Growing the Money with Rich Lennon

Episode 122: The Truth About Flip Profits, Why $90K Turns Into Less Than You Think

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

Episode 121: The Lending Mistake That Can Wipe You Out (Most Investors Miss This)

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

Episode 120: The VA Hiring Funnel That Produces Elite Employees Who Actually Do What You Hired Them To Do

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

Episode 119: The Reason Most Investors Never Build True Passive Income Has Nothing to Do with the Market

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

Episode 118: The Self-Limiting Belief That's Costing Experienced Investors Millions in Missed Deals

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