Learn private lending before your money becomes somebody else's problem
The problem
Private lending can look simple from the outside. Somebody needs money. You have money. Then you find out the note, collateral, borrower, title work, payment history, and paperwork all mattered more than you thought.
What you'll walk away able to do
- Read the key parts of a promissory note, including parties, principal, interest, payment terms, maturity, collateral, points, fees, and penalties
- Distinguish Deeds of Trust, mortgages, Assignment of Rents and Leases, personal guarantees, and other security documents
- Use the 60-Second Analysis and deeper due diligence to evaluate a lending opportunity before capital goes out
- Understand the mechanics behind buying, holding, selling, or hypothecating a note
- Build a better checklist for borrower, collateral, documents, servicing, title, and exit questions
Inside the class
- Thirteen recorded lessons across promissory notes, buying notes, holding notes, selling notes, hypothecation, and private lending
- Goodwin Yee's 229-page Be The Bank manual with six sections, 14 exercises, and a sample-document appendix
- Sample notes, deed of trust, Assignment of Rents and Leases, personal guarantee, allonge, estoppel, trust and LLC documents, and release forms
- Exercises on good notes versus bad notes, UPB, borrower questions, collateral, and a rehabber lending scenario
- The 60-Second Analysis, due-diligence process, and papering-the-deal sequence
Why this instructor
Goodwin Yee created and teaches Be The Bank: An Introduction to Promissory Notes and Private Lending. The course is built around a 229-page manual, exercises, and the actual documents and questions behind note and private-lending work.
Meet your instructor
Goodwin Yee
Goodwin Yee built his real estate business around private lending, buying, selling, and structuring promissory notes and creative-finance deals. He created and teaches FIRE Center's "Be The Bank" course, a two-day, 16-hour class on promissory notes and private lending, and co-leads the club's Creative Finance Exchangor sessions alongside fellow instructor Andy Teasley.
Who this is for
This is for investors considering private lending or notes who want to understand the work before putting capital at risk. You need to complete a basic financial-calculator class first. Without that foundation, the calculator functions in this course will be difficult to follow.
Buy this class, or get every class
This class only
One-time payment. Lifetime access to Learn How to Lend. 7-day no-questions refund.
FIRE Starter annual
Every class in the catalog plus full FIRE Starter membership benefits, first year only. Renews at $999/year after that.
Track record
This is not a light overview. The course includes 14 exercises and a large document appendix, then walks through collateral, borrower, payment-history, servicing, entity, title, and exit questions in detail.
We recommend the room. Zoom works too.
We recommend being in the room for the best experience. Most of it is available on Zoom. Every FIRE Center Wednesday broadcasts live on Zoom as well as in-person, so the room in Riverside isn't the only way in. Here is exactly what you get either way, no hedging.
Available from anywhere
- Most of the weekly FIRE Center experience is available live on Zoom from anywhere
- With FIRE Starter, join the Wednesday Deal Room live on Zoom
- With FIRE Starter, join Wednesday FOCUS sessions live on Zoom
- FIRE Starter access through the FIRE member app
- The Be The Bank manual, 14 exercises, sample-document appendix, and recorded lending lessons
Why the room is worth it
- Power Hour dinner at the FIRE Center
- Face-to-face networking with people in the room
- Being in the room for the live conversations and energy
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have access?
Lifetime access. Once you buy the class, it's yours to watch and re-watch for as long as FIRE Center offers it.
What if it's not for me?
7-day no-questions refund. If the class isn't a fit, ask within 7 days of purchase and we'll refund it in full.
Can I upgrade to the annual plan later?
Yes. Upgrade within 7 days and we credit the full price you paid.
What does the FIRE Starter annual plan renew at?
$847 is a special first-year offer against our regular $999 list price. After the first year, it renews at $999/year.
What happens to new classes released while I'm on the annual plan?
They're included. FIRE Starter annual members get every class we release while their membership is active, at no extra cost.
Is there a prerequisite?
Yes. Take a basic financial-calculator class first. This course uses calculator functions and assumes you can work with them.
Does this class provide legal, tax, or investment advice?
No. It is educational training. Use your own qualified legal, tax, and financial professionals for a specific transaction.
Does this class connect me with borrowers?
No. It teaches lending and note-analysis fundamentals. It does not match lenders with borrowers.
Already a member?
Already a member? Log in to the FIRE member app instead of buying this class again.