Community/Where are you getting your deals in 2025? Referral sources that actually work.
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Ron Castellanobroker
Feb 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Where are you getting your deals in 2025? Referral sources that actually work.
I've been in this business since 2004 and the deal sourcing landscape has changed dramatically. Used to be all phone and direct mail. Now I'm getting leads from 5 different channels and trying to figure out which ones are worth the investment.
Current sources:
- Real estate attorneys (my best source, 40% of volume)
- CPA referrals (15%)
- Past borrower referrals (25%)
- Online (NeuFinance and similar platforms) (10%)
- Cold outreach to investors (10%)
Curious what's working for others, especially for those of you who are newer to the business.
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7 Replies
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Jennifer CastillobrokerFeb 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Ron, attorneys are my #1 too. The key is being genuinely useful to them — I send a monthly market update with current rates and program changes. They appreciate having something to share with their investor clients. It's not transactional, it's relationship-based.
My breakdown is similar to yours but I'd add: real estate investor meetups. I go to 2-3 per month and they generate maybe 20% of my volume now.
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Zach FreemanbrokerFeb 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
investor meetups are slept on!! i started going 6 months ago and already closed 3 deals from connections there
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Craig SimmonsbrokerFeb 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Title companies. Underrated referral source. They see every deal in their market.
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Roxanne ByrdbrokerFeb 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I've been building a YouTube channel explaining private lending basics for investors. Takes time but the leads that come in are already educated and motivated. 3 deals in 8 months from that channel so far.
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Victor SalinasbrokerFeb 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Title companies and real estate attorneys are the two I'd tell any new broker to focus on first. Everything else is gravy.
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Olivia GrantbrokerFeb 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
How do you approach attorneys to start the relationship? Do you cold call them or is there a better way?
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Ron CastellanobrokerFeb 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM
@Olivia — I always try to get a warm intro through a mutual connection first. If that's not possible, I'll send a brief letter (not email) introducing myself and offering to take them to lunch. Old school but it works. The key is leading with value: "I can help your investor clients find financing solutions when banks say no."