Be the Bank, Not the Landlord: Why Note Investing is the Future of Real Estate Investing

In this powerful episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady sits down with Eddie Speed, Founder and President of NoteSchool, to unpack how real estate investors and agents alike can shift from being the landlord to being the bank. With over 45 years in the industry and more than 50,000 seller-financed notes purchased, Eddie reveals why this cycle is primed for note investing and how seller financing strategies can transform both portfolios and listings.Eddie explains how investors can earn between 9–12% without the headaches of tenants, toilets, and property management, and why seller financing often produces two to three times the net income of traditional rentals. He also addresses the trade-offs between capital appreciation and immediate cash flow, the realities of today’s tight lending environment, and why so many “penalty box buyers” are creating massive opportunities for creative financing.Whether you’re a seasoned investor looking to reposition your capital, a landlord tired of maintenance calls, or a real estate agent searching for new ways to win listings, this conversation breaks down how notes provide both safe returns and a powerful edge in a shifting market. Eddie also shares how NoteSchool trains agents and investors to identify safe notes, leverage capital, and scale without the stress of conventional rentals.Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00:00] – Introduction to Eddie Speed & NoteSchool[00:01:21] – Why be the bank instead of the landlord?[00:03:08] – Rental income vs. note income explained[00:05:55] – Market timing: cycles, risks, and opportunity[00:06:43] – How seller financing helps agents win listings[00:07:30] – Investing $250K: rental vs. note income comparison[00:09:16] – Finding notes: buy vs. create strategies[00:10:24] – Safe notes vs. risky notes: the blueprint[00:11:55] – From knowledge to confidence: why investors hesitate[00:12:38] – Property management headaches vs. passive notes[00:14:19] – Default risk and why cushion factors matter[00:15:32] – The buyer pool left behind by conventional lending[00:18:18] – Market outlook: rigid underwriting, liquidity gaps[00:20:40] – Opportunity sessions & real case studies with NoteSchool🔗 Related Resources Below:🌐 For more information on Harcourts Auctions our non-distressed auction platform feel free to visit https://www.harcourtsauctions.com🔗 Connect with Eddie Speed & NoteSchool:https://eddiespeed.com/https://noteschool.com/https://www.facebook.com/thenoteschoolhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiespeed/https://www.facebook.com/thenoteauthorityhttps://www.instagram.com/thenoteauthority/🔗 Connect with Ben Brady and Harcourts Auctions: ⁣https://www.facebook.com/Benbradyharcourts⁣ ⁣https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517⁣ ⁣https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctions⁣ ⁣https://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions🎯 Subscribe for more industry insights, and don’t forget to like, follow, or comment with your thoughts on note investing vs. traditional rentals!