital, who brings his 30 years of experience to the table, sprinkling in some sage advice about being a savvy investor and the pitfalls to avoid. So, whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, this episode is brimming with insights and laughs that'll keep you entertained and informed.

Join Chris and his buddy David as they dive deep into the wild world of mortgage notes, lending, and all things finance! Chris kicks things off with a friendly intro, setting the stage for some serious talk about the journey of a CEO running a mortgage note fund. David, who’s been in the game for over 30 years, spills the beans on how he got into investing and the rollercoaster ride that followed. From the challenges of navigating through market shifts to the ins and outs of private lending, they keep it real and relatable. David shares some juicy tales about what went right—and what went hilariously wrong—offering listeners a front-row seat to the drama and excitement of investing.

Throughout their chat, they touch on the importance of having a solid exit strategy before diving into any deal. You know, like that one time David learned the hard way that having a plan is crucial—especially when things get bumpy. He stresses that anyone looking to invest needs to keep their eyes peeled for potential pitfalls and be ready to pivot when the market throws a curveball. Plus, they share advice on starting small, like a side hustle, before taking the plunge full-time.

With a sprinkle of humor and a whole lot of wisdom, this episode is a treasure trove for aspiring investors. Chris and David drop knowledge bombs about the key principles of successful investing and how to be a good partner without being a pushover. They wrap up with a friendly nudge to follow the paper trail and trust the process—because in this game, patience is a virtue!

Links referenced in this episode:

• papertrailconference.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Contessa Capital

Today, he’s hanging out with the Strategy Ninjas, a crew on a mission to turn bold ideas into real-life action—like turning a light bulb moment into a full-blown disco party! They’re all about giving entrepreneurs the lowdown on how to kick-start their businesses using AI and automation, making it a game-changer in the real estate scene. The trio dives into their AI real estate accelerator course, sharing some of their top-secret frameworks that help folks level up their hustle. He’s super pumped to have them as sponsors for the upcoming Paper Trail Conference, where the fun and knowledge will be flowing like a river of good vibes. So, grab your favorite snack, kick back, and get ready to soak in some seriously cool insights about using tech to make business dreams come true!

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Strategy Ninjas
• Paper Trail
• ChatGPT
• Grok
• Claude
• Gemini
• Copilot
• Perplexity

Links referenced in this episode:

• thestrategyninjas.com
• accelerator.thestrategyninjas.com

In this episode of the Paper Trail Podcast, part of our Know Your Speaker Series leading up to the Paper Trail Note Conference (PTNC), Chris sits down with Kris Fleming — business strategist, financial expert, real estate investor, and founder of The Genius Network.

Kris shares her incredible journey from growing up in poverty to becoming a successful entrepreneur, investor, and coach for women building scalable businesses. With deep experience in banking, commercial and private lending, and real estate, Kris brings a unique blend of empathy, strategy, and financial intelligence to every deal.

They discuss creative financing, how to assess borrowers beyond the numbers, and why personal responsibility and kindness are core to her investing approach. Kris also offers a preview of her upcoming talk at The Paper Trail Note Conference, happening September 18–20 in Chandler, Arizona, an event focused on real-world expertise, actionable learning, and community connection.

🎟️ Register for the Paper Trail Note Conference: https://papertrailconference.com/registration/

Sponsor Highlight + Know Your Speaker Series: Default Attorney Group

In this episode, we sit down with Jane and Josh from the Default Attorney Group (DAG) — a coalition of seasoned creditor rights law firms spanning 20+ states — to unpack what really goes on behind the scenes of a foreclosure, bankruptcy, or title claim.

Whether you’re a seasoned investor or new to distressed notes, this conversation offers a masterclass in legal landmines — and how to avoid them. Josh, who will also be speaking on-stage at The Paper Trail Note Conference, walks us through critical differences between judicial and non-judicial states, how title defects can sideline a deal for years, and why fast communication with your legal team can be your most valuable asset.

Plus, you’ll learn how DAG can serve as your one-stop shop for legal help across the note lifecycle — and why we’re proud to have them as sponsors of the Paper Trail Note Conference.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• What makes a default attorney indispensable
• How to avoid costly mistakes with HELOCs, affidavits, and foreclosure timelines
• The #1 mistake lenders make when trying to save money on legal

📍Catch Josh and the DAG team live at Paper Trail, Sept 18–20 in Chandler, AZ.

Register here: papertrailconference.com

In this episode, Chris sits down with long-time real estate investor and creative finance educator William Tingle. With 25+ years of experience in the trenches, William shares how he built a real estate portfolio using Subject-To and seller finance strategies, without money, formal education, or a silver spoon.

