No More Tenant Troubles with Seller Financed Note Expert Derek Blades
Tue Feb 03 2026
In this episode, we sit down with Derek Blades—an operator who's redefined what it means to own real estate. After losing $15K/month on rentals, Derek flipped the script with a seller-financed note model that not only protects capital but turns renters into homeowners. If you're tired of clogged sewer lines, broken furnaces, and negative cash flow, this episode is your next playbook.
We unpack how Derek built a system that closes in 3 days, pays 8–10% fixed to investors, and avoids the headaches of traditional rentals. From creating equitable deals to maintaining investor confidence, he walks us through his lean, scalable, SEAL Team 6-style operation. Plus—how he’s now building new construction to fuel even more opportunity.
TAKEAWAYS
Why seller financing can be better than rentingHow Derek structures 45K margin deals with zero repairsWhat contract-for-deed offers that lease-options don’tThe truth about foreclosure risk and how he mitigates itUsing private capital to secure first lien positions for investorsScaling a note business with no property managersNew construction + seller financing = vertical dominance
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Blades Capital Investments
FOLLOWS
Oak IQ Investments
Own The Exit
Aaron Investing
Caleb Investing
CHAPTERS
00:00 Losing $15K/month: The breaking point
03:52 Shifting to seller finance and notes
06:48 How the contract-for-deed model works
08:39 The investor pitch: 8-10% fixed, 1st lien
11:10 What happens if the buyer defaults?
13:24 Selling 50 deals a year vs. 100-unit apartments
15:31 Why he doesn’t use property managers
17:05 Building a business that closes in 3 days
18:50 How the website fuels sales velocity
20:32 New construction + seller finance = vertical integration
23:44 Raising capital SEAL Team-style
25:12 Caleb and Aaron rapid fire questions
KEYWORDS
seller financing, contract for deed, real estate notes, passive income, note investing, private lending, Wichita real estate, real estate cash flow, fixed income real estate, alternative investments, investor yield, housing affordability, exit strategy, rent to own alternatives, private real estate lending, downside protection, real estate underwriting, financial freedom real estate, note investing strategy, capital raising, real estate business model, investing without tenants, new construction investing
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Join us on LinkedIn, dive into our enriching content on YouTube, and explore our website to unravel how to secure your future through intelligent passive investments!
If you enjoyed the show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW and SHARE this episode with someone who wants to build a stable future. Listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any preferred podcast platform!
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In this episode, we sit down with Derek Blades—an operator who's redefined what it means to own real estate. After losing $15K/month on rentals, Derek flipped the script with a seller-financed note model that not only protects capital but turns renters into homeowners. If you're tired of clogged sewer lines, broken furnaces, and negative cash flow, this episode is your next playbook. We unpack how Derek built a system that closes in 3 days, pays 8–10% fixed to investors, and avoids the headaches of traditional rentals. From creating equitable deals to maintaining investor confidence, he walks us through his lean, scalable, SEAL Team 6-style operation. Plus—how he’s now building new construction to fuel even more opportunity. TAKEAWAYS Why seller financing can be better than rentingHow Derek structures 45K margin deals with zero repairsWhat contract-for-deed offers that lease-options don’tThe truth about foreclosure risk and how he mitigates itUsing private capital to secure first lien positions for investorsScaling a note business with no property managersNew construction + seller financing = vertical dominance RESOURCES MENTIONED Blades Capital Investments FOLLOWS Oak IQ Investments Own The Exit Aaron Investing Caleb Investing CHAPTERS 00:00 Losing $15K/month: The breaking point 03:52 Shifting to seller finance and notes 06:48 How the contract-for-deed model works 08:39 The investor pitch: 8-10% fixed, 1st lien 11:10 What happens if the buyer defaults? 13:24 Selling 50 deals a year vs. 100-unit apartments 15:31 Why he doesn’t use property managers 17:05 Building a business that closes in 3 days 18:50 How the website fuels sales velocity 20:32 New construction + seller finance = vertical integration 23:44 Raising capital SEAL Team-style 25:12 Caleb and Aaron rapid fire questions KEYWORDS seller financing, contract for deed, real estate notes, passive income, note investing, private lending, Wichita real estate, real estate cash flow, fixed income real estate, alternative investments, investor yield, housing affordability, exit strategy, rent to own alternatives, private real estate lending, downside protection, real estate underwriting, financial freedom real estate, note investing strategy, capital raising, real estate business model, investing without tenants, new construction investing WANT TO LEARN MORE? Join us on LinkedIn, dive into our enriching content on YouTube, and explore our website to unravel how to secure your future through intelligent passive investments! If you enjoyed the show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW and SHARE this episode with someone who wants to build a stable future. Listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any preferred podcast platform!