Michelle & Vin THE ROOM

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Straight talk on creative finance, private money and getting deals closed.

How to pass on a deal without losing the person who sent it
September 10, 2026

Most deals that land on your phone are a no. How you say it decides whether that person ever sends you another one. Here's a four-part pass that keeps the door open, and what the option period on the standard Texas resale contract means if you're already under contract.

You might already be somebody's business partner

In Texas a partnership can form on a handshake, with no filing and no signature — and it comes with default terms nobody picked. Here's what the state decides for you, and the five things to settle before any money moves.

The call you do not want to make when a project is behind

Every instinct says wait a week and call once you have a fix. That week is what costs you the relationship. Here is what to say to the person whose money is in your project, and when to say it.

How to vet a contractor before you hand over a deposit

Every bit of leverage you have sits on the near side of that first payment. Here is what to check while you still hold it, and what Texas does and doesn't let you look up.

How to leave a real estate meetup with something real

A room full of the right people is worth very little if you work it the wrong way. Here is how to leave with something real.

What we'd do in our first ninety days in a market where we don't know anybody

Day one in a new market you have money, skill, and nobody to call. Here is how we would spend the first ninety days, and why buying in month one is the expensive mistake.

What we'd want to know before lending on somebody else's deal

A good return on a bad deal is still a bad deal. Here is the order we would look at things in, and the answers that would stop us.

Nine questions to ask a lender before you borrow

Most borrowers ask about the rate and stop there. These are the questions that decide whether a loan helps you or hurts you.