Podcast
Real Estate Note Investing
Hosted by FIXnotes · ENGLISH
FIXnotes | Non-Performing Note Investing
Welcome to FIXnotes — the go-to podcast for real estate investors ready to level up by becoming the bank. Hosted by Robert Hytha and industry experts, we dive deep into the world of mortgage note investing — especially non-performing seconds. Learn how to source, analyze, buy, and resolve distressed debt while helping homeowners and building lasting wealth. Whether you're scaling a fund or buying your first note, you'll get actionable strategies, real-world case studies, and insider insights to systematize and grow your note business. It's time to cash flow without tenants, toilets, or trash.
48episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 48: Borrower Bankruptcy
2d ago00:05:25Tap to summarizeMost note investors don't think about bankruptcy until it happens — but knowing how it affects your lien before you buy a loan with an active filing is what keeps a manageable situation from becoming an expensive surprise. In this episode, we break down what borrower bankruptcy means for your position and what to do about it.🔍 What you'll learn:✅ Why the automatic stay stops all collection activity the moment a borrower files — and what you cannot do while it is in effect✅ How a Chapter 7 discharge eliminates personal liability but leaves your lien on the property intact✅ Why Chapter 13 is the bigger risk for junior lien holders — and how a lien strip can wipe out a second mortgage entirely✅ Why only one third of Chapter 13 plans reach discharge — and what a dismissal means for a lien that appeared to be stripped✅ How to use PACER and Schedule D to research any active bankruptcy and monitor your position through the caseThis program is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified before taking action.
Transcribe →Episode 47: The Foreclosure Process
1w ago00:05:48Tap to summarizeMost note investors hope foreclosure never comes up — but if you haven't underwritten for it, you don't actually know what you bought. In this episode, we break down how the foreclosure process works and why understanding it makes you a better investor before you ever need to use it.🔍 What you'll learn:✅ Why judicial versus non-judicial foreclosure states have a direct impact on your timeline and your internal rate of return✅ The difference between monetary and non-monetary defaults — and which one drives almost every foreclosure in the secondary market✅ How the foreclosure sequence unfolds from demand letter through public auction and trustee's deed✅ Why involving an attorney early often produces a resolution before foreclosure ever needs to advance✅ How to manage attorney costs when your goal is leverage rather than a full foreclosure proceedingThis program is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified before taking action.
Transcribe →Episode 46: Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure
2w ago00:05:01Tap to summarizeMost note investors treat a deed in lieu as a simple handshake — but accepting a deed without doing the right homework first can leave you holding a property full of surprises. In this episode, we break down when a deed in lieu makes sense and what to verify before you ever accept one.🔍 What you'll learn:✅ Why a title report is the first thing to run before accepting any deed — and what happens if you skip it✅ How to assess property condition before you take title so there are no surprises after you record the deed✅ When a short sale is the smarter path and when a deed in lieu is the right call✅ How a preemptively signed deed in lieu can reinforce a borrower's commitment to a payment plan✅ Why lining up a buyer before you accept the deed can eliminate the transfer entirelyThis program is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified before taking action.
Transcribe →Episode 45: Managing a Short Sale
2w ago00:04:54Tap to summarizeMost note investors see a short sale as something that just happens to them — but as a lienholder you have more control over the outcome than you might think. In this episode, we break down how to manage a short sale from the first borrower conversation all the way through to a clean lien release.🔍 What you'll learn:✅ Why a short sale is almost always a better path than taking back the deed yourself✅ How to read a HUD settlement statement and spot where the money is going before you agree to anything✅ Why your written approval is required to close — and how to use that leverage in the negotiation✅ How to negotiate with a borrower's attorney professionally and why it is often more efficient than dealing with the borrower directly✅ Why patience in a changing market can turn a low settlement offer into a full payoffThis program is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified before taking action.
Transcribe →Episode 44: Negotiating a Discounted Payoff
Jun 1800:05:06Tap to summarizeMost note investors know a discounted payoff sounds simple — but without the right language and the right structure, you leave money on the table or let a borrower stall indefinitely. In this episode, we break down how to negotiate a lump sum settlement that works for both sides.🔍 What you'll learn:✅ Why discounted payoffs are reserved for negative equity situations — and the exact language to use when a borrower with equity asks for one✅ How waiving arrears and late fees creates a meaningful concession without reducing the principal balance✅ Why whoever speaks first with a number loses — and how to let the borrower's reaction guide the negotiation✅ How to verify the source of funds before accepting any settlement — and why a property sale can change everything✅ Why releasing the deficiency balance at closing is the right way to end every discounted payoffThis program is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified before taking action.
