From Restaurant Failure to a $5M Lending Business | Funding 100+ Real Estate Deals in Chicago

What if you could build wealth through real estate without becoming a landlord, managing tenants, or flipping houses yourself?In this powerful episode of the People, Not Titles Podcast, host Steve Kaempf sits down with Ed Thelen, Founder of 79th Avenue Lending, to uncover the remarkable story behind one of Chicago's fastest-growing private real estate lending companies.Ed's journey is anything but ordinary.Starting as a full-time Occupational Therapist, he spent years living paycheck-to-paycheck before discovering a completely different path to financial freedom. After navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, including owning a restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ed pivoted into private real estate lending and has since helped fund more than 100 real estate investment projects.In this episode you'll discover:→ How Ed transitioned from traditional employment into entrepreneurship→ Lessons learned from operating a restaurant during COVID→ The truth about private money lending→ How investors earn passive income through real estate-backed loans→ Building wealth using Self-Directed IRAs→ What separates successful investors from unsuccessful ones→ How to evaluate real estate deals like a professional lender→ Common mistakes new investors make→ The power of networking, education, and community→ Why character matters more than numbers in real estate investingWhether you're a beginner investor, experienced real estate entrepreneur, lender, realtor, wholesaler, house flipper, or someone looking for alternative investment opportunities, this conversation is packed with valuable insights and actionable strategies.About People, Not TitlesPeople, Not Titles is hosted by Steve Kaempf and is dedicated to highlighting professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders who are making a meaningful impact in their industries.Our mission is simple:To uncover the principles of success that help ordinary people achieve extraordinary results.Full Episodes:www.peoplenottitles.comFollow People, Not Titles:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/peoplenottitlesFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/peoplenottitlesTwitter/X:https://twitter.com/sjkaempfSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1uu5kTv00:00 Introduction01:12 Meet Ed Thelen03:45 Early Entrepreneurial Journey06:58 Growing Up Financially Challenged10:12 Occupational Therapy & Business13:25 Launching A Restaurant Business17:48 COVID Challenges & Survival22:40 Pivoting Into Real Estate Lending26:15 First Private Lending Deal30:08 Discovering Real Estate Investing33:45 Building 79th Avenue Lending37:20 Funding Over 100 Real Estate Deals40:15 Private Money Lending Explained43:30 Passive Income & Self-Directed IRAs46:55 Real Estate Investing Lessons49:20 Common Investor Mistakes52:05 Future Growth Plans54:12 Final Advice & Closing Thoughts#RealEstateInvesting#ChicagoRealEstate#PassiveIncome#PrivateMoneyLending#FinancialFreedom