Discover how private money lending is revolutionizing real estate investment! In this episode of Behind Closed Books, host Craig Sheets sits down with Dustin Lauer, Chief Production Officer at Landmark Capital, to discuss private lending, hard money alternatives, and investment property financing strategies.

What You'll Learn:

✅ Private money lending vs. traditional bank financing

✅ Current interest rates and loan terms (starting at 5.5%!)

✅ How to qualify without income verification

✅ The importance of LLCs for rental property protection

✅ Investment strategies in today's mature market

✅ Fix-and-flip financing options

✅ Rental property cash flow requirements (DCR explained)

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Dustin Lauer

01:26 - Why Choose Private Money Over Banks?

06:08 - DTI vs. DCR: Understanding the Difference

09:43 - Hard Money vs. Private Lending Terms

14:24 - Competitive Interest Rates (5.5% Floor Rate!)

17:20 - Qualification Requirements for Private Loans

24:25 - Partnering Strategies for New Investors

27:39 - Mature Market Investment Opportunities

34:00 - Airbnb Risks and Short-Term Rentals

38:45 - Cost Segregation and Tax Benefits

45:17 - Dustin's Background and Career Journey

55:25 - How to Contact Landmark Capital

About Our Guest:

Dustin Lauer brings 16+ years of experience in private lending and real estate finance. As Chief Production Officer at Landmark Capital, he specializes in helping investors, builders, and real estate entrepreneurs secure financing for investment properties, renovations, and ground-up construction projects.

Key Takeaways:

💰 Private lending rates are now competitive with conventional loans

🏗️ Construction draws are processed in 1-2 days vs. 3-4 weeks with banks

📊 Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DCR) is key for rental financing

🤝 Partnership opportunities exist for combining experience and capital

🏘️ Focus on properties below median home values for better absorption

Connect with Dustin Lauer:

Website: lendmarq.com

LinkedIn: Dustin Lauer

Related Topics: #PrivateLending #RealEstateInvesting #HardMoneyLoans #InvestmentProperty #RealEstateFinance #FixAndFlip #RentalProperty #LandmarkCapital #RealEstateInvestor #PropertyFinancing #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateTips

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About Behind Closed Books:

Behind Closed Books reveals the financial decisions that shape business success. Host Craig Sheets brings you unscripted conversations with business owners and experts about turning points, hard calls, and the numbers that drive growth.

#BehindClosedBooks #RealEstate #Investing #BusinessPodcast #Finance

When you’ve known someone for 15+ years, you get to skip the small talk and get straight into what actually matters.

Today, Mike Koslik joins me for a real conversation about what it actually takes to build something on the internet. He is the creator of Comic Book Corner 2.0, a long-time head tennis pro, and someone who has built an online community brick by brick.

It’s not a highlight reel—it’s the part most people never talk about: the work, the trade-offs, and the choices that compound over time.

Key Discussion Points

00:00 – Mike Koslik joins the show

02:10 – How two friends of 15+ years ended up in totally connected worlds

05:42 – Building a YouTube channel in a niche you think no one cares about

09:30 – Community, live streams, and why people show up

13:55 – The real economics of YouTube: ads, memberships, super chats

21:20 – Short-form vs. long-form: how creators actually get paid

25:08 – Behind the curtain: filming, editing, schedule, burnout

31:44 – The tax + financial side creators ignore

39:12 – Comics as assets, speculation, and the crash after COVID

45:50 – Consistency, imposter syndrome, and starting before you're “ready”

51:30 – How tennis and teaching shaped Mike Koslik’s communication style

57:10 – Growing up, identity, and the experiences that shape who you become

01:05:20 – What Mike would tell anyone who wants to start creating

01:10:48 – Closing thoughts

Before you head out, help this conversation reach the people who need it:

👍 Hit Like if this gave you something real to think about

🔔 Subscribe so you don’t miss the stories that happen behind the numbers

💬 Comment with your biggest “aha” moment, I’d love to hear it

🔗 Share this with someone who's on the edge of starting their own thing

#BehindClosedBooks #MikeKoslik #ComicBookCorner #YouTubeGrowth #ContentCreatorLife #OnlineBusiness #CreativeEntrepreneur #CommunityBuilding #SmallBusinessOwners #AuthenticConversations #Podcast #CreatorEconomy

Payroll is more than just cutting checks. Are there more details you should know?

In this episode of Behind Closed Books, host Craig Sheets sits down with Jenn Rush from Heartland Payroll Solutions, one of the nation’s top payroll experts. Together, we uncover the real stories and critical insights behind modern payroll—from compliance to credits you probably didn’t know existed.

Here’s what we cover:

The truth about “No Tax on Tips” and overtime pay

How to stay compliant with new immigration & hiring laws

Why even small teams need written job descriptions & handbooks

How to claim the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and save up to $9,600 per hire

Why growing beyond 50 employees is not a risk — it’s an opportunity

Real-world payroll mistakes that could cost your business big

This episode gives you practical ways to protect your business, maximize savings, and stay one step ahead of compliance.

About Our Guest

Jennifer Rush

Employee Management Solutions Specialist, Heartland Payroll Solutions

📩 jennifer.rush@e-hps.com

🌐 heartland.us

About Behind Closed Books: A podcast where business owners and experts reveal the financial decisions that shape success. Real stories. Real lessons. Real business.

📌 Subscribe for more insights that help you run smarter, stay compliant, and build a business that lasts.

#PayrollTips #SmallBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #HRInsights #TaxCredits #LegalCompliance #PayrollSolutions #WorkOpportunityTaxCredit #BehindClosedBooks