The Stride Brief
Straight answers about private money
Written for the people doing these deals: how lenders vet a borrower, what gap funding is really for, and what to do when a closing date arrives before the capital does.
Asked in investor groups every week
What is gap funding in real estate, and when does it make sense?
Gap funding covers the part of a purchase your main lender will not. Here is what it pays for, what a lender asks for in return, and when it is the wrong tool.
September 22, 2026 · 3 min read
The question behind every "has anyone worked with this person?" post
How do you check out a borrower before you send the money?
A step-by-step checklist for private lenders: confirming identity, verifying the track record, reviewing the property, and the warning signs that show up early.
September 22, 2026 · 3 min read
"I need funding by Friday" — the most common post in any deal group
You are under contract and short on money. How do you find a private lender in time?
What to do between a funding shortfall and a closing date: what lenders need to see, where private money actually is, and the scams that follow an urgent request.
September 22, 2026 · 3 min read