Resiliency and Relationship Building in Private Lending With Jay Conner
When most people first consider real estate investing, one of their greatest fears is how they’ll fund their deals. Banks and hard money lenders seem like the obvious go-to, but what happens when those sources dry up, as they once did for Jay Conner? The answer, as Jay Conner discovered, is private money—and embracing it doesn’t just solve a financing problem, it can dramatically accelerate business growth.
Early Days and the Banking Roadblock
Jay Conner didn’t start his career in the realm of single-family rehabs. Raised in the manufactured homes business, he was surrounded by affordable housing from a young age. But when financing for mobile homes disappeared in the early 2000s, the transition to single-family investment was a natural next step. Going full-time in 2003, Jay Conner began as many do, relying entirely on traditional banks and mortgage companies for funding his rehab deals. This process seemed rock-solid—until the financial crisis of 2008 hit.
Suddenly, with deals under contract, Jay Conner found his bank had shut down his lines of credit overnight. He was left with deals he couldn’t close, earnest money at risk, and no warning. This kind of scenario is exactly what keeps new investors awake at night.
Discovering the Power of Private Money
Rather than give up, Jay Conner made a choice to pivot—and it changed his life. Asking the right questions, he turned to a friend and learned about a new world: private lending. Unlike banks, private money involves borrowing from individuals—those with investment capital or retirement funds, people you may already know through your own network.
Rather than applying for money, Jay Conner began to teach people what private lending was and how they could earn secure, above-average returns. This education-first approach put him in a position of offering opportunity, not asking for a favor. Within less than three months, Jay Conner raised over two million dollars—enough to fund his deals and more.
Why Private Money is a Real Estate Gamechanger
For Jay Conner, private money isn’t just about having cash to close. It fundamentally shifts who controls the transaction. When working with banks, you’re subject to their rules, rates, timelines, and risk tolerances. With private money, you set the terms: interest rates, note lengths, and payment schedules. Your credit score becomes irrelevant, and approvals aren’t based on a rigid box of qualifications.
Timestamps:
00:01 Private Lending and Real Estate Investing
05:42 Secrets to Raising Private Money
07:24 From Mobile Homes to Housing
09:49 No-Cash Real Estate Deals
14:38 Creating My Own Lending Rules
19:19 Responsibility Over Life’s Responses
22:55 Exploring Self-Directed IRAs
23:43 Resiliency for Real Estate Success
29:19 Investor Concerns and Security Measures
30:51 Private Lending & Real Estate Insights
35:10 Setting Terms for Investment Notes
36:55 Substitution of Collateral Explained
41:38 Beach Gathering with Networking Focus
44:10 Zoom Parties for Private Lending
49:59 Real Estate Investment Workshop
51:05 Real Estate Success in Days
Private Money Academy Conference:
https://www.ThePrivateMoneyConference.com
Free Report:
https://www.jayconner.com/MoneyReport
Join the Private Money Academy:
https://www.JayConner.com/trial
Have you read Jay’s new book, Where to Get the Money Now?
It is available FREE (all you pay is the shipping and handling) at https://www.JayConner.com/Book
What is Private Money? Real Estate Investing with Jay Conner
http://www.JayConner.com/MoneyPodcast
Jay Conner is a proven real estate investment leader. Without using his own money or credit, Jay maximizes creative methods to buy and sell properties with profits averaging $86,000 per deal.