EPISODE · Apr 14, 2026 · 52 MIN
123% Leverage and the Crash That Changed Everything with Joel Kraut
from Real Estate Underground · host Ed Mathews
Joel Kraut co-founded BRRRR Loans after losing $4.2 million in the 2008 crash. He had 144 properties at over 100% leverage when the market turned. Five tenants called the same day to say they couldn't pay rent.Today he runs one of the country's fastest-growing private lending shops, and he sees the DSCR lending industry doubling in size over the next three years.In this episode, Joel and Ed break down:- Why investors are rotating from Texas and Florida to Ohio, Kentucky, and the Midwest- How DSCR loans actually work (and why 1.0 coverage isn't enough)- The real math on leverage: why the smartest investors stay at 60% LTV or below- Why "relationship capital" matters more than real estate knowledge- What happened when Joel wired money on March 5, 2020 and the market froze- His $99 training modules vs. the $35K guru trap- The best advice he ever got: "Post that in 5 years. Shut up. Go back to work."Joel currently reads: Buy Back Your Time by Dan MartellConnect with Joel: brrrr.comReal Estate Underground is hosted by Ed Mathews of Clark St Capital.Elevista - Speed as a Service™Elevista Connect is the first AI-powered lead conversion system built for real estate investors. 🎧 Subscribe to Real Estate Underground for weekly insights on building wealth through real estate, without sacrificing your sanity.Additional Resources:Clark St Capital -> Passive real estate investments for busy business owners and executivesElevista -> AI SaaS for real estate investorsClark St Academy on YouTube -> Learn how to invest in real estateSocial Media:LinkedIn -> Ed Mathews (President at Clark St and Elevista)Heads up: If you find this week's book intriguing and you buy using our link, we receive a small commission that helps support the show. Thank you!
What this episode covers
Joel Kraut co-founded BRRRR Loans after losing $4.2 million in the 2008 crash. He had 144 properties at over 100% leverage when the market turned. Five tenants called the same day to say they couldn't pay rent. Today he runs one of the country's fastest-growing private lending shops, and he sees the DSCR lending industry doubling in size over the next three years. In this episode, Joel and Ed break down: - Why investors are rotating from Texas and Florida to Ohio, Kentucky, and the Midwes...
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123% Leverage and the Crash That Changed Everything with Joel Kraut
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