If you’re in real estate long enough, you eventually run into the same wall every investor hits:

“I’ve got deals… but how do I fund them?”
Or worse:
“I don’t have money, so I guess I can’t invest.”

Both are lies.

When I got started, I had no money. And that turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of my career. It forced me to learn the real game: raising capital, structuring deals creatively, and getting projects funded even when the bank account said “nope.”

Over the years, and hundreds of deals later, I discovered something that has never failed me.
Not once.
Not in different markets, not across different asset classes, not with different partners, lenders, or strategies.

There’s a failproof formula for funding real estate deals.

And no, it’s not complicated.
It’s not “guru magic.”
It’s not even math.

In the training below, I break the entire thing down step-by-step so you can stop overcomplicating this business and start getting deals funded consistently.

Let’s get into it.

TRANSCRIPTION

(Structured for readability)

After we establish that we actually have a deal and we’ve identified our funding options, we simply move down the line of the process.

From there, we move into the paperwork phase: preparing for closing, lining up the details, and getting everything ready. You’re all familiar with this part.

Then we go to closing… signing… and then fulfillment.
Meaning: now we actually have to execute the deal: Renovate it, flip it, refinance it, or whatever the strategy is.

And then?
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Over and over and over again.

Now, with all that said, here’s where I want to shift the focus:

Private Money.

We’re not talking about cash today. Everyone’s cash is limited. And I don’t want to gloss over this, because I’ve seen it play out many, many times.

People come to me one-on-one and say:

“Brant, I’ve got X amount of money to invest.”

Great. My response is always the same:

“Pretend you have no money.”

Some people can’t do it. They default right back into using their own cash to buy real estate. And even though that isn’t bad, they end up missing one of the most valuable lessons in this entire business.

Because here’s what happens:

They use their $20k…
Then their $50k…
Then their $100k…

They do a deal or two…
And then….yep…they’re out of money.

So they stop investing.

Why?
Because they’ve wired their brain into caveman thinking:

“Have money → do deal.
No money → no do deal.”

No.

That is NOT the mindset you need to build a real business.

When I got started, the fact that I had no money forced me to learn how to do deals with no money down. And that became one of the greatest blessings of my career.

I can tell you story after story about land we’ve acquired with no money down… different creative structures… deals built on partnerships… syndications… lender relationships. It’s endless.

And even recently, I had partners who insisted we use our own money on a land deal. I told them, “I think this is a bad move, but it’s a good deal, so I’ll contribute.”

Fast forward? The land hasn’t sold yet, and now they’re asking:

“What do we do now?”
“How do we fund the development?”
“How do we build the warehouses?”

Guys…
Who do you think you’re talking to?

This is why you must adopt the mindset of raising money, not relying on yours.

The Failproof Funding Formula

There is a formula.
And it has never, ever, ever, ever failed me.

Pop quiz…
Anyone know what it is?

(Crickets.)

Alright, I’ll give it to you.

It’s not complicated.
There’s no math involved.

Here it is:

Good Deals + Trustworthy People

That’s it.

Since the day I started talking to partners and lenders, this has been the one constant:

Every deal I raised money for was a good deal… and I operated with integrity.

Not every deal turned out perfectly. That’s impossible. You can’t predict the future. I’ve had deals go sideways. I’ve had deals that stressed me the hell out. I’ve had deals where I questioned myself.

But even in the tough ones, the fundamentals were sound:
The deal made sense, and I have honored my commitments to my lenders every single time.

Risk exists in everything. You’re not only going to do unicorn deals. That’s okay.

How do you bring good deals to the table?

You run them through your process, your numbers, your Mesa analysis, your underwriting.

Everyone in the group knows how to evaluate a deal.
You’re learning the tools.
You’re learning the frameworks.

Now let’s talk about the second part: being trustworthy.

Operate with integrity.
Use wisdom.
Help first.

You’re essentially functioning as a financial guide to your lenders, someone who advocates for them, educates them, and aligns with them.

Unlike some financial advisors out there (some of whom are total crooks), private lending is transparent:

“I’m trying to make money using your money.
And the more I win, the more YOU win.”

It’s aligned.
It’s honest.
It’s powerful.

And the more you truly understand this at a heart level, not just as a pitch, the easier raising money becomes.

Because you’re not “telling a story.”
You’re becoming the type of person people want to fund.

 

All the best,

Brant Phillips