The Paper Trail

This episode of the Paper Trail is a treasure trove for anyone looking to navigate the wild world of private lending and mortgage notes. He kicks things off with a bang, sharing his own journey as a CEO of a mortgage note fund, and trust me, it's packed with all the juicy details about what went right, what went sideways, and the lessons learned along the way. Chris dives into the nitty-gritty of the industry, from non-performing l...

Today, he’s hanging out with the Strategy Ninjas, a crew on a mission to turn bold ideas into real-life action—like turning a light bulb moment into a full-blown disco party! They’re all about giving entrepreneurs the lowdown on how to kick-start their businesses using AI and automation, making it a game-changer in the real estate scene. The trio dives into their AI real estate accelerator course, sharing some of their top-secret f...

In this episode of the Paper Trail Podcast, part of our Know Your Speaker Series leading up to the Paper Trail Note Conference (PTNC), Chris sits down with Kris Fleming — business strategist, financial expert, real estate investor, and founder of The Genius Network.

Kris shares her incredible journey from growing up in poverty to becoming a successful entrepreneur, investor, and coach for women building scalable businesses. With dee...

Sponsor Highlight + Know Your Speaker Series: Default Attorney Group

In this episode, we sit down with Jane and Josh from the Default Attorney Group (DAG) — a coalition of seasoned creditor rights law firms spanning 20+ states — to unpack what really goes on behind the scenes of a foreclosure, bankruptcy, or title claim.

Whether you’re a seasoned investor or new to distressed notes, this conversation offers a masterclass in legal lan...

In this episode, Chris sits down with long-time real estate investor and creative finance educator William Tingle. With 25+ years of experience in the trenches, William shares how he built a real estate portfolio using Subject-To and seller finance strategies, without money, formal education, or a silver spoon.

Together, they cover:

• How William quit his job after buying 24 houses in 12 months
• Why Subject, To investing isn’t about ...

In this Know Your Speakers edition of the Paper Trail Podcast, Chris sits down with Matt Kelley, a certified foreclosure expert and long-time investor who’s underwritten tens of thousands of loans across California, Arizona, Nevada, and beyond. Known for his no-BS style, Matt shares insights from both sides of the note space—firsts, seconds, courthouse steps, and post-sale acquisitions.

They cover:

• Why underwriting is the true mo...

In this episode of our series called Know Your Speakers, Chris Seveney is joined by Kevin Kim, partner at Geraci LLP and one of the leading legal minds in the private lending industry. Kevin leads the firm's corporate and securities practice, helping lenders structure funds, stay compliant, and scale responsibly. With deep experience across Regulation D, Regulation A+, licensing, and M&A, Kevin’s firm has advised hundreds of fu...

In this Know Your Speakers episode, Chris talks with Melissa Palmer—former federal agent turned due diligence expert and founder of Capital Verified. Melissa shares how a personal experience with investment fraud pushed her to create a service helping private lenders and note investors avoid the same fate.

Melissa discusses how she repurposed her background in criminal investigations to vet borrowers and deals, what most people miss...

In this Know Your Speakers episode, Chris Seveney sits down with DJ Olojo—note investor, podcast host, and founder of the Foreclosure Fix. DJ shares how he went from buying rentals in Atlanta after the 2008 crash to building a scalable portfolio focused on second position mortgage notes. He opens up about why he targets a 20% return, how he invests alongside his wife despite having different risk tolerances, and what it really take...

In this episode, Chris sits down with Marco Bario — former film and TV executive turned seller finance expert and founder of Porch Swing Funding. Marco shares his journey from the chaos of Hollywood production sets to the structure and strategy of note investing. They discuss the importance of patience, transparency, and relationship-building in deal-making, as well as why staying in your lane can be the most powerful growth move.

M...

In this episode of the Paper Trail Podcast, Chris Seveney sits down with Jay Redding, co-founder of Cassidy Investment Group and a seasoned real estate investor with over two decades of experience. Known for his collaborative investing approach with his son-in-law, Jay has focused heavily on seller-financed notes and brings a deep, practical perspective on building long-term wealth through relationships, due diligence, and conserva...

In this episode of the Paper Trail Podcast, Chris is joined by Fred and Tracy Rui of NoteInvestor.com, two of the most respected voices in the seller finance world. Together, they share how they accidentally found their way into the note business over 30 years ago—and how seller financing has proven to be one of the most durable wealth-building strategies across every economic cycle.

Fred and Tracy dive into how seller financing wor...

In this episode of the Paper Trail Podcast, Chris sits down with Beth Johnson, co-founder of Flynn Family Lending and author of Lend to Live, to dive deep into what it really takes to build a sustainable, ethical private lending business.

Beth shares her accidental journey from being a real estate side hustler to running a boutique lending firm alongside her husband. She talks candidly about the challenges of managing investor capit...

In this episode, we sit down with seasoned real estate investor Kevin Bupp, host of two top-rated podcasts and founder of Sunrise Capital Investors, to explore how “boring” assets like mobile home parks and parking garages can deliver outsized, long-term returns.

With over $250 million in real estate transactions under his belt, Kevin shares the fundamentals behind his investment thesis, how he vets assets in today’s tighter market,...

In this episode of Paper Trail, part of our Know Your Speaker series, Chris Seveney sits down with Michael Fordham—founder and president of Silverstream Funding and former Wall Street attorney turned boutique private lender.

Michael shares his journey from managing billion-dollar bond deals at JP Morgan to gut-renovating a Harlem brownstone and launching his own lending firm. They talk about the real risk (and reward) in private len...

They’re diving deep into the world of DSCR lending on this episode of the Paper Trail podcast, unpacking the latest trends that are shaping the private lending game. DSCR loans, which are like the cool cousin of traditional loans, let investors qualify based on rental income instead of personal income—talk about a game-changer! With an eye on the April 2025 DSCR lending trends report from Lightning Docs, they break down how these l...

Today’s chatter on the Paper Trail podcast is all about the latest Quarter 12025 Bank Call Report data and what it’s spilling about the mortgage note scene. They dive into why banks are feeling a bit skittish about the economy, hinting that lending is slowing down and defaults are creeping up like a surprise guest at a party! It turns out, over 70% of bank asset growth is from trading assets, not loans, which is like throwing a piz...

Seriously underwater mortgages are rising, and that’s the big takeaway from this episode of the Paper Trail podcast! The crew dives into the fresh data from Adam's Q1 2025 Home Equity report, revealing that now 4% of U.S. mortgages are in deep water, meaning folks owe way more than their homes are worth. They chat about how this trend could lead to more foreclosures and what savvy investors can do to prep for the upcoming wave of o...

Chris dives into the nitty-gritty of how note investing has transformed over the last decade, highlighting that while the landscape has shifted from a treasure trove of low-balance, distressed loans to a more competitive and cash-heavy game, the opportunities are still very much alive. He breaks down the five foundational steps for newbies looking to jump into the note investing scene, even if they don’t have deep pockets. From sma...