The Realities and Risks of Real Estate Investing Beyond Traditional Lending With Joel Kraut
Tue Jan 20 2026
Joel Kraut is the Co-founder and Managing Director of BRRRR Loans, a direct private lender and nationwide commercial and residential mortgage broker specializing in fix-and-flip properties, BRRRR (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) strategies, small balance commercial investments, and specialty use real estate transactions. Under Joel's leadership, BRRRR Loans has closed thousands of deals that traditional lenders wouldn't touch, and he has personally overseen the financing of niche assets, including gas stations, hotels, car washes, and self-storage properties, building a reputation for creative problem-solving and speed.
In this episode… On paper, real estate deals can seem clean and predictable. Long-term success, however, depends on far more than acquisition price and projected returns. In practice, how do investors navigate risk exposure, leverage decisions, and overcome financing hurdles that ultimately determine success?
According to Joel Kraut, a seasoned real estate financier with decades of hands-on investing experience, the real danger isn't risk itself but misunderstanding it. He explains that leverage can be powerful when used intentionally, yet devastating when investors skip due diligence or rely on optimistic assumptions, pointing to real examples where deals unraveled because of zoning issues, deferred maintenance, or unrealistic exit plans. The bigger lesson is that success in real estate comes from patience, preparation, and recognizing how fragile even a seemingly great deal can become when market conditions shift.
In this episode of The Same Day Podcast, Mat Zalk is joined by Joel Kraut, Co-founder and Managing Director of BRRRR Loans, to discuss the realities of investing beyond traditional lending. They break down how lenders and investors view risk differently, why many deals fail after closing, and what separates sustainable BRRRR strategies from short-term hype. Joel also shares advice on avoiding common due diligence mistakes and preparing deals that can withstand market cycles.
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Joel Kraut is the Co-founder and Managing Director of BRRRR Loans, a direct private lender and nationwide commercial and residential mortgage broker specializing in fix-and-flip properties, BRRRR (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) strategies, small balance commercial investments, and specialty use real estate transactions. Under Joel's leadership, BRRRR Loans has closed thousands of deals that traditional lenders wouldn't touch, and he has personally overseen the financing of niche assets, including gas stations, hotels, car washes, and self-storage properties, building a reputation for creative problem-solving and speed. In this episode… On paper, real estate deals can seem clean and predictable. Long-term success, however, depends on far more than acquisition price and projected returns. In practice, how do investors navigate risk exposure, leverage decisions, and overcome financing hurdles that ultimately determine success? According to Joel Kraut, a seasoned real estate financier with decades of hands-on investing experience, the real danger isn't risk itself but misunderstanding it. He explains that leverage can be powerful when used intentionally, yet devastating when investors skip due diligence or rely on optimistic assumptions, pointing to real examples where deals unraveled because of zoning issues, deferred maintenance, or unrealistic exit plans. The bigger lesson is that success in real estate comes from patience, preparation, and recognizing how fragile even a seemingly great deal can become when market conditions shift. In this episode of The Same Day Podcast, Mat Zalk is joined by Joel Kraut, Co-founder and Managing Director of BRRRR Loans, to discuss the realities of investing beyond traditional lending. They break down how lenders and investors view risk differently, why many deals fail after closing, and what separates sustainable BRRRR strategies from short-term hype. Joel also shares advice on avoiding common due diligence mistakes and preparing deals that can withstand market cycles.