If you’re a real estate investor who’s tired of losing out on deals because of slow funding, chasing banks, or getting bogged down in spreadsheets, there’s good news: technology is catching up to your needs.
On a recent episode of the “Raising Private Money” podcast, Jay Conner sat down with Brandon Richards, an active real estate investor and the CEO behind Deal Manager Pro, to dive into private money, scaling a real estate business, and using tools like CRM software to streamline and scale.
Raising Private Money: More Freedom, Less Friction
The episode opens with a bold question: What would your business look like if money were never the problem?
Brandon Richards is living proof that this is possible. In his career, Brandon has raised over $15 million in private money—meaning funds raised from individual investors, not banks or institutions. Private money, as Jay and Brandon both pointed out, allows regular people—often your friends, colleagues, or even social media followers—to invest directly in your deals, typically with better terms and less red tape than a traditional lender.
The process is straightforward, especially when you use systems that handle the heavy lifting. Brandon shared that documenting deals correctly, securing investments with real estate (using promissory notes and deeds of trust), and building trust are key to attracting and retaining private lenders. After a few successful deals, investors often don’t want their money back—they want you to keep it working, compounding your ability to scale.
Attracting Private Lenders: The Power of Being Visible
One of the big takeaways from Brandon’s journey: He doesn’t chase money, he attracts it. By sharing real stories—selfie videos at project sites, walk-throughs, before-and-after shots, and deal breakdowns—Brandon has built a following of individuals interested in investing passively in his projects. These posts aren’t high-gloss marketing campaigns. They’re organic, candid, and relatable—more like a “day-in-the-life” than a commercial.
A simple call to action in his stories—“If you want to talk money, DM me”—is all it takes to get the conversation started. His focus isn’t on begging or selling, but on educating and showing the journey. And it works.
Scaling Up: You Can’t Do It Alone
As Brandon’s business grew, he quickly saw the need to remove himself from the daily grind (like being on job sites or managing multiple spreadsheets) and focus on systems—and people—that could handle growth. He credits having reliable contractors and processes, but also emphasizes how getting the right technology in place makes a world of difference.
Which leads us to one of the episode’s highlights: the introduction of Deal Manager Pro.
Deal Manager Pro: The CRM Built for Real Estate Investors
In the cluttered world of generic CRMs, Brandon saw the need for software specifically designed by and for real estate investors. Deal Manager Pro offers everything you need in one platform: lead tracking, nationwide comps, direct mail tools, proof of funds, automated follow-up, skip tracing, a rehab calculator, and an advanced deal analyzer. Unlike clunky Excel sheets or piecemealed tech stacks, it keeps everything streamlined and collaborative—so whether you’re a solopreneur or scaling a team, you never lose track of a deal or a contact.
Brandon’s pain points—lost leads, spreadsheet chaos, and communication breakdowns—became the foundation for a system hundreds of investors now rely on.
Final Thoughts
What stands out most from Jay and Brandon’s conversation is this: Real estate investing isn’t just about finding deals or raising capital. It’s about creating repeatable, reliable systems—both in relationships and processes. If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels with DIY tools and want to scale up, adopting a purpose-built CRM like
10 Discussion Questions from this Episode:
- Brandon Richards mentioned that he initially stumbled into easier funding options by chance. How important do you think luck is versus preparation and networking in finding funding for real estate deals?
- The conversation highlights the value of private money over institutional funding. What do you believe are the main advantages and potential drawbacks of using private lenders for real estate investments?
- Both Jay and Brandon stress the idea of ‘attracting’ money rather than ‘chasing’ it. What are some strategies you’ve seen work (or think might work) to attract private funding in today’s real estate market?
- Brandon talks about demystifying the process for private lenders by comparing them to big banks like Chase. How can real estate investors build trust and confidence with potential lenders, especially if those lenders are unfamiliar with the process?
- Social media played a significant role in attracting private lenders for Brandon. What kind of social media content do you think is most effective in generating genuine interest from potential investors?
- Jay and Brandon both mention the importance of proper documentation (like deeds of trust/mortgages). How much legal and technical knowledge do investors need before approaching private lenders, and where can they learn it?
- Brandon transitioned from house flips to land deals and owner-financed notes. What might be some reasons an investor would make a similar shift in their business model?
- They discussed scaling from a handful of deals to managing millions of dollars in private money. What are the key challenges investors face in scaling their operations, and how can they overcome them?
- Brandon’s CRM, Deal Manager Pro, automates much of the follow-up and deal management process. How important are automation and technology tools for modern real estate investors, and are there risks of relying too heavily on them?
- Brandon wishes he’d started with land and note investing sooner. What lessons from his experience do you think could help investors avoid common pitfalls or seize opportunities earlier in their careers?
Fun facts that were revealed in the episode:
- Brandon Richards Has Raised Over $15 million in Private Money
Brandon started with small real estate deals but quickly scaled his business. He’s now raised more than $15 million from private lenders, all without ever setting foot in a traditional bank for those funds! - He Attracts Private Lenders Through Social Media
Instead of chasing down potential lenders or making cold calls, Brandon attracts investors by posting authentic, behind-the-scenes content of his deals on social media. He’s turned his day-to-day property visits into a kind of personal reality show that catches the attention—and money—of curious followers. - Brandon Now Runs a CRM Made Specifically for Real Estate Investors
After getting frustrated with lost leads and messy spreadsheets, Brandon acquired Deal Manager Pro, a CRM designed for real estate investors. The software automates follow-ups and includes features like nationwide comps, direct mail integrations, skip tracing, and robust deal analysis tools—essentially streamlining the whole investor workflow.
Timestamps:
00:01 Early Success in Real Estate Financing
05:05 Real Estate Financing Journey
10:33 Transition to Land-Only Business Model
13:38 Alaskan Vlog: Unplanned Updates
16:50 Real Estate CRM Upgrade Summary
17:58 Automated CRM and Analysis Tools
20:32 Connect with Brandon Richards:
https://www.DealManagerPro.com
21:46 Streamlining Real Estate Deal Flow
26:13 Real Estate Buying and Selling
28:03 “Dirty Money” Land Investing Guide
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
https://www.JayConner.com/MoneyPodcast
Jay Conner is a proven real estate investment leader. He maximizes creative methods to buy and sell properties with profits averaging $67,000 per deal without using his money or credit.
What is Real Estate Investing? Live Private Money Academy Conference
YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/RealEstateInvestingWithJayConner
Apple Podcasts:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jay.conner.marketing
Listen to our Podcast:
Comments