Team Lead Talks

Jay Conner: The Private Money System That Funds Deals Without Asking for Money

Most real estate investors think raising capital starts with pitching deals. Jay Conner built an entirely different system. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with the private money authority himself to break down how investors can attract funding without chasing banks, begging lenders, or asking for money. Jay shares the exact mindset, conversations, and systems that helped him raise over $2.1 million in private money after losing his line of credit during the 2009 financial crisis. In this episode: • The difference between private money and hard money lenders • Why pitching deals too early kills investor credibility • How Jay raised nearly $1 million from a single luncheon • The conversation framework that attracts private lenders naturally About Our Guest: Jay Conner is a real estate investor, private money expert, and entrepreneur who has been investing in real estate since 2003. Early in his career, he relied on traditional bank financing to fund deals, but after years of dealing with large down payments, origination fees, and personal guarantees, he shifted toward creative financing strategies like subject-to deals and lease options. When the 2008 market crash caused banks to pull back lending, Jay completely reinvented how he funded real estate investments by developing his own system for raising private money. Over the years, Jay refined a repeatable approach that helped him raise millions of dollars for real estate deals without relying on traditional lenders. After securing his first $250,000 in private funding from a single conversation, he went on to raise more than $2 million in just a few months. Today, Jay is known for teaching real estate investors how to leverage private money, automation, and creative financing to build scalable businesses that generate long-term freedom and consistent 7-figure profits.

Kevin Riggi: He Left a 17-Year Career to Bet Everything on Real Estate

Leaving a stable career after 17 years is a risk most people avoid. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with Kevin Riggi of Fast Fwd Home Buyers to break down how he transitioned from corporate leadership at Wegmans into building a real estate investing business focused on wholesaling, creative finance, and investment opportunities across the Charlotte market. Kevin shares the lessons he learned inside a high-performing company, why mentorship accelerated his growth, and how understanding multiple exit strategies creates more profitable real estate deals. In this episode: • Why Kevin left a long-term corporate career to pursue real estate investing • How working inside an established wholesaling company accelerated his growth • Why wholesalers need multiple exit strategies to maximize opportunities • How listening to sellers creates better deals and stronger businesses About Our Guest: Kevin Riggi is a real estate investor and wholesaling entrepreneur who transitioned from a 15-year corporate career into full-time real estate investing. Originally from Niagara Falls, Kevin relocated to Baltimore in 2013 before later moving to Charlotte in 2024. After years of climbing the corporate ladder at Wegmans, he made the difficult decision in 2021 to leave the security of his job behind and fully commit to building a real estate business — a major leap of faith for both him and his family. Today, Kevin owns real estate companies operating in Maryland and North Carolina, primarily focused on wholesaling and investment opportunities. With more than 300 real estate transactions completed, he brings practical experience from nearly every side of the business, including acquisitions, operations, negotiations, and scaling systems. His story offers valuable insight into entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and building a successful real estate investing business from the ground up.

Nikki Merkerson: Why More Buyers Are Teaming Up to Buy Real Estate

Buying a home today is harder than ever, especially in high-cost markets like New York and the Bay Area. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with real estate matchmaker and PairGap founder Nikki Merkerson to break down why more buyers are partnering together to afford real estate and how co-buying could reshape the future of homeownership. From financial compatibility to real estate “prenups,” Nikki explains the systems helping buyers safely invest together in today’s market. In this episode: • Why co-buying is becoming more common in expensive markets • How PairGap matches compatible real estate buyers • The risks buyers need to address before purchasing together • Why financial compatibility matters more than ever in real estate About Our Guest: Nikki Merkerson is a real estate matchmaker, shared housing specialist, investor, and developer focused on making homeownership more accessible through smarter real estate partnerships. She is the founder and CEO of Pairgap, an AI-powered real estate co-buying platform that connects compatible buyers who want to pool resources and co-invest in property. Through psychology-based matching, financial planning tools, and legal frameworks, Pairgap helps friends, family members, partners, and even strangers approach joint homeownership with more clarity and confidence. Before launching her entrepreneurial work full-time, Nikki spent nearly 25 years in mortgage banking, financial services, and community development, including 23 years in financial services and roles as a Community Reinvestment Officer at JPMorgan Chase and a Loan Officer. She is also the author of Pair'd: A Dating Guide to Real Estate Partnerships, where she continues her mission of helping more people build wealth through shared ownership and smart real estate investing.

Cody Hofhine: Why Most Real Estate Investors Never Buy Back Their Time

Most real estate investors get trapped building a business that depends entirely on them. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with Cody Hofhine to break down why so many entrepreneurs never truly buy back their time, even after making money in real estate. From building a wholesaling business to coaching thousands of investors nationwide, Cody shares the mindset shifts, leadership lessons, and personal development strategies that helped him transition from operator to business owner. In this episode: • How Cody made his first $24,000 wholesale deal in 29 days • Why mentorship accelerated his growth in real estate • The leadership mistakes that kept him stuck early on • How buying back your time creates long-term freedom About Our Guest: Cody Hofhine is a real estate entrepreneur, wholesaling expert, and business coach known for helping others unlock growth through mindset and personal development. After starting in construction and building an insurance business from the ground up, Cody faced early financial struggles that pushed him to rethink his approach to success. Discovering real estate wholesaling became a turning point, leading him to scale multiple ventures and ultimately build eight multi-million-dollar businesses over the past 15 years. Today, Cody focuses on mentoring entrepreneurs and business owners to break through self-imposed limits and create lasting success. Rooted in the belief that internal mastery drives external results, his work blends real estate investing, leadership development, and high-performance habits. Through his coaching and teachings, Cody empowers others to build businesses—and lives—by design, grounded in discipline, growth, and purpose.

Brad Chandler: The Real Reason Most Real Estate Entrepreneurs Burn Out

Building a successful real estate business often comes with a cost most people never talk about. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with Brad Chandler, founder of Express Homebuyers, to break down the mindset, pressure, and personal struggles that can quietly destroy high-performing entrepreneurs. Brad shares how he scaled a 5,000-deal real estate company while battling internal issues that eventually forced him to rethink success, leadership, and fulfillment. In this episode: • How Brad Chandler built Express Homebuyers into a 5,000-deal operation • The persistence and lead generation systems behind long-term growth • Why many real estate entrepreneurs experience burnout after financial success • How unresolved personal issues impact business performance and relationships About Our Guest: Brad Chandler is a seasoned real estate investor and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Express Homebuyers. Since launching the company in 2002, he has bought and sold over 5,000 homes nationwide, building a reputation for scaling a high-volume real estate investing business with consistency and long-term vision. His journey into real estate started early, sparked by a book in 9th grade and a conversation with a local investor that ultimately set his career in motion. In recent years, Brad has shifted his focus beyond real estate into personal transformation and mindset work. After a major life change in 2021, he founded LimitlessYou, where he helps entrepreneurs and executives identify and overcome self-limiting beliefs that hold them back from true fulfillment. Today, he combines real estate experience with mindset coaching, sharing insights on achieving both financial success and lasting happiness in business and life.