Documents before money
You review the loan papers and the notes behind your loan with your own attorney before you commit a dollar.
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For lenders
How private lending with LJH works.
What secures a lender, who handles the payments, and what can go wrong. Read it here, then ask me anything on a call.
My track record
300+Mortgage notes bought
$3.5M+Lender capital placed
0Missed lender payments
20Years in real estate
Past results don't guarantee future results.
What protects a lender
Same standards for my own money
My own self-directed IRA buys notes using the same buy box I use for lender deals. It's kept completely separate from lender money.
Secured by recorded collateral
Your loan is tied to specific first mortgage notes through a collateral assignment recorded with the county. My attorney drafts the documents. You review them with yours.
Licensed third-party servicing
Borrower payments are collected by licensed third-party servicers, not by me. Clean records, no matter what.
Protected if something happens to me
I carry a life insurance policy set up to pay my lenders back. Your money doesn't depend on me being here.
IRA money welcome
Lend from a self-directed IRA. I work with your custodian on the paperwork.
Your investor portal
Log in anytime. See exactly where your money stands.
Every lender gets a private, secure login to my investor portal. No waiting on emails or digging through spreadsheets.
- Distributions. Every quarterly payment, with dates and references.
- Documents. Your signed agreements, tax forms, and updates in one place.
- Notes. The loans behind your money.
- Messages. Ask me a question right from the portal.
- Two-factor sign-in. A second lock on your account.
Lender
Sample Lender
| Date | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 15 | Quarterly interest | Paid |
| Apr 15 | Quarterly interest | Paid |
| Jan 15 | Quarterly interest | Paid |
| Oct 15 | Quarterly interest | Paid |
Proof, not promises
What I'll show you before you lend.
Don't take my word for it. Before you send a dollar, ask me for any of these.
A sample lender agreement
Read the exact documents you would sign, with your own attorney, before we go any further.
A complete closed deal
One real deal from start to finish: the note, the recorded mortgage, the collateral assignment, title, and payment history. See one that paid off
Proof of the life insurance
The policy, the amount, and who it pays. Not just my word that it exists.
My servicers
The names of the licensed servicers who collect borrower payments, so you can check them yourself.
Lender references
Talk to people who lend with me now. Ask them anything.
The deals that went bad
Ask me about them. I'll show you what happened, what it cost, and how I handled it.
Who lends with me
Built for busy people with capital.
Pick the one that sounds like you.
You earn well. You don't have time.
Your practice takes everything you've got. Lending on notes puts your money behind real estate. I find, grade, and oversee the deals. You get a quarterly update.
Talk with LarryCash sitting idle is losing ground.
Your extra cash doesn't have to sit in a bank or ride the stock market. Lending on first mortgage notes puts it behind real estate, with set terms you know going in.
Talk with LarryYour IRA can do more than stocks.
A self-directed IRA can lend on mortgage notes. Payments flow back into your IRA, tax-deferred in a traditional IRA or tax-free in a Roth if you meet the rules. I work with your custodian on the paperwork.
Talk with LarryYou know values. Earn from the lending side.
You already know what a house is worth and how deals fall apart. Lending on notes uses that knowledge without another listing, showing, or closing on your plate.
Talk with LarryKeep real estate. Lose the tenants.
You know the 2 a.m. calls and the turnovers. As a lender, the borrower takes care of the house. You stay in real estate without the repairs.
Talk with LarryYou read documents for a living. Read mine.
You'll appreciate a deal that holds up on paper. Every lender gets attorney-drafted documents to review, and licensed third-party servicers keep the records clean.
Talk with LarryDiversify away from your equity.
If most of your wealth rides on stock and the market, real estate debt is a different engine. Set terms, real collateral, and someone else doing the work.
Talk with LarrySteady checks without Wall Street swings.
You want income you can plan around. Notes are backed by real estate and pay on a schedule. I wrote Mailbox Money Retirement for exactly this.
Talk with LarryHow it works
Four steps, no pressure.
Start with a call
Book 15 minutes, or send me a short note below.
