Harley Green is a former software architect and computer engineer who traded a career designing complex systems for a different kind of freedom through real estate investing. After more than 15 years in technology, Harley and his wife, Adrienne, began investing in real estate in 2013, learning the business firsthand through renovations, investor networking, private lending, and self-directed IRAs. Those experiences ultimately led them to build InvestAway, a private lending company focused on short-term, first-lien real estate loans for experienced operators across the Southeast. 

Harley is passionate about helping investors put their capital to work through real estate-backed lending while building a life on their own terms. We discuss how InvestAway works, what investors should understand about private lending and self-directed IRAs, and the importance of protecting your capital when investing in real estate. Perhaps most inspiring, Harley, Adrienne, and their three children ope...

What does it take to make smart lending decisions and protect capital in the world of private lending and note investing? Doug Smith is the founder of Castle Rock Capital Funding and The Mad Lender, who brings 35 years of commercial and residential lending experience and a deep background in credit and underwriting. Doug shares insights from his career with some of the world's largest banks and explains what investors should understand before putting money into loan-based assets. 

Doug also discusses how The Mad Lender works behind the scenes with private lending funds, individual private lenders, and note investors, while providing credit analysis, underwriting, consulting, and portfolio management. If you're already investing in notes or private lending or simply want to better understand how experienced lenders evaluate risk, this conversation offers practical lessons you can use to make more informed investment decisions. 

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Understan...

What happens when you skip the traditional corporate path, lean into networking, and turn relationships into real estate opportunities? Haydynn Fike is co-founder of Acadia Capital and host of The Art of Connecting Podcast. After graduating from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Haydynn quickly realized the corporate world wasn't for him and began attending every networking event he could find. That decision led to a partnership with Dan, a 74-unit storage facility, and eventually the creation of Acadia Capital. Today, Haydynn has helped investors place more than $7 million into Acadia Capital while building a growing network of real estate investors throughout the Southeast. 

Haydynn shares how networking and genuine relationships can create opportunities that aren't found by simply scrolling through property listings. He also talks about flipping two houses in 2024, owning a 74-unit storage facility, building investor communities through the Southeast Best Real Estate...

Mathew Owens is a CPA, real estate investor, and founder of OCG Capital. He shares with us the strategies behind building a real estate empire that spans more than 1,500 units, over 1,000 home flips, and more than $500 million in loans to investors. Matt has also raised over $200 million in private capital, giving him a unique perspective on what separates successful investors from those who struggle to scale.

We dive into his disciplined approach to investing, including the 200-point due diligence checklist he uses to evaluate opportunities and minimize risk before committing capital. Matt shares lessons learned from decades of experience as both an active operator and passive investor, offering practical insights on finding quality deals, raising private money, building passive income, and creating long-term wealth through real estate. This episode is packed with actionable advice from someone who has successfully navigated nearly every corner of the real estate investing world...