The EASIEST Way to Make Cash Flow (That Most Investors Aren't Doing)

TL;DR

Private lending offers 12–15% annualized cash-on-cash returns backed by real estate collateral, with minimal time investment most investors overlook.

Key Points

• 1.Devon Canard is a 9-year NFL veteran turned real estate investor. He built a portfolio of 50 rental properties starting in 2014, invested passively in 50 syndications, then pivoted to private lending as cash flow from rentals and syndications declined.
• 2.Early rental investing in 2014 crushed the 1% rule. Devon bought turnkey properties in Midwest markets (Indiana, Kansas City, Cleveland) for under $100,000 while collecting $1,200+ in monthly rent — returns that are nearly impossible to replicate today.
• 3.Syndications offered 8% preferred returns but came with a critical flaw. Investors lose all control once capital is deployed — distributions can be suspended at any time and, unlike stocks, you cannot exit early, making them unsuitable as a primary cash flow vehicle.
• 4.Private lending works by making short-term loans backed by physical property as collateral. Devon lends at 70–80% of ARV (after-repair value), so if a borrower defaults, he can take over the property with 20–30% built-in equity cushion protecting his capital.
• 5.Devon charges 12% interest plus origination fees, targeting 15–16% annualized returns. On a $500,000 loan at 1% origination plus $1,500 in fees, he earns $6,500 at closing plus $5,000/month in interest — and recycling the same capital twice a year doubles the fee income.
• 6.Operations are largely automated using software and AI tools. Loan applications, property valuations, draw requests with photos and invoices, and payment notifications are all handled through a ~$1,000/month platform; full loan packages cost $500 upfront plus $500 per file via LightningDoc.ai.
• 7.Devon manages $12 million in assets under management in under 25 intentional hours per week. Any single loan requires roughly 3 hours of actual work, making this a genuine lifestyle business once deal flow and borrower relationships are established.
• 8.Investors can enter private lending in multiple ways starting with as little as $5,000–$25,000. Options include direct lending (highest return, ~14–15%), buying partial loan assignments from operators like Devon (~11%), investing in private debt funds (8–10%, most passive), or using a self-directed IRA/401k to shelter returns from ordinary income tax.