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The Note Investor Podcast

The Note Investor Podcast

Written by: Dan Deppen
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The Note Investor Podcast will guide you through the ups and downs of note investing, and teach you about all of the nitty gritty details of the business that other people won't talk about . Your host, Dan Deppen is a former aerospace engineer and product manager who transitioned away from cubicle life to full time note investing in 2018. Our website is www.fusionnotes.com, where you can subscribe to this podcast, comment, and find links to other information on note investing. Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Non-QM Loan Deep Dive, with Steve Johnson
    Dec 23 2025

    Dan and Steve discussed the launch of "Call the Mortgage Guy," an extension of "Call the Underwriter" that focuses on non-QM loans. Steve explained that non-QM loans cater to borrowers who don't meet traditional mortgage criteria, such as self-employed individuals and those with non-traditional income, similar to seller finance borrowers. Dan noted the growing popularity of non-QM loans, which have increased from 1-2% to over 8% of the mortgage market in the last 2 years, as lenders target underserved markets. The expansion into mortgage brokering, enabled by mortgage licensing in states like Colorado, Texas, and Florida, aims to address this growing demand.

    For more info on underwriting seller finance loans or get started on a deal go to www.calltheunderwriter.com

    For for non-QM loans in TX, FL and CO go to www.callthemortgageguy.com

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    52 mins
  • Seller Finance, Done Right - With Caleb Christopher
    Dec 16 2025

    In this episode of the Seller Finance and Creative Deals Podcast, Dan Deppen sits down with Caleb Christopher (CreativeTC) to unpack what actually goes wrong in creative finance deals—and how to structure transactions to avoid the most common (and most expensive) mistakes.

    They dig into a critical contract issue many investors miss: once you sign an agreement as the seller, you may not have a clean way out unless you've written in a seller exit clause tied to borrower qualifications. Dan and Caleb explain how to define those qualification standards upfront, why it matters for Dodd-Frank and "bank-grade" underwriting, and how skipping the right steps can turn a quick exit into a foreclosure-length nightmare.

    You'll also hear a practical discussion on:

    • The real-world risk of due-on-sale in sub-to and wrap deals (and what you can do when it surfaces)

    • Why "bank-quality" seller finance notes can sell near par—and why that matters

    • The hidden problems with self-servicing and poor payment records

    • Smarter liquidity strategies than balloons, including selling note partials

    If you're doing seller finance, wraps, or subject-to—and you want fewer surprises and more scalable outcomes—this episode is your playbook.

    Connect with Caleb:

    Creative TC - https://creativetc.io/

    Caleb's Instagram - / fcalebchristopher

    For more info on underwriting seller finance loans or get started on a deal go to www.calltheunderwriter.com.

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    34 mins
  • Buying and Managing Mortgage Notes, with Jamie Bateman
    Dec 9 2025
    In this episode of the Seller Finance and Creative Deals podcast, Dan Deppen sits down with Jamie Bateman of Labrador Lending to talk all things mortgage note investing. Jamie shares how he transitioned from rentals and a background in title and mortgage into buying first-lien notes across the country, eventually building a note fund and team to serve investors. He breaks down how he thinks about geography, foreclosure timelines, and the biggest real risk in notes—what you don't know about the interior of the property. Jamie explains how Labrador now serves three types of investors—passive, hybrid, and active—through their income fund, done-for-you asset management service, and one-on-one mentorship plus community. They also dive into the niche of HUD HECM (reverse mortgage) deals as a pre-REO play, why deal flow has shifted since the 2010s, and how both Jamie and Dan are pivoting strategies, including Dan's approach of buying "broken" seller-finance notes and cleaning them up for institutional demand. This episode is a great fit if you're looking for ways to scale, simplify, or reposition your note investing in today's market. Want to create your own seller-financed notes? MAKE SURE YOUR NOTES ARE SELLABLE, VALUABLE, AND COMPLIANT: https://calltheunderwriter.com/ Are you Ready to work with Dan to learn how to invest in notes yourself? COMPREHENSIVE NOTE BUYING COURSE: https://www.notelaunchpad.com Connect with Labrador Lending Website: www.adversity2abundance.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/labradorlending/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labradorlendingllc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/labrador-lending/?viewAsMember=true Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChYrpCUlqFYLy4HngRrmU9Q 3 Core Services Integrity Income Fund: labradorlending.com/passive-investors Asset Management Service: labradorlending.com/hybrid-investors Labrador Mentorship: labradorlending.com/investors/active-investors Connect with Jamie LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-bateman-5359a811/ Twitter: twitter.com/batemanjames
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    33 mins
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