We talk
A real conversation about your goals, my process, and how I'd use your money. Ask me anything.
You review
You get the documents to read with your own attorney or CPA. Take the time you need.
I do the work
Once you fund, I find, buy, and oversee the notes. You track it all in your portal.
Start with a conversation
Let's talk before anything else.
Specific terms come after we know each other. Pick whichever is easier for you.
Book a 15-minute call
Pick a time that works. You ask, I answer. No pressure, no obligation.
Pick a timePrefer the phone? 513-301-1468
From my lenders
In their words.
Honestly, it's been one of the easiest investments I've made. I don't have to manage tenants, deal with repairs, or worry about the day-to-day headaches that come with owning property. I especially love getting my quarterly payments. It's simple, predictable, and I've been extremely happy with the experience.
I love it. I'm extremely happy with how everything has worked out. It's been a great experience, and I'd absolutely do it again.
Individual experiences. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Straight answers
Questions lenders ask me.
Am I buying a note or lending to LJH?
You're lending to LJH. You get a promissory note from LJH Investments, LLC that sets your amount, rate, and term. Your loan is secured by specific first mortgage notes I buy.
What secures my loan?
Specific first mortgage notes, through a collateral assignment recorded with the county. The borrower's mortgage still names LJH as the lender. The recorded assignment ties your loan to those notes and puts your interest on public record. You get a copy, and we'll go through your documents line by line.
What happens if LJH can't pay me?
Your promissory note is a debt LJH owes you. The recorded collateral assignment ties that debt to specific notes, so you have a claim on those notes and their payments, not just a promise. How a collateral assignment works. Your documents spell out how you would step in and collect. Have your attorney review that part closely.
What documents can I review before I lend?
All of them. Before you send any money, you get a lender packet to review with your own attorney. It includes our Ohio good standing certificate, the loan documents, a list of the exact notes that would secure your loan, our lender payment history, a record of every lender loan that has matured, one complete closed deal file, servicer details, and proof of our life insurance. Ask for it after our first call.
What are the terms?
Every loan has its own signed agreement that sets the amount, the length, and the payment schedule. We go over all of it on a call, after we know each other. You can lend from cash or a self-directed IRA.
What happens if something happens to you?
I carry a life insurance policy set up to pay my lenders back. And because licensed third-party servicers collect the borrower payments, the records and the payments don't depend on me.
Do you invest your own money in notes?
Yes. My own self-directed IRA buys notes too, using the same buy box and the same standards. It's kept completely separate from lender money.
Who collects the payments?
Licensed third-party servicers. I use several, depending on the loan. They collect from the borrower, keep the records, and handle escrow for taxes and insurance.
How will I know how things are going?
Log in to your investor portal anytime to see your payments, documents, and the notes behind your loan. You also get an update every quarter, and you can always call me.
What if a borrower stops paying?
It happens, and I plan for it. Every deal is reviewed for servicing, reserves, workout options, and exit paths before I buy. We'll talk through how a missed payment affects you.
Can I use my IRA?
Yes. Your self-directed IRA becomes the lender, and I work with your custodian on the paperwork. See how it works
How long is my money in?
Your agreement sets the exact term. Don't count on getting out early. Only lend money you won't need before it matures.
Is LJH the company in the Texas federal court case?
No. LJH Investments, LLC v. Smith (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, Case No. 4:25-cv-04333) and the judgment collection that followed in California were brought by a different company with a similar name. That case has no connection to me or to this LJH Investments, LLC, an Ohio company based in Madison, Indiana. Search tools and AI sometimes mix up businesses with similar names, so always check the state and the person behind the company.
Are returns guaranteed?
No. Be careful with anyone who says theirs are. Real estate behind a note lowers the risk. It doesn't remove it.
The risks are real.
Borrowers can stop paying. Property values can be wrong. Taxes, legal costs, and delays can eat into returns. You may not be able to get your money out when you want. Principal and returns are not guaranteed.
Do your homework.
Read the lender guide before we talk. It covers the questions to ask any note investor, including me, and the red flags that should make you walk away.
Get the free lender guide