Transcribe →Episode 43: Structuring a Loan Modification
Jun 1100:05:07Tap to summarizeMost note investors know a loan modification is the goal — but knowing how to structure one that the borrower can actually stick to is what turns a non-performing loan into a reliable cash flowing asset. In this episode, we break down the modification structures available and how to choose the right one.🔍 What you'll learn:✅ When a fully amortized modification makes sense — and why thirty years is the reasonable cap on term✅ How an interest-only modification keeps payments low enough for a struggling borrower to actually afford them✅ Why a step rate structure aligns both sides toward the same goal — getting the loan paid off sooner✅ The five things every modification agreement needs to include before it goes to the borrower for signature✅ How showing a borrower the per diem rate builds good faith and gets documents signed fasterThis program is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified before taking action.
Transcribe →Episode 42: Resolution Strategies Overview
Jun 400:05:51Tap to summarizeMost note investors know they need a resolution — but knowing which one fits the situation in front of you is what separates a smooth exit from a drawn-out loss. In this episode, we walk through every path available to resolve a non-performing loan and when to use each one.🔍 What you'll learn:✅ Why three questions — what happened, where are you now, and what do you want to do — anchor every resolution conversation✅ How a loan modification turns a non-performing loan into a cash flowing asset both sides can live with✅ When a discounted payoff or short sale gets you to the finish line faster than any other option✅ What a deed in lieu of foreclosure is and why title review is essential before you accept one✅ Why foreclosure is the last resort — and why having it ready often means you never have to use itThis program is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified before taking action.
Transcribe →Episode 41: Researching Property Taxes
May 2800:05:13Tap to summarizeMost note investors check the mortgage but skip the one obligation that sits in front of every lien on the property. In this episode, we break down how to research property tax status before you close and why getting it wrong can cost you your secured position entirely.🔍 What you'll learn:✅ Why property taxes sit senior to every mortgage lien and what happens when they go unpaid long enough✅ Why first lien investors must always check taxes — and when second lien investors need to pay closer attention than usual✅ How to pull current tax status directly from the county website and why a dated screenshot belongs in every due diligence file✅ The difference between tax lien states and tax deed states — and why the county process determines your timeline and your risk✅ How delinquent taxes reduce your effective equity and why a discrepancy from what the seller represented should change your offer priceThis program is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified before taking action.
Transcribe →Episode 40: Determining Property Occupancy
May 2100:04:59Tap to summarizeMost note investors underwrite the numbers but skip the question that often matters most — is anyone actually living there? In this episode, we break down how to determine property occupancy before you close and why it changes everything about how a loan resolves.🔍 What you'll learn:✅ Why owner occupancy signals emotional equity — and how that motivation drives better resolution outcomes even when the numbers are tight✅ The three occupancy categories every investor needs to understand and how each one affects your strategy✅ How to use county tax records, credit reports, and bankruptcy filings to build an occupancy picture from public data✅ When a formal skip trace is worth ordering and what it surfaces that free sources cannot✅ Why occupancy is a research process — and how triangulating multiple sources leads to better decisions than trusting any one of themThis program is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified before taking action.
Transcribe →Episode 39: Estimating Property Value
May 1400:05:28Tap to summarizeMost note investors pull one value from Zillow and move on — but knowing how accurate you actually need to be, and when to spend more to find out, is what keeps your equity math from falling apart. In this episode, we break down the full spectrum of property valuation methods and how to match the right one to your deal.🔍 What you'll learn:✅ Why the equity position in a deal determines how much valuation accuracy you actually need✅ How to use multiple free AVMs together to build a more reliable starting point than any single estimate✅ Why a manual review of recently sold comparables is the best balance of cost, time, and accuracy for most investors✅ How to use Google Street View as a quick condition check — and why the image capture date matters✅ When a broker price opinion is worth the one hundred dollars and when it is notThis program is for informational purposes only and should be independently verified before taking action.
Transcribe →