In this deep-dive episode, Daniel sits down with Steve Hodgegden, founder of Finance Land Sales and Modern Asset Management. Steve shares insights from his 30+ years in subprime lending, medical loan finance, and land investing. They discuss the psychology of subprime borrowers, the flawed logic behind no-interest land deals, how to build performing notes, and lessons learned from big mistakes like buying slope and flood-prone land. Steve also offers a raw, experience-based view of ethics, underwriting, and building a sustainable land business with long-term upside.

1. Subprime Borrowers & the Psychology of Repayment

⏱️ 0:00 – 9:01

Steve’s surprising niche: financing 7,000+ gastric bypass surgeries

Why people with bad credit sometimes make the best borrowers

The psychology behind aspirational land purchases and performing notes

2. Land Deals vs. Used Cars: Why Desert Squares Suck

⏱️ 9:01 – 15:10

Why he abhors no-down, no-credit-check land deals

His take on desert squares and used-car-lot logic in the land game

How he reframes seller financing to avoid the “loan-to-own” trap

3. Structuring Notes Ethically (and Legally)

⏱️ 15:10 – 22:09

Truth in lending: How most land sellers misrepresent interest

The right way to disclose pricing and offer early payoff rebates

Balancing ethics and business when working with lower-FICO borrowers

4. Mistakes, Slope, and Lessons from 600+ Land Transactions

⏱️ 22:09 – 41:12

Buying 23 acres “on the wrong side of a guardrail”

Slope, flood zone, and why you must walk the property

How bad deals still happen even with experienced partners

Learning from price reports, topography, and rural zoning realities

5. Legacy, Joint Ventures, and Sustainable Scaling

⏱️ 41:12 – 1:06:49

How Steve structured 80/20 JVs and why 50/50 is often too expensive

Why he’s avoiding hillsides, bridges, and emotionally-driven deals

Thoughts on legacy, transitioning leadership, and “was today more fun than golf?”

Where to find him and how to partner responsibly

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In this episode of the Nightfire Podcast, host Daniel Martinez reconnects with entrepreneur Nick Huber for a deep dive into entrepreneurship, work-life balance, and personal growth. Nick shares his journey from running a moving and storage company to building a real estate empire and international business network. The conversation covers everything from hiring strategies, resilience, family priorities, and maintaining mental health while scaling companies. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this episode offers actionable wisdom and inspiring anecdotes.Entrepreneurial Beginnings and Evolution (0:00 - 1:50)How Nick transitioned from a moving company to real estate and beyond, and how early struggles shaped his approach.Family, Marriage, and Balance 1:50 - 7:00Discussing the role of family and marriage in success, balancing entrepreneurship with personal life, and his wife’s influence.Hiring Strategies and Talent Recognition (7:00 - 26:00)Nick’s hands-on approach to finding talent in unexpected places, hiring international teams, and developing leaders from within.Mental Resilience and Growth (26:00 - 31:45)Insights into building mental toughness, managing stress, and balancing business risks with personal stability.Scaling Businesses and International Teams (31:45 - 35:45)Strategies for managing multiple businesses, leveraging global talent, and balancing physical assets with digital systems.Legacy and Lessons Learned (35:45 - End)Reflecting on writing The Sweaty Startup, his long-term vision, and the philosophy of continuous improvement.Buy the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bLazjWwww.sweatystartup.com/ideaswww.boltstorage.comwww.somewhere.comwww.recostseg.comwww.adrhino.comwww.spidexx.comwww.boldseo.comwww.titanrisk.comwww.boltbuilders.comwww.nickhuber.comLearn More nytfire.comText 📱 210-972-1842 Help support the show. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...

In this dynamic episode, Larry Pendleton, known as the Investor CPA, shares his insights on merging tax strategies with real estate investing. He covers the benefits of seller financing, overlooked tax strategies, entity structuring, and the shift from traditional real estate to mortgage notes. Larry also discusses his passion project: building affordable housing for teachers and police officers by partnering with cities and lenders, highlighting how creative deal structuring and scaling with the right people can fuel both profits and social impact.1. Introduction & Seller Financing Benefits0:00 – 5:20Larry shares his background as a CPA with over two decades of experience, focusing on real estate. He explains the tax benefits of seller financing for sellers, including capital gains deferral and spreading tax liability over time.2. Common Tax Misconceptions & Smart Structuring5:21 – 10:50Larry addresses common tax misconceptions, like the overuse of LLCs and S-Corps, and the importance of smart tax planning aligned with good investments. He explains how asking “how” questions can lead to better strategies rather than chasing specific outcomes.3. Overlooked Tax Strategies & Real Estate Notes10:51 – 18:15Larry discusses overlooked strategies such as paying kids through the business, solo 401(k)s, and using cost segregation. He also explains how he transitioned from flips and rentals to investing in mortgage notes and the advantages of notes in building passive income.4. Affordable Housing Projects & Scaling the Business18:16 – 32:30Larry shares his passion project: collaborating with cities to build affordable housing for key community workers, like teachers and police officers. He highlights the challenges and opportunities in balancing profits with community impact.5. Building a Scalable Team & Final Insights32:31 – End (38:14)Larry discusses his vision for the future, focusing on scaling the note business and building a team of specialists. He emphasizes that business success requires collaboration and references a favorite quote from Who Not How by Dan Sullivan: “If you can achieve your goals by yourself, your goals are too small.”Learn More nytfire.comText 📱 210-972-1842 Help support the show. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nytfire/support