Together, they cover:

• How William quit his job after buying 24 houses in 12 months
• Why Subject, To investing isn’t about taking advantage—it’s about helping first
• Real examples of win-win deals (including 30% equity on a house with no cash out of pocket)
• The biggest mistakes new investors make (and how to avoid them)
• Why counting doors doesn’t equal success
• What William will be bringing to the upcoming Paper Trail Conference

Whether you're new to creative real estate or looking to scale with integrity, this episode delivers grounded advice and real-life lessons you won’t hear from the “guru crowd.

In this Know Your Speakers edition of the Paper Trail Podcast, Chris sits down with Matt Kelley, a certified foreclosure expert and long-time investor who’s underwritten tens of thousands of loans across California, Arizona, Nevada, and beyond. Known for his no-BS style, Matt shares insights from both sides of the note space—firsts, seconds, courthouse steps, and post-sale acquisitions.

They cover:

• Why underwriting is the true money-maker in note investing
• Red flags vs. yellow flags (and why the latter are more dangerous)
• The importance of underwriting sellers, not just borrowers
• Common mistakes new investors make—and how to avoid them
• What’s really happening in today’s note market (and why inventory isn’t your biggest problem)

Matt is also a featured speaker at the upcoming Paper Trail Conference (Sept 18–20) in Chandler, AZ. Get a preview of what he’ll bring to the stage—and why his sessions are can’t-miss.

🎟️ Register at papertrailconference.com

In this episode of our series called Know Your Speakers, Chris Seveney is joined by Kevin Kim, partner at Geraci LLP and one of the leading legal minds in the private lending industry. Kevin leads the firm's corporate and securities practice, helping lenders structure funds, stay compliant, and scale responsibly. With deep experience across Regulation D, Regulation A+, licensing, and M&A, Kevin’s firm has advised hundreds of funds from mom-and-pop startups to billion-dollar platforms.

In this conversation, Kevin shares the most common mistakes new fund managers make, how to think like an institutional operator, and why raising capital is about more than just legal docs—it’s about trust, transparency, and preparation. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look at what to expect as a speaker at the 2025 Paper Trail Conference and the critical conversations happening around fund formation, compliance, and market dynamics.

🎟 Join Kevin and other top speakers live in Chandler, AZ, September 18–20.

Reserve your spot at papertrailconference.com

In this Know Your Speakers episode, Chris talks with Melissa Palmer—former federal agent turned due diligence expert and founder of Capital Verified. Melissa shares how a personal experience with investment fraud pushed her to create a service helping private lenders and note investors avoid the same fate.

Melissa discusses how she repurposed her background in criminal investigations to vet borrowers and deals, what most people miss when reviewing investment documents, and why it’s not just about spotting red flags—but understanding the yellow ones too. She opens up about lessons learned from owning rentals, getting scammed, and building a business that helps protect other investors from similar pitfalls.

Melissa will be taking the stage at the 2025 Paper Trail Note Conference to go deeper on risk, verification, and the overlooked areas of due diligence that matter most—especially as more investors shift into private lending.

🎟️ Join us live in Chandler, AZ, September 18–20. Reserve your seat at papertrailconference.com

In this Know Your Speakers episode, Chris Seveney sits down with DJ Olojo—note investor, podcast host, and founder of the Foreclosure Fix. DJ shares how he went from buying rentals in Atlanta after the 2008 crash to building a scalable portfolio focused on second position mortgage notes. He opens up about why he targets a 20% return, how he invests alongside his wife despite having different risk tolerances, and what it really takes to move from education to action. DJ breaks down the mindset, relationships, and creative deal structures that have helped him grow his business—starting with notes as small as $1,000.

DJ is one of the featured speakers at the 2025 Paper Trail Note Conference, where he’ll go even deeper on how to turn $100K into $1M with seconds—sharing real numbers, real deals, and lessons learned along the way.

Join us live in Chandler, AZ, September 18–20. Register now at https://papertrailconference.com/registration/

In this episode, Chris sits down with Marco Bario — former film and TV executive turned seller finance expert and founder of Porch Swing Funding. Marco shares his journey from the chaos of Hollywood production sets to the structure and strategy of note investing. They discuss the importance of patience, transparency, and relationship-building in deal-making, as well as why staying in your lane can be the most powerful growth move.

Marco also previews his upcoming session at the Paper Trail Conference, where he’ll walk through how to build trust with individual sellers and navigate one-on-one conversations — a crucial but often overlooked skill in this business.

🎟 Ready to learn from voices like Marco's? Join us at Paper Trail, Sept 18–20 in Chandler, AZ: https://papertrailconference.com/registration/