Editorial Note:
After 40 years pioneering private lending and hard money, our Co-founder Bernie Richter’s clients have taught him something every investor should know: the “best deal” isn’t about how big the project is — it’s about whether it matches your goals and your style. Here’s how to think about your own definition of success as an investor.
Bernie says his first rehab clients were two partners who worked closely together. They started small, doing the work themselves, and built a string of successful deals. Eventually, they split — one wanted to stay hands-on, the other wanted to hire crews and scale up.
Who had the best deal? The truth is, they both did.
The best deal is the one that fits your strengths, your resources, and your vision for the future. For some, it’s one house at a time, with sweat equity and personal pride in every nail. For others, it’s building systems, scaling teams, and multiplying projects.
At North Oak, we’ve helped investors succeed both ways. The only deal that doesn’t work is the one that doesn’t align with you.
Educational Takeaway: How to Define Your “Best Deal”
When evaluating a potential project, ask yourself:
- Does this deal match my capacity?
- If you’re a first-time investor, one property may be the right pace.
- If you’ve got a crew or systems in place, you might take on more.
- Does this deal support my long-term goal?
- Is your goal to earn supplemental income, or to scale into a business?
- Your strategy should align with the lifestyle you want to create.
- Does this deal balance risk and reward?
- Bigger isn’t always better — sometimes the smaller, steadier projects deliver the freedom and enjoyment you’re really after.
At the end of the day, the “best deal” is about more than just the numbers. It’s about creating the kind of freedom and fulfillment you want in your life.
Our repair budget helps you figure out if your deal will do that for you. You input what you estimate your expenses to be, we compare it to our database, and our program provides you with a profit-and-loss statement that helps you evaluate your success.
Ready to find your “best deal ever”? Let’s talk about how to match your investment goals with the right funding strategy — so you can fund smarter, flip stronger, and live free. Or, try our Repair Budget to evaluate your next deal.
