On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan Greene sits down with Steve Afra, a nationally recognized real estate finance expert, private lender, and co-founder of Nvestor Funding. Steve shares how growing up in New York's old-school real estate world shaped his approach to lending, underwriting, and relationships, starting with working alongside his father rehabbing HUD homes and later moving into mortgage lending at a young age.

The conversation dives deep into the realities of private lending, including why defaults are rarely about fraud, how life events impact borrowers, and why the goal is always to work deals out—not take properties back. Steve explains what experienced lenders actually look for in borrowers, why presentation and honesty matter more than perfect credit, and how emotional decision-making and best-case-scenario underwriting derail otherwise viable projects.

Listeners will walk away with practical insights on evaluating deals conservatively, sourcing opportunities the old-school way, building trust through relationships, and why patience, persistence, and empathy remain the most underrated advantages in real estate investing today.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How Steve got started in real estate and lending at a young age in New York

• Why private lenders are not "loan-to-own" and actively avoid foreclosures

• What lenders really look for beyond credit scores and financials

• Why presentation, track record, and worst-case underwriting matter

• The dangers of emotional investing and best-case-scenario comps

• How old-school relationship building still beats technology-only strategies

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Connect with Steve

Website: https://thesteveafra.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@afrasteve

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.afra.18

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesteveafra

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveafra/

Website: https://nvestorfunding.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@afrasteve

Connect with Jonathan:

Website - www.streamlined.properties

YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos

Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene

Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties

Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j

Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene

Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties

Email - info@streamlined.properties

